CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Friends, quick question. Should I bother filling out the 'Additional Information' section on the Common App? Not sure if it's overkill or if it actually helps to include some context that doesn't fit …

I keep hearing mixed things about how many students actually manage a perfect GPA. So, how rare is a 4.0 unweighted GPA in high school? Is it still seen as a big accomplishment, or has grade inflation …

Hello! I’ve been taking Spanish since freshman year and I’m trying to figure out how many years I should stick with it. Do colleges have a preferred level of language proficiency they want to see, or …

Kinda feeling overwhelmed, not gonna lie. I need to add my school’s advisor to my Common App, but I've got no clue where to start. If anyone's done this, some step-by-step help would be a lifesaver ri …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm considering taking a couple of CLEP exams to show my proficiency in subjects that I'm self-studying. Do you guys think that scoring well on CLEP exams can make my ap …

I’m a bit stressed planning my schedule for next year because my school only offers a few AP social studies courses. I'm worried it won't look challenging enough for colleges. How critical is it to ha …

I've got a serious passion for photography and have been taking photography classes offered by my high school. Should I emphasize this in my college apps, and would colleges like to see a sustained in …

I'm considering taking some classes over the summer to get ahead or maybe explore an interest. Does anyone have experiences with summer classes that benefited them in high school or when applying to c …

Quick question for anyone who's been through this – I just submitted my Common App, but I totally forgot to add a recommender who would really boost my application. Is it possible to add another recom …

Hey peers of the internet, I've been coding since I was in middle school and really want to go into computer science. Junior year is coming to a close, and I want to make sure my senior year schedule …

Junior here aiming for some of the Ivies. I’ve heard QuestBridge is a great program if you qualify, but can I cover all my bases by using Common App as well? How do colleges view this?

Hey everyone, I'm looking into applying to some European colleges and I'm wondering, do most of them require the SAT for admission from an American applicant? Looking for input especially from those w …

I've been hearing different things about GPAs and how they're weighted. Can someone explain to me what the max GPA in high school is? Does it change if you're taking AP or honors classes?

This might be a dumb question, but where are teachers supposed to upload their recommendation letters on the Common App? Do I have to do anything to make sure they can submit it, or is it all on their …

So, cash is a bit tight in my family and I heard that you can get a fee waiver for college apps. Can someone walk me through how to request this on the Common App? I don’t want to mess this up and I’m …

Hello peeps, I'm currently checking the box for 'Need-Based Financial Aid' on the Common App and I'm wondering – how do colleges actually use this information? Also, does indicating I need financial a …

So, I've been wondering, does the size of your high school graduating class play a part in college admissions? Is there an advantage to coming from a smaller or larger school? Would love to hear any p …

A bit stressed trying to juggle everything right now. What study skills do you guys think are the most important for a high school student to master? I want to do better in school but I'm not sure whe …

Current juniors, how are you deciding on which Common App essay prompt to tackle? I'm struggling to pick the one that would best represent me. Does anyone have advice on how to figure out which prompt …

I've seen a few different GPA scales mentioned in college pamphlets and on websites, and now I’m kind of confused. Does anyone know what GPA scale most high schools use? Is it the 4.0 scale or another …