CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey folks, I'm a bit nervous about the math section for the upcoming PSAT. Does anyone have specific tips or resources that could help with last-minute prep or just general strategies that worked for …

Alright, so I get that there's a difference between weighted and unweighted GPAs, but I’m a bit lost on the details. Can someone break down what a weighted GPA is and how it’s calculated in high schoo …

I've always been fascinated by crime shows and I'm considering taking forensic science next year. For those who have taken it, how tough is this class and would it be impressive on a college applicati …

So our school requires us to take a lifetime fitness class to graduate. Do colleges care about this at all, and should I try to take more than the minimum? Does it reflect on my application somehow if …

I’ve started sketching out some ideas for my Common App essay, but I'm not sure how to format it in terms of paragraphs. Do admissions officers have a preferred number of paragraphs, or is there a sta …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior trying to plan out my college apps and I need to figure out where I stand academically. Can anyone walk me through how to check my high school GPA? Is it something I can fin …

Everyone in my class is talking about the PSAT and I can't tell if it's because they want to take it or if they feel like they have to. I'm trying to map out my junior year and I’m stressing a little …

I'm a bit confused about standardized testing right now. With all the changes happening in admissions, do colleges still require the ACT, or are more schools going test-optional? Trying to figure out …

I'm torn between AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics for my senior year. As someone planning to major in STEM, which class do colleges prefer, or should I just pick the one I'm more interested in?

I'm a junior considering CLEP exams to get ahead. Could someone break down what CLEP exams are available and maybe compare them to AP courses in terms of difficulty and acceptance by universities?

Hi folks! I’m about to start prepping for the Sociology CLEP exam, and I'm wondering if anyone knows what kind of questions are typically on it? Are they mostly multiple choice, or should I prep for s …

I'm planning ahead for next year and I'm interested in taking Biology but my school's class is already full. Does anyone know of any quality online Biology courses that high school students can enroll …

I'm a bit of a procrastinator and I just realized that I need to send a couple more applications. Till when can I submit them through the Common App? Is there a specific closing date for the applicati …

Curious junior here! Thinking of taking the astronomy class at my high school because space is awesome, but does it look good on college apps? Will it help show a well-rounded curriculum, or should I …

I heard that some organizations offer CLEP exam vouchers to help cover the cost. Im trying to save money wherever I can. Does anyone have experience with getting a CLEP exam voucher or know how to app …

I'm looking at my options and thinking about taking the Spanish CLEP exam to fulfill my language requirement. However, my Spanish is a bit rusty and I want to nail this test. Does anybody have tips or …

Yo, so I'm starting to look into colleges and I'm wondering which ones actually use the Common App. It seems like a lot do, but are there any lists out there that show all the colleges that accept it? …

I'm a junior interested in majoring in CS, and I really want to up my coding skills before college. Can anyone recommend any coding courses or programs that are particularly valuable for someone still …

I'm planning my schedule for the next couple of years and was wondering what math classes are normally taken from freshman to senior year in high school.

Hey everyone, I’m starting to plan out my remaining high school courses and I’m wondering how much emphasis colleges place on core classes. I want to make sure I have a strong application, and I’m not …