CollegeVine Expert FAQ

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 …

Hello! I'm concerned about the lack of AP classes at my high school and how it might affect my college application. Will colleges understand that AP courses weren't available to me? How can I demonstr …

Hey guys! I wanna do better on my PSAT, but I'm not sure where to start. What are some tips or tricks you used to get your score up? Any resources or study hacks you can share? Thanks for the help, y' …

Greetings everyone! I'm currently considering applying to some test-optional schools, but I'm unsure if I should send my SAT/ACT scores or not. Could you please offer some advice on how to make this d …

Hello fellow students! I am currently considering whether to pursue AP or IB courses in high school, but I'm unsure which one would be more beneficial for my college applications. Could anyone please …

Hello everyone! I currently reside in one state but work in another, and I'm considering attending college in my home state. I was wondering if I would still be eligible for in-state tuition under the …

Greetings! My high school calculates GPAs differently than most, and I'm concerned about how this will be perceived by colleges during the admissions process. Could you please advise me on how to conv …

Hello! I'm an international student planning to apply to colleges in the United States, and I was wondering if it's possible for me to receive financial aid. Could someone please provide some informat …

I've been stressing out about my lack of extracurriculars throughout high school, and now I'm worried about how it'll affect my college applications. How can I address this issue in a way that doesn't …

I've been contemplating taking a break this summer to recharge, but I'm concerned about how it might affect my college applications. Do you think colleges will look down on me if I don't participate i …

So, I'm trying to put together my college list, but I feel like I'm drowning in options. How did you guys figure out which schools to apply to? What are some key factors I should consider? Just lookin …

Hey folks! I've got a question. I've got my main letters of recommendation covered, but I've heard about these supplemental ones. What are they really for? Do they make a huge difference, or can I jus …

Yikes, I'm kinda stressing out here. I took a couple of courses at a nearby college during my junior year and earned some college credits. But now I'm wondering how much weight college admissions offi …

As a junior, I'm concerned that my GPA and test scores might not be as high as some colleges would like. What other aspects of my application should I focus on to compensate for these lower scores? An …

I'm a junior, and I recently changed high schools due to personal circumstances. I'm concerned about how this may be perceived by college admissions officers. How should I address this change in my co …

Yo, juniors! What are y'all doing this summer before the crazy senior year starts? Any cool plans or ideas? I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do, so I'd love some inspiration. Are you guys …

Hey, I'm a junior with a not-so-great GPA, but I've got a bunch of extracurriculars. Can those make up for my low GPA when applying to colleges? What do you think?