CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi there! I'm trying to understand the difference between need-based and merit-based financial aid. Can you explain how each type works and how I can apply for them? Thank you!

Hi everyone! I'm a junior in high school and I've been reading about college interviews. I'm not the best at interviews, so I'm a bit worried about how much they'll impact my chances of getting into c …

I have my heart set on attending a top college, but I know it's really competitive. Are there any specific things I can do to improve my chances of getting in? I'm willing to put in the work and would …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about my college applications. I want to make sure my application stands out to admissions officers. What elements of a college application really m …

Hello everyone! I'm trying to decide whether to take the SAT or ACT, but I'm not sure which one is best for me. How did you guys decide which test to take? Are there any major differences between the …

Hi there! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to worry about how I'll manage my senior year workload while also working on college applications. Do you have any tips for staying organized and managing my t …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I've been trying to decide whether I should apply to liberal arts colleges or research universities. Can anyone explain the main differences between the two and how they …

Hello everyone! I'm starting to think about college interviews and want to make the best impression possible. Do you have any tips on how to prepare for these interviews? What types of questions shoul …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I'm trying to plan my schedule for senior year. Is it a good idea to take AP classes during my senior year, or should I focus on maintaining my GPA and preparing for coll …

Hello! I'm a junior and I've been thinking about visiting some colleges, but I'm not sure if it's really important. Do college visits actually make a difference in the admissions process? Thanks for a …

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I've been thinking a lot about what I want to major in when I go to college. I have a few interests, but I'm not entirely sure what I want to study. How important is it to c …

Hi guys, I'm a junior and I've been researching colleges with Early Decision policies. I know that these policies can be binding, but I'm unsure if I should apply this way. What are the pros and cons …

Hey there, I'm a junior, and I've been wondering about the importance of senior year grades in the college admissions process. Do colleges consider my senior year grades when making admissions decisio …

Hey everyone! As a junior, I've been hearing about the importance of college interviews. What should I expect and how can I prepare? Are there any common interview questions that I should be aware of? …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior and I've been researching the different application platforms for college. I'm not sure whether I should use the Common App or the Coalition App to apply. What are the pros …

I'm applying for scholarships to help pay for college, and I want to make sure my application stands out from the rest. What are some tips for creating a strong scholarship application? Any advice wou …

Hey guys! I'm a little bit stressed about the possibility of not getting accepted into any of my top-choice colleges. If this happens, what should I do? Are there any alternative options I can explore …

Hello! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to research financial aid options for college. I'm wondering if I should focus on applying for need-based aid or merit-based aid. Can anyone explain the differenc …

Hey guys! I'm a junior trying to create a balanced college list, but I'm not sure how many reach, match, and safety schools I should have. What's a good balance between these types of schools, and how …

Hey guys! I'm a junior, and I've heard that it's possible to appeal a financial aid offer from a college. How do I go about doing this if I need more financial assistance? What should I include in my …