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CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.


What exactly qualifies as honors to put on the Common App?

Hey guys, I'm filling out my Common App and I'm a bit unsure about the honors section. Do only national awards count, or can I include school-level awards too? How do you decide what makes the cut for …

a year ago

Do colleges really look at the 'Courses and Grades' section in the Common App?

Quick question, does the 'Courses and Grades' section of the Common App really make a difference? I mean, they already get our transcripts, right? Why do we have to fill this out too?

a year ago

Navigating FAFSA and the Common App Integration

So, I'm working on my financial aid applications and the Common App at the same time. I'm kinda lost about how to add FAFSA information to my Common App. Can someone guide me through the process or le …

a year ago

Common App confusion: Apply Texas or Common App for a Texan student?

Hey guys, I’m a junior in Texas, and I’m starting to feel the heat of the college application process. I've heard different things from my friends and counselors about whether to use Apply Texas or Co …

a year ago

What's the process to get a Common App fee waiver?

I'm starting to get my college applications ready and money's a bit tight. Can someone explain how to apply for a fee waiver on the Common App? Do I need to provide proof of financial need or somethin …

a year ago

Effectively Describing Cheerleading Experience for College Apps

I've been a varsity cheerleader all through high school and I'm kinda stressed about how to convey the commitment and skills it involved on my Common App. Any suggestions on the key points to focus on …

a year ago

Do you need to respond to all the Common App essay prompts?

Heard from a friend that you have to answer all the Common App essay questions, but that sounds excessive... Can anyone clarify if that's true or not?

a year ago

Finalizing Submission of My Common App Essay

I've put a ton of effort into perfecting my Common App essay and I think it’s ready. Can someone explain the steps to submit the Common App essay? Is there anything specific I should check before I hi …

a year ago

Can International Students use the Common App?

Hey everyone, I'm starting to get my application materials together and I'm a bit confused about the Common App. Is it exclusively for US students, or can someone living outside the US apply to colleg …

a year ago

Can I reuse the same essay for multiple college applications?

Hey everyone, I'm in the midst of college application season and I was wondering if it's frowned upon to use the same essay for different applications? Or should I be personalizing each essay to the c …

a year ago

Seeing a red exclamation mark on Common App - cause for worry?

I just logged into my Common App to check my progress and there's this red exclamation mark. What does it mean, and is it something I need to fix ASAP? A little stressed since I thought I was on top o …

a year ago

What exactly is considered a good PSAT score for National Merit?

Hey folks, I'm kinda confused about what scores we need to aim for the PSAT in order to be in the running for National Merit. Any insights on what range I should be looking at, especially with the com …

a year ago

Decoding Academic Honors on the Common App

Yo, I've been loading up on honors classes and I've done pretty decently. But now I'm facing the Common App and I'm not exactly sure which of my accomplishments qualify as 'academic honors.' Like, wou …

a year ago

Just Submitted My Common App! What now?

I've finally hit submit on my Common App! What comes next? Should I be on the lookout for confirmation emails, or is there anything else I'm supposed to do now? Just don't want to miss any steps.

a year ago

Common App for Iowa State University?

Hi all, does anyone know if Iowa State uses the Common App for their admissions process? I’m really trying to cut down on the different systems I have to navigate for college apps.

a year ago

Supplemental Essays Confusion on Common App

So, I'm working on my college app and I keep hearing about supplemental essays that I need to write for specific colleges. How exactly do I find these on the Common App? A little bit stressed because …

a year ago

Girl Scouts Gold Award Presentation on Common App

Looking for advice here: I'm prepping my college apps and want to know how to best describe my experience with Girl Scouts, specifically my Gold Award project. It was a huge part of my high school lif …

a year ago

Is there content difference between the PSAT and SAT, and how should I prepare?

So, I've heard a lot about the PSAT and SAT and it's kinda making me anxious. What are the main differences in content between the PSAT and SAT? Should I start prepping differently or will my SAT stud …

a year ago

Guessing on the PSAT - Yay or Nay?

So I heard from some seniors that when you’re in doubt on the PSAT, you should just guess because there's no penalty for wrong answers, while others say to leave it blank. What’s the best strategy her …

a year ago

On the Common App, what does 'final' signify when reporting grades?

When I'm inserting my grades into the Common App, I see an option to mark them as 'final'. Does this just mean the final grade for the course, or is it referring to something else? Just want to make s …

a year ago
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About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.