CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey everyone, I'm just trying to wrap my head around PSAT percentiles. How exactly do they work, and how important are they in the grand scheme of college admissions? Is there a significant difference …

Does anyone have advice on the University of Pittsburgh's Honors College essay? I want to apply to the Honors College, but I need some help figuring out how to start the essay and what kind of topics …

Hey y'all! I'm super interested in the culture of HBCUs and I've heard a lot about the famous HBCU football classics. Can anyone share their experiences attending these games? How do they influence ca …

I heard there were some fafsa changes in 2023 concerning divorced parents. Can anyone explain how it might affect my financial aid application?

I'm gradually getting more anxious about writing my college essays and was wondering if anyone could point me toward some stellar essay examples. Like, essays that were actually admitted to top colleg …

So, I didn't take high school as seriously as I should have, and I'm sitting at a 2.0 GPA. I'm really trying to turn things around and I want to go to college—does anyone know of colleges that have ac …

Guys, I’m torn between choosing an online SAT prep course and personal tutoring. I learn pretty well on my own but also know that a tutor could offer more personalized help. Has anyone tried both, and …

Hello! I'm prepping for college interviews and feeling a bit nervous. Can anyone share sample questions they were asked and how they answered them? Any tips for what colleges might be looking for in m …

Looking for community service opportunities that would be meaningful and possibly relate to my interests in environmental science. Any advice on what kinds of places are usually in need of volunteers …

Hello! As someone who’s interested in engineering, I’m looking to find out which HBCU engineering programs have the best rankings or reputations? I’m trying to identify a college where I can get the b …

Feeling a little overwhelmed with the Common App's activity section. How detailed should I be? If you’ve been through the process, could you share examples or tips on how to make each activity descrip …

Thinking ahead here - if I decide to double major in college, does that mean I’ll graduate with two separate degrees or just one with two majors listed? Still trying to figure out if it's worth the ex …

I've got a couple years left in high school and I’m wondering which clubs would stand out on my college application. Should I join the ones that align with my intended major or just go for diversity i …

Hey guys, currently stressing out about my schedule for senior year. I’ve heard that colleges like seeing students challenging themselves, so for those who’ve been through it, what’s the absolute hard …

Hey folks! As much as I'm excited to apply to Dartmouth, I'm stumped on the supplemental essays. How do you guys start brainstorming for prompts like these? Any tips on picking topics that would reson …

Hello everyone, I'm a massive bookworm and researching facilities is a big part of my college decision process. How well-stocked are the libraries at HBCUs, and do they have any unique resources or co …

Hey everyone, kinda stressed here. I'm a junior and just trying to get a handle on dates. What's the latest I can take the ACT/SAT if I'm aiming for regular admission? I need to make sure I have enoug …

I've seen some of my friends wearing college merch, and it got me curious. Do colleges ever send out free shirts or other kinds of merchandise to high school students who show interest in them? If so, …

Hey guys, applying to Fashion Institute of Technology and kinda nervous about the essay. What should I focus on in the FIT admissions essay to stand out? I've got some experience with fashion from a s …

Hey guys, I've been starting to look at colleges more closely and keep seeing this term 'freshman retention rate'. How much should I be considering this when thinking about the vibe and quality of lif …