CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey guys, I recently took the SAT/ACT and my score is pretty average. I'm wondering if it's worth it to retake the test in hopes of improving my score, or if I should focus on other aspects of my appl …

Hello, I'm a junior and I need to ask some teachers for letters of recommendation soon. What's the best way to approach them and how can I ensure they write strong letters for me? Thanks for your help …

Hi all! I know this is a bit early, but I'm already stressed about the idea of having to choose between multiple college acceptances. How do I weigh the pros and cons of each school and make a decisio …

Hi, I've been hearing a lot of conflicting information about what colleges value most in their applicants. Is there one factor that stands out above the rest? Thanks for any insight you can provide!

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to stress about my SAT and ACT scores. I've been hearing mixed opinions about how much these scores actually matter for college admissions. Can anyone give …

Hello, I'm a junior in high school and I'm in the process of selecting my courses for senior year. I've heard that colleges care about the rigor of your schedule, but I'm not sure if that applies to s …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior in high school and I'm starting to research colleges. How did you guys decide which colleges were the right fit for you, and do you have any tips or advice for finding the pe …

Hey collegevine! I'm a junior, and I've been hearing about the FAFSA and CSS Profile for financial aid. What is the difference between these two forms, and do I need to complete both? When should I st …

Hey guys, I've been working a part-time job throughout high school to help pay for college. I'm worried that this might have taken away from my ability to participate in more extracurricular activitie …

Hey there! My junior year is already proving to be quite busy, and I'm struggling to balance my schoolwork with my extracurricular activities. Any tips on how to manage my time effectively and stay on …

Hi everyone, I've been researching colleges and I'm curious if all colleges require standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) as part of the application process. Are there schools that don't require these sc …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm working on my college applications. I have a few hobbies that I'm passionate about, but I'm not sure if I should include them in my application. What do you think, a …

Hey everyone! I've heard that showing interest in a college can help with admissions, but I'm not sure what the best ways to do that are. Can anyone share their experiences or advice on how to demonst …

Hey guys! I'm a junior and I've started researching colleges. I know that location, size, and academic programs are important, but what other factors should I consider when building my college list? I …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about the college application process. I'm worried that I might not like the college I end up choosing, so I was wondering if it's possible to trans …

Hey everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm trying to improve my college application by getting involved in more extracurriculars. Can you guys recommend some activities that would look good on my …

Hey, I'm a junior in high school, and I'm struggling to balance my schoolwork with my extracurricular activities. Any tips or advice on how to manage my time effectively? Thanks for your help!

Hey everyone! I'm planning to take the SAT or ACT soon, and I want to make sure I'm well-prepared. What are some tips or resources you've found helpful for studying? I'd appreciate any advice you can …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I've been thinking about who I should ask for letters of recommendation. When is the ideal time to start asking my teachers and other potential recommenders? I want to m …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and starting to think about whether I should apply Early Decision or Early Action to any colleges. How do you decide which schools to apply to ED/EA? Any advice would be supe …