CollegeVine Expert FAQ

So I've heard different things from different people, and I just want to get it straight. Which year's PSAT is the one that counts for National Merit consideration? Junior year, or do the sophomore ye …

Hey everyone, I could use some insight here. I've been hearing a lot of different things about the PSAT. I know it's a 'Preliminary' exam, but do colleges actually take these scores into account when …

As I'm exploring my college options, I'm trying to gather information on what different universities have to offer. Does anyone know what Columbus State University is known for, and would that influen …

So I'm gearing up to start my college apps and I’m about to set up my Common App account. I'm just wondering if there are any pitfalls I should avoid or things I should know prior to creating the acco …

Hi! Almost every college wants to know why you think college is important in their essay prompts. How can I write about the importance of a college education in my essay without sounding like everyone …

As someone diving into the world of standardized testing, I'm kind of lost on where to start. What's the best way to study for the PSAT? Are there specific topics I should focus on more than others? I …

I’m thinking about centering my college essay around my family's impact on my aspirations and values. Is there such a thing as 'too much family' in these essays, or do colleges appreciate understandin …

I've been consistently on the honor roll throughout high school, and I'm wondering how much of a boost this gives me in the admissions process. Do colleges care a lot about honor roll status? Are ther …

I've heard mixed opinions on the PSAT and I’m stressed about whether I should even take it. What’s the point of the PSAT if it’s not used for college admissions? Is it just for practice or are there o …

So, I’ve got the PSAT coming up, and I’m not going to lie, preparation hasn't been my strong suit. Do you have to 'pass' the PSAT for any reason, or is it okay if you don’t do well?

Hey gang, so I took a couple of college courses at my local community college while in high school. I'm kind of lost on how to enter these dual enrollment courses in the Common App. Do they go under t …

Quick question, team – I'm prepping for the PSAT and I'm curious if I need to bring a graphing calculator with me. Do questions on the PSAT demand it, or would a scientific calculator be enough?

I've been trying to get my head around how the PSAT is scored. Like, what's the total possible score you can get, and how is it broken down? I've heard it's different from the SAT and could use some e …

Hi guys, I just got my PSAT scores back as a freshman. I know it’s early, but should I be using this score as a benchmark for my junior year expectations? How much do PSAT scores typically improve?

Okay, so it's time to think about the essays (ugh), and I heard the prompts might change every year? Can someone tell me what the Common App essay prompts are this year? Or at least, how can I find th …

Got my PSAT score and it’s 890. I’m not sure how to feel about it because I don’t really know what constitutes a good score. Should I be worrying right now or is this average for a high schooler? Coul …

Hey all! I’ve heard that the PSAT can qualify you for National Merit scholarships, but I’m not really sure how it works. What score do I need to aim for, and is it the same for everyone or does it var …

With all the talk about standardized tests going digital, I heard a rumor that the digital PSAT is actually adaptive — is that true? Like, does the difficulty of the questions change based on your ans …

Hey all. I’m just wondering — what’s the real point of college essays in the admissions process? Is it just to assess our writing skills, or is there something more they're looking at?

Hi friends! I'm in a bit of a stress spiral thinking about standardized tests. Just wondering, if you do really well on the PSAT, does it have any real benefits for college admissions, or is it mostly …