CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey guys, I've been struggling with my college essays lately. I feel like I have interesting ideas, but I'm not sure how to put them into words that will stand out to admissions officers. Any advice o …

Hey there! I'm a junior and I've been wondering how much colleges consider senior year grades when making admissions decisions. Should I be focusing on maintaining a strong GPA throughout senior year, …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior in high school and I've been considering applying to some colleges with binding Early Decision. I'm not sure if it's the right choice for me, though. What are the pros and c …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior planning to visit some colleges soon. I want to make the most of my visits, but I'm not sure how to do that. What should I be looking for during my visits, and are there any …

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I've been researching liberal arts colleges. What are the advantages of attending a liberal arts college versus a larger university? I'm trying to decide which type of schoo …

Hey guys! I'm currently a junior, and I've taken a few AP courses throughout high school. I was wondering how colleges view these classes when considering applications. Do they give more weight to AP …

Hey everyone! I'm planning on taking the SAT in a few months and I'm a little stressed about how to study for it. Can you suggest any resources or study methods that have worked for you? I really want …

Hello! I'm a junior and I'm starting to research colleges to apply to. What are some good resources to help me find the best fit for me? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and my school offers both AP classes and dual enrollment options. I'm not sure which one to choose for my senior year. What are the benefits of each and which one do colleges …

Hi everyone! I'm in the process of creating my college list, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how to balance it with reach, target, and safety schools. CollegeVine, can you give me some advice …

Hey everyone! I recently took the SAT/ACT and my score is a bit below the average for my dream school. Should I try to retake the test to improve my score, or should I focus on other aspects of my app …

Hey guys! I was wondering how important letters of recommendation are in the college admissions process. How much weight do admissions officers put on them? Also, any tips on how to ask for a strong l …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I want to make the most of my summer before senior year. What should I focus on during this time? Is it better to work on college applications, get an internship, or do …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior and I've been doing some research on college applications, but I'm still a bit confused about the role that extracurriculars play in the admissions process. I have a few clu …

Hi there! I'm a bit stressed about deciding whether to apply early action or regular decision to my top choice school. I've heard that applying early can increase your chances, but I'm worried that I …

Hi guys! I'm a little bit stressed about asking for letters of recommendation from my teachers. What's the best way to approach them and when should I ask? Any advice on making sure I get a strong let …

Hey there, I'm a junior and I've been debating whether it's better to have a high GPA with easier courses or to take challenging courses and risk a lower GPA. What do colleges prefer to see?

Hey everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to think about college interviews. I'm a little nervous and I want to make sure I'm prepared. Can anyone share some tips or advice on how to prepare for co …

Hi everyone, I'm a high school junior, and I'm trying to decide which courses to take next year. Is it better to take challenging courses and potentially get lower grades or take easier courses and ge …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior, and I'm wondering if it's worth applying for financial aid even if my family's income is on the higher side. Is there a chance I could still receive some aid, or am I bette …