CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi guys, I'm a junior and I'm a little bit stressed because I'm not really sure what I want to major in. Will applying undecided hurt my chances of getting into a good college? Do colleges prefer stud …

Hello, I've always wanted to become a doctor but my high school grades are pretty low (mostly B's and some C's). However, I'm really passionate about pursuing medicine and I'm willing to work hard in …

I’m a junior who wants to get a head start on writing my college essay, but I'm not sure how long it typically takes. Do I need to dedicate a few weeks, or is it possible to finish it in a few days? A …

Hey guys, I'm curious if Ivy League schools conduct interviews with all their applicants or just a select few. What can I expect during the process, and do the interviews play a significant role in ad …

Hi everyone! Can I ask my teachers for recommendation letters through email or should I do it in person? I'm a junior and I'm a bit nervous for this process. Thanks for your advice!

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I've been researching colleges lately. I've come across the concept of demonstrated interest, and I'm curious about how much it actually matters in the admissions proces …

Hi guys! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm starting to research financial aid options for college. I know there are scholarships, grants, and loans, but I'm not exactly sure what the differences ar …

I want to discuss my experiences with mental health and how I've grown because of it. Do you guys think it's an appropriate topic for a college essay or should I avoid it completely?

Hi guys! I'm a junior in high school, and I've taken a few community college courses during my summer breaks. How do colleges view these courses on my transcript, and will they help my chances of gett …

Hi all, I'm a freshman (or sophomore) and I want to start preparing for the college admissions process early. What steps can I take now to set myself up for success down the road? I appreciate any adv …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I want to make sure I'm focusing on the right things this year to prepare for college applications. What should be my top priority to maximize my chances of getting into …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm starting to think about my college essays. I'm struggling to choose a topic that will showcase my personality and make me stand out. Does anyone have …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm starting to think about whether I should apply to public or private colleges. I'm not sure what the main differences are and which type of college would be best for …

Hello everyone, I'm currently looking at colleges both in-state and out-of-state. When considering potential out-of-state schools, what factors should I be keeping in mind? I want to make sure I'm not …

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior, and I'm struggling to balance my schoolwork with my extracurricular activities. I want to do well in both areas, but it's becoming overwhelming. Any advice on ho …

Hello! I'm currently a junior in high school, and I know that the college essay is a really important part of the application process. I'm a little bit stressed about writing it, so I was wondering if …

Hi, I've been practicing yoga for a few years now and recently started teaching classes at my local studio. Can I list yoga as an extracurricular activity when applying to colleges? Thanks for the hel …

Hi all, I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about financial aid for college. I'm not sure whether I should focus on applying for need-based or merit-based aid. How do I decide which one is right fo …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior, and I'm wondering how much colleges value AP courses in the admissions process. I've taken a few AP classes, but I'm not sure if I should take more to improve my chances of …

Hey guys, I'm working on my essay and I've noticed that I've used quite a few contractions. I think it makes the essay sound more conversational and genuine, but I'm worried it might come off as too i …