CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi all! I know the Ivy League schools are prestigious, but could anyone help me understand what really sets them apart from other universities? Is it just the academics, or are there other factors I s …

If I end up being waitlisted by my dream college, what steps should I take to increase my chances of being accepted off the waitlist? Are there any specific things I should do or avoid doing? Thanks f …

I need to ask one of my teachers for a letter of recommendation, but I'm not sure how to approach it. Should I ask in person or via email? And what should I say? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Hey all! I'm a little concerned about upcoming college interviews and I want to make sure I'm well-prepared. How soon should I start preparing and practicing for these interviews? Any tips on what to …

Hey guys, I'm wondering if I should visit the colleges I'm interested in before applying. Is it necessary, or can I get a good idea of the campus atmosphere from online resources? Thanks!

Hey everyone, I'm a junior in high school and I'm starting to think about college essays. How important are they in the college application process? Do they really make or break an application? I'm a …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior and I'm starting to feel overwhelmed with schoolwork and my extracurricular activities. How do you manage to balance school, extracurriculars, and college applications? Any t …

Hi collegevine community! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm getting a little stressed about writing my college essays. I want to make sure they're engaging and showcase my personality, but I'm not …

Hello, lovely people! I've been looking into attending a research university for my higher education, but I'm curious about how many exist in the United States overall. Does anyone have an estimate, e …

I've been working on my college essay and I'm not sure how many paragraphs it should have. Is there a recommended number of paragraphs or does it vary depending on the essay?

Hey guys, I'm struggling to come up with a topic for my college essay. How do I choose the right topic that will showcase my personality and make me stand out? Any tips or suggestions would be greatly …

Hey all, I'm considering applying Early Decision to a college, but I'm also aware that it's a binding agreement. Is it a bad idea to apply to more than one school with binding Early Decision policies? …

Hi all! I'm a high school junior, and I want to make sure I stay on track with my college applications. How did you create a timeline for completing your applications, and do you have any tips for sta …

Hello! I'm a high school junior, and I've been researching colleges to find a good fit for me. Boston University is on my list, and I was just wondering if it's considered a research university. Are t …

Hey! I'm a junior and starting to look into financial aid for college. What should I know about the process and what are some tips for maximizing financial aid? Thank you for any advice!

Hey all, I'm a high school junior and I'm trying to create a list of colleges that I'll be applying to next year. I'm interested in conducting research as an undergraduate student, and I was wondering …

Hello! I'm a high school junior looking into research universities, and I was considering applying to UCLA. Is UCLA considered a research university? If so, how does it rank among other research unive …

Hi there! I am a high school junior exploring college options and trying to find the best fit for me. I have an interest in Duke University, and I was wondering if it's considered to be a research uni …

Hey everyone, I came across the term 'research program' while looking at different colleges and their offerings. Could someone help me understand what a research program is and how being involved in o …

Hey everyone, my older sibling attends a prestigious university, and I'm considering applying there as well. How much of an impact does legacy status have on admissions? Should I talk about my sibling …