Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.
Hi there, I'm a high school junior, and I'm in the process of researching colleges. I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information out there. CollegeVine, can you give me some tips on how to effectively …
Hi guys! I'm starting to think about my college essays, but I'm not sure what topics I should focus on. I want to showcase my personality and experiences, but I also want to stand out from the crowd. …
Hey guys! I'm a junior and I've been stressing about standardized test scores lately. I know they're important, but how much do they really matter in the grand scheme of things? I've heard that some c …
Hey everyone! As my junior year is coming to an end, I'm wondering what I should be doing during the summer to prepare for college applications. Do you have any suggestions for things that I should fo …
Hello! I'm a high school junior, and my GPA is not quite as high as I'd like it to be. I'm worried that it might hurt my chances of getting into a good college. What can I do to compensate for a lower …
Hi, I'm considering applying to some schools through Early Decision or Early Action, but I'm not sure if I can apply to more than one. What are the rules regarding multiple Early Decision/Early Action …
Hello! I'm a junior, and I've been wondering how important class rank is in the college admissions process. My school doesn't officially rank students, but I can estimate my position. Should I be worr …
Hi collegevine, I recently took the SAT/ACT and scored relatively high, but I'm wondering if it's worth retaking the test to try for an even higher score. Would this improve my chances of getting into …
Hello everyone! I'm a junior and I'm passionate about art. I have a strong art portfolio, but I'm planning on majoring in something else. Can I still submit my art portfolio as part of my college appl …
Hey guys! I'm a junior and I'm planning on visiting some college campuses soon. I want to make the most of my visits, but I'm not sure what I should be looking for or asking about. Can anyone share so …
Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I've been researching financial aid for college. My family's income is relatively high, but I'm not sure if we'll be able to afford my dream school without help. Should I …
Hi there, I'm a high school junior and I'm getting ready for college interviews. I'm a little bit nervous and unsure about how to prepare. Can someone from CollegeVine give me some tips on how to make …
Hello! I'm a junior and I'm starting to research the college application process. I've heard about both the Common App and the Coalition App, but I'm not sure which one I should use. Can anyone explai …
Hi guys, I'm a junior and I'm starting to think about what I want to study in college. How did you decide on your major, and what factors should I consider when making this decision? Any advice would …
Hey there, I'm a high school junior, and I'm starting to look for scholarships to help pay for college. It's a bit overwhelming, and I'm not sure where to start. What are some good resources for findi …
Hey everyone! I'm a junior who's trying to decide whether to apply for financial aid. I've heard that applying for aid can sometimes hurt your chances of admission, especially at need-aware schools. H …
Hey guys! I'm a junior and I'm involved in a few extracurricular activities. I was wondering if colleges prefer certain types of extracurriculars over others, or if they just want to see that I'm pass …
Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior and I'm trying to plan out my senior year schedule. Is it better to take more AP classes to show colleges that I can handle a rigorous workload, or should I focus …
Hey guys! I recently took the SAT and my score is just below the average for my top-choice college. Should I try to retake the test or focus on other parts of my application? Thanks for any advice!
Hi guys, I'm a junior and I'm starting to look for scholarships to help fund my college education. There are so many out there, and I'm not sure where to start. Do you have any tips for finding schola …