CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Bit anxious here, but still hopeful. Is a 3.31 GPA too low for top colleges, or do they take a holistic view and consider all aspects of my app? Should I focus on explaining my GPA in my essays or jus …

Okay, so I'm starting to look into financial aid and I'm clueless about loans. How do subsidized loans actually work for college, and why are they different from other loans?

Hey everyone, I'm in my junior year and starting to think about my ACT. I'm aiming for some pretty competitive schools, but I'm not sure what score range is considered good. Can anyone give me some in …

So I've got a few college tours lined up and I'm wondering, what's the deal with dressing for them? Should I be going business casual, or is something more relaxed acceptable? I want to make a good im …

Feeling kinda lost about picking a major—I've got interests all over the place. Any advice on how to narrow it down? Should I be thinking more about job prospects, or just go with what I love?

So I'm starting to get my head around college financing and I keep hearing about unsubsidized loans. Can someone break down for me how they work? Like, when do I have to start paying them back and how …

Can someone lay out how GPA is actually calculated and why colleges care about it so much? It's kind of overwhelming to figure out how this number is going to affect my college chances.

Can someone give me the lowdown on liberal arts colleges? I'm hearing a lot about them and just wondering what they offer that's different from bigger universities or specialized schools.

I've heard a lot about the AP Capstone program and I'm wondering if it actually gives you a leg up in the college admissions process. Does it really prepare you better for college-level work? If anyon …

So I've got exams coming up and I'm a little bit stressed. What should I be doing the night before to make sure I'm prepared? Any tips on calming nerves and getting into the right headspace?

Hey guys, I'm a little stressed with all this admissions stuff. For schools that still look at it, what ACT Writing score should I be aiming for? Like, what's generally regarded as 'good' by colleges?

Feeling the pressure and could use some advice! What's seen as a good GPA when applying to colleges? I know this might be subjective, but I'm looking for a ballpark figure. Also, do colleges care more …

Just started SAT prep and wondering what topics I need to focus on for the writing section. What exactly is tested? Would love some guidance to refine my study plan.

Education is a calling, and I'm on the hunt for HBCUs that are especially strong in their Education programs. Teachers or current students in Education at HBCUs, can you shed some light for a junior t …

I just took the ACT and I'm having a mild panic that I bombed it. Is it possible to cancel my scores before they're reported, or am I stuck with whatever I got?

Hey guys, I'm really into sports and considering a major in kinesiology in college. What should I expect from the coursework? Any tips on what I can do now to get ahead or prepare for this major?

Hi, does anyone know how long it usually takes for ACT scores to be released? I'm trying to plan my college application timeline and it would help to know when to expect my results.

Hey everyone, I just heard one of my classmates mention they're an AP Scholar. I'm kinda curious – what does it take to be called an AP Scholar? How many exams do you have to ace, and are there differ …

Feeling good about my PSAT—I got a 1350. Is this like a solid benchmark for colleges that look at PSAT scores, or should I aim even higher for the SAT? Not sure how colleges interpret these scores.

I keep seeing 'prospective student' all over college websites. Can someone break down what this actually means? Like, at what point do you go from just a high school student to a 'prospective student' …