CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I keep hearing people talk about the Common App. Can someone explain what it is and how it works? Is it required for all colleges? Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone, I'm really stressing out about my GPA, which is currently around a 3.4. I've always dreamt of going to a top-tier college, but I'm worried my GPA might hold me back. I have pretty strong …

Hi everyone! I'm currently a high school junior and I'm wondering whether I should take the SAT or ACT. I've heard different opinions on which one is better. Can someone please give me some advice? Th …

Hey guys, so I'm starting to work on my college applications and I'm kind of stuck on what to write about in my personal statement. I want it to be unique and something that will make me stand out fro …

Hey guys, I'm researching colleges and trying to figure out which ones are need-blind. Is there a specific way to determine if a college is need-blind, and how important is this factor when applying t …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I know that we need to get recommendation letters from our teachers for college applications. When is the best time to start asking for these? I don't want to wait too lo …

Hello everyone, I've heard that showing leadership in extracurricular activities is important for college applications. What are some ways that I can demonstrate leadership in my activities? Is it nec …

Hey there! I am a junior starting to research college options and I'm concerned about financial aid. My family's financial situation isn't great, but I'm not sure if we'll qualify for much aid. What f …

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I've been attending virtual college fairs due to the pandemic. However, I'm not sure if I'm making the most out of these events. What are some effective strategies for getti …

Hello! As a junior, I'm starting to create my college list and I want to make sure I have a good balance of reach, target, and safety schools. How many of each should I apply to? Any tips on finding t …

Hi there! I'm a junior and I'm trying to figure out which standardized tests I should take – the SAT, the ACT, or both. How did you decide which test(s) to take, and what factors should I consider whe …

Hi everyone! I'm considering applying Early Decision to my top choice school, but I'm unsure about the pros and cons of this decision. I'd love to hear from people who have gone through the process th …

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 …