CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hello, I'm a rising sophomore seeking guidance on how to begin my passion project. Throughout my life, I've had various career interests, but now I find myself drawn to the STEM/Medicine field. Howeve …

Hey guys, I keep hearing about high school students doing research at labs, but I don't get it. Like, why would a lab let someone with no experience come in and work with them? How do these students e …

Hey guys, my high school is super small (like less than 300 students) and we don't have any clubs or after-school stuff going on. How am I supposed to make my college application look good without any …

Hello, I'm in the process of completing my college applications and I need some advice on describing my extracurricular activities. I have a 150-character limit for each description, and I'm not sure …

Hey guys, I'm a rising senior and I'm really into neuroscience and planning on going premed in college. I need to work on my extracurriculars this summer, but I'm kinda stuck with finding stuff I can …

Hey guys, I just found out about 3-2 engineering dual degree programs where you go to one school for 3 years and another for 2 years, getting degrees from both. I really want to go to Notre Dame, but …

Hello! I'm currently preparing my college applications and I'm interested in applying to several BS/MD programs. I have a great idea for my Common App essay, but it doesn't directly relate to medicine …

Hey guys, so my school doesn't offer any AP classes and I'm kinda stressed about how that'll look on my college applications. I'm worried that colleges will think I didn't try hard enough or something …

Hey, I'm a junior in high school and I'm really interested in applying to the University of Washington's computer science program. I've heard it's super competitive, even for in-state applicants. I'm …

Hi all, I'm currently a junior in high school and I'm starting to look into colleges for engineering, specifically mechanical engineering. I want to find a college that offers a good balance between c …

I'm feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed with the college application process, and I think talking to an admissions counselor might help. But I'm not sure how to reach out to them or what the best way i …

Hello, I hope everyone is doing well! I'd like to get a head start on my college essays, but I'm not sure which ones I can begin working on before the application season officially begins. Can anyone …

Hey guys, quick question. I don't have a ton of awards or honors from high school, and I'm wondering if this is gonna mess up my college apps. Can I still get into a decent college without all those s …

Hey guys! So, I gotta choose a teacher (or two) to write my college recommendation letters, but I'm not sure how to decide. What should I think about when picking the best teacher for the job? Any tip …

As a first-generation college applicant, I'm feeling a bit anxious about the college admissions process and how my first-gen status may influence my chances of acceptance. Can anyone share their exper …

Hey guys! I'm thinking about maybe taking a gap year after high school, but I can't decide if it's a good idea or not. What do you think? Any pros and cons you can share from your own experiences? Tha …

As I work on my Common App, I'm feeling a bit uncertain about whether to use my weighted or unweighted GPA. Is there a preferred format that colleges look for, or does it vary by institution? Any insi …

Hey guys! I'm looking into financial aid stuff, and I keep seeing the FAFSA and CSS Profile mentioned. What's the main difference between these two, and why do I need to know about both? Any info you …

I'm feeling a bit uncertain about whether or not I would be considered a legacy student by the colleges I'm applying to, and I'm curious about the criteria they use to determine legacy status. Can any …

Hey guys! So, I've been checking out some of those college chance calculators, but I'm not sure if I can trust them. What do you think – are they legit? Or is there a better way to see how likely I am …