CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Getting started on the Common App and it's a bit overwhelming. Does anyone have a step-by-step guide or tips on how to fill everything out? Are there sections I should pay more attention to than other …

Hey folks – with the whole test-optional movement, I'm a little stressed about whether or not I should focus on the SAT/ACT. Do you guys think colleges should require standardized test scores for admi …

Hi friends, I've got a 3.5 GPA at the moment and I'm kind of anxious about my college prospects. Is a 3.5 GPA in high school considered competitive for college admissions, or should I be trying to imp …

Hey everyone, I'm a bit confused and could use some advice. I recently got my PSAT scores back and I have a 1240. I'm not sure how to interpret this in terms of my potential for the SAT. Is this a goo …

Hey fellow juniors, with all this online learning, I've got to thinking about virtual high school classes. Does anyone have experience with them? How do they compare to in-person classes when it comes …

As someone who's taken on various responsibilities in Student Council, I'm unsure about the best way to convey this in the Activities Section of the Common App. Should I focus on achievements or my re …

Hi everyone! As a junior starting to look into college apps, I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Apply Texas and the Common App. Do colleges prefer one over the other, especially for out-of-st …

Hey everyone! I'm planning out my junior and senior years, and I'm thinking about adding CLEP exams to potentially earn some college credits. When do you guys think is the best time to take these exam …

Feeling a bit anxious here, folks. I'm trying to figure out if I should take more honors classes next year. Can someone explain how honor classes may raise your GPA compared to regular classes? Is the …

Alright, I've been looking at Stanford's online summer courses for high schoolers and I’m a bit overwhelmed! There are so many options. Anyone here who has taken one and can share their insights? I'm …

I'm a bit stressed because I've been struggling in one of my classes this year. Does anyone know what percentage of students fail a class in high school and how that might impact my chances during the …

Hey guys, juniors unite! I am starting to get my UC application ready and I'm kinda confused—do all the UC colleges require letters of recommendation, or can I skip that part for some of them?

Hello everyone! I'm a junior considering all my options, and honestly, I'm not too keen on drowning in debt. So I'm thinking community college might be the move, at least to start. What are the requir …

Just a junior trying to get a head start. Anyone have tips on how to make my activities list stand out on the Common App? Should I be focusing on leadership, time commitment, or something else?

Hey everyone! I've got study hall periods worked into my schedule this year as a junior and I’m wondering how these are viewed by college admissions? Will it look like I’m not taking full advantage of …

Okay, so I'm not planning on majoring in theatre or anything, but I've always enjoyed acting. I want to take Drama class next year, but does anyone know if it's beneficial for the college admissions p …

So I hit the submit button on the Common App (woohoo!), but now I’m googling frantically—what are my next steps? Should I be reaching out to my schools or just wait for an email confirmation of some s …

I’m huge into theater and I've been leading our school plays. I’m curious, do universities, say Eastern Michigan University, view this kind of leadership favorably, or should I diversify my activities …

Hey guys, so USC is kind of my dream school and I'm trying to figure out everything in advance. Do you know if USC takes the Common App or do I need to look into another application method?

Hello fellow students and admissions gurus! I'm currently a junior and seriously considering a career in finance. I found some online financial courses tailored for high schoolers. Do you think taking …