CollegeVine Expert FAQ

I've heard some horror stories about students getting caught plagiarizing their essays, but I'm curious about what exactly happens if you're caught. Do colleges automatically reject your application, …

Hey guys! I have a lot of extracurriculars, and I'm not sure how to organize them on my college application. Should I prioritize certain ones? How should I list them? Thanks for any advice!

Hi everyone! I've heard conflicting opinions on whether or not it's okay to use 'I' in a college essay. Some people say it's fine, while others say it's not recommended. What do you think? Should I us …

Hi everyone, I know that many schools are now test-optional, but I'm not sure if I should still take the SAT/ACT. Would it be beneficial for my application, or is it not necessary if I'm applying to t …

Hi everyone, I'm working on my college application essay and I'm not sure if I need to use MLA format or not. Is there a specific format that colleges are expecting, or can I just use whatever format …

Hey everyone! I'm a junior and starting to think about how to pay for college. I'm feeling a bit stressed about the cost and wondering what financial aid options are available. Can anyone point me in …

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior and I've taken both the SAT and ACT. I've heard that some colleges accept either score, but I'm wondering if it's possible to submit both scores to show my streng …

Hi all! I'm a junior and I'm curious about what factors colleges consider when making admission decisions. I know GPA and test scores are important, but what else do they look at? Thanks for any infor …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior in high school and I'm starting to think about writing my college essay. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. Can anyone provide some tips or advice …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm trying to figure out how to make my extracurriculars stand out on my college application. Is it better to have a few strong extracurriculars where I'v …

Hello everyone! I'm a junior and I'm trying to plan out my senior year schedule. I'm not sure if I should load up on AP classes or if I should focus more on extracurricular activities. I've heard that …

Hey everyone, I've noticed that I've used a few abbreviations in my college essay and I'm not sure if that's acceptable. Should I write out the full words or are abbreviations okay? Thanks for your in …

I'm worried about the possibility of not getting into my dream college. If that happens, what should I do to cope with the disappointment and move forward? Any advice would be helpful!

Hey there, I'm a junior, and I've been wondering about the importance of recommendation letters in the college application process. How important are they, and what should I look for in a teacher to w …

Hey! I'm working on my college applications, and some of them have optional essays. Should I submit these, or is it better to focus on the required essays? Thanks for your help!

I'm writing my college essay and I want to include a conversation I had with someone. Can I use dialogue in my essay or should I avoid it? Will it make my essay seem more engaging or just confusing?

Hi everyone, I'm a junior in high school and I'm wondering how important my high school's reputation is for college admissions. My school isn't very well-known, and I'm worried that this might hurt my …

Hi everyone, I've been wondering if colleges look at applicants' social media accounts during the admissions process. Should I be cautious about what I post or is this not something I need to worry ab …

I've never been great at interviews and I'm nervous about the upcoming college interviews. Does anyone have any tips on how to prepare and make a good impression during college interviews? I would rea …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and I'm trying to decide whether to apply Early Action or Regular Decision to my top-choice college. I've heard that applying EA can increase your chances of getting in, but …