CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey everyone, I'm working on my college essay and I'm not sure how personal I should get. I want to be genuine and share my story, but I also don't want to overshare or make the reader uncomfortable. …

Hey guys, I'm a junior, and I'm considering applying to some honors programs at state schools, as well as more selective private colleges. I'm not sure which option is better for me in terms of academ …

Hi all, I'm a junior and I want to make the most of my summer before senior year. What activities or experiences should I focus on to strengthen my college application? Thanks for any advice, and Coll …

I'm struggling to come up with a topic for my college essay that will make me stand out. How did you guys choose your essay topics, and do you have any tips for finding a unique and interesting idea? …

Hey guys, I'm starting to brainstorm ideas for my personal essay, but I'm having trouble figuring out what to focus on. How do I choose a topic that truly represents me and makes me stand out to colle …

Hello! I'm a junior and I want to make good use of my summer break to improve my college applications. What are some activities or programs you'd recommend to help strengthen my application? Thanks in …

Hi fellow high school students and collegevine experts! I'm a junior and I've been taking a mix of honors and AP classes throughout my high school career. My GPA is pretty good, but I'm wondering if c …

My GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities are all good, but I'm worried about standing out from the crowd when I apply to competitive schools like Stanford and Harvard. How can I make my app …

With technology getting more advanced, I'm a little worried about accidental plagiarism since I tend to discuss popular topics in my essays. Does anyone know if colleges are using AI detectors to find …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm unsure about my future career goals. Is it important to have a clear career goal when applying to college, or is it okay to be undecided? Thank you!

I'm currently at a decent college, but I've been considering transferring to an Ivy League school. I was wondering if any of you have experience or know if it's easier to get accepted as a transfer st …

Hello! I took the SAT and scored a 1480, which I feel good about. However, I'm concerned that it may not be impressive enough for Ivy League applications. Should I try to improve my score, or is a 148 …

Hey all! I've been practicing yoga consistently for a few years now and have even attended some workshops and training sessions. Can I include yoga as an extracurricular activity on my college applica …

Hi all, I'm a junior and I've been hearing a lot about the SAT and ACT lately. When do you think is the best time to start studying for these tests? I want to make sure I give myself enough time to pr …

I'm a junior struggling to decide if I should take AP classes next year or focus on maintaining a high GPA. What's more important for college admissions: taking AP classes or having a high GPA? Thanks …

Hi all! I'm currently in my junior year and I've started looking for colleges that I'd like to apply to. I'm trying to find some research universities that have a strong liberal arts feel to them. Any …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm wondering if I should start applying for college scholarships now or wait until my senior year. Is there a benefit to applying early? Thanks for any a …

Hey guys! I'm really into drawing and painting, and I'm in my school's art club. Do you think this could be considered an extracurricular activity? If so, can I include it on my college application?

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior, and I'm starting to think about the college application process. I'm not entirely sure what I want to major in yet, and I'm wondering if that's going to hurt my …

Hi all, I've been dreaming of going to Princeton, but my grades aren't exactly stellar. I do have strong test scores and several best-in-state awards. Is there any chance I could get in if I put toget …