CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi everyone, when writing my college essay, is it okay to use 'I' and write in the first person? I want to make it personal, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate. Thanks for your help!

Hey there! As a junior, I'm starting to feel the pressure of balancing my schoolwork and preparing for college applications. I want to make sure I'm staying on top of everything, but it can be overwhe …

Hi there, I'm a junior and I know that many colleges have gone test-optional due to COVID-19. My test scores aren't amazing, but they're not terrible either. Should I submit them or just leave them ou …

Hey everyone! I'm passionate about art, and I'm considering submitting an art portfolio with my college application. Is this a good idea, and do you think it will help improve my chances of getting ac …

Hey there! I'm currently a junior and starting to think about college applications. I'm not completely sure what I want to major in yet, though. Is it necessary to have a major in mind when applying o …

Hi everyone, I'm an international student planning to apply to colleges in the United States. I know that financial aid can be more limited for international students, so I'm wondering how to find col …

I'm dealing with some personal issues and I'm worried I won't be able to finish my college applications on time. Has anyone ever asked for an extension on a college application deadline? If so, what's …

Hey guys, I'm lucky enough to have been accepted to two great colleges, but I'm having a hard time deciding between them. What factors should I consider when making my decision? How did you decide whe …

So I just finished the first draft of my essay, and I'm not sure if I should add a title or not. Does it make a difference in how the admissions officers view it? What are your thoughts on this? Thank …

Hey guys! I'm trying to decide which AP courses to take next year, but I'm not sure how to choose. How do I determine which courses will best align with my interests and future goals? Any advice or ex …

Hi everyone, I want to write about a controversial issue in my college essay because it's something I'm really passionate about. However, I'm not sure if this is a good idea or if it might hurt my cha …

Hi everyone, I've just finished writing my college essay, and I'm looking for tips on how to revise and edit it. What's the best approach to ensure my essay is polished and error-free? Any advice or r …

Hello everyone, I'm a junior and I've been wondering if colleges prefer weighted or unweighted GPA when evaluating applicants. I have both on my transcript and I'm not sure which one colleges will foc …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I've heard that college admissions officers sometimes check applicants' social media profiles. Is this true? If so, should I be worried about what I post online? What can …

Hey everyone, I just got my SAT scores back and I scored a 1450. While I know it's not a bad score, I can't help but feel like I could do better. Is it worth retaking the test to try and get a higher …

I'm working on my college essay and I'm not sure about the structure. Is there a specific number of paragraphs I should aim for, or does it vary depending on the essay?

Hi everyone, I'm working on my essay for college applications and I was wondering if it's acceptable to use contractions like 'I'm' and 'they're'. Will using contractions make my essay seem less forma …

Hi everyone! As I create my list of colleges to apply to, I know it's important to have a mix of safety, match, and reach schools. I'm not exactly sure how to determine which schools fall into each ca …

Hi all, I'm a high school junior starting to think about writing my college essays. I know this is a crucial part of the application, but I'm not sure where to start. Any advice on how to write a comp …

Hi all, I'm a high school junior, and I've heard about the Common App as a way to apply to multiple colleges. Can anyone explain how the Common App works and if it's a good option for applying to coll …