CollegeVine Expert FAQ

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 …

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 …