CollegeVine Expert FAQ

I’m exploring my options for my senior year and considering some online courses through Michigan Virtual. Do colleges view these courses as reputable? Might they be a good way to show initiative and s …

Hey guys! So, I’ve heard a lot about dual enrollment and taking college classes while still in high school. I'm considering doing it to get a feel for college-level work and maybe impress admissions o …

Quick question: does the Common App notify you if you've been accepted into a college, or is that something that only comes through the colleges' individual communication channels?

I keep hearing about 'advanced' classes in high school, but I’m not entirely sure what counts. Is it just APs and IBs, or do honors classes count too? How crucial are these to get into a good college, …

Okay, here’s where I am: I've got a list of colleges and a mountain of deadlines. Can someone with experience please explain how long it realistically takes to complete and submit the Common App? I ju …

Hi peeps! Does anyone have the inside scoop on how UCLA likely letters operate? I've heard they can be indicators of acceptance, but I'm not sure how or when they're sent out. If you've received one, …

This might be a silly question, but is there any way to see the teacher recommendations after they’re submitted on the Common App, or are they totally confidential? Just curious about what’s being sai …

Pre-med hopeful here! Just discovered some online courses geared towards high schoolers interested in the medical field. Would colleges consider this type of course a plus when applying for a pre-med …

Hey guys, I'm getting ready to start my college applications and I made a Common App account to look around last year. Just curious, do these accounts expire if you don’t use them for a while or will …

Hey everyone! I'm starting to get my college list together and I'm super into UC Berkeley. I know the application process can vary from school to school, so I'm just wondering if UC Berkeley uses the …

Hey peeps! UC Davis is on my radar and I'm trying to get the lowdown. What fields or majors is it particularly strong in that a prospective student should know about?

Okay, so Syracuse University is on my list because I'm all about that school spirit and their communications program seems super solid. Can someone drop some names of schools where the communications …

Hey everyone, as junior year is wrapping up, I’m starting to feel the pressure of the college app process. I’ve heard the Common App is pretty useful for managing applications to various colleges. Cou …

I’ve heard mixed advice about taking creative writing classes in high school. I love writing and think it could help me stand out in my college apps, especially for liberal arts colleges. Do admission …

So, junior year’s about to hit me like a ton of bricks, and I want to make sure I’m on the right track for the National Honor Society. Could anyone break down the primary qualifications you need to ge …

Hey guys, I did a psychology independent study and now I'm filling out the Common App. I'm a bit stuck trying to figure out under which subject category does psychology fall. Is it considered a scienc …

Hey folks! I’ve been doing quite a bit of babysitting throughout high school and I think it’s taught me a lot of responsibility. How should I include this on my Common App? Do I list it as work experi …

Hi friends! Working on the Common App and I'm at a crossroads – do colleges prefer the weighted or unweighted GPA listed? My school provides both, but I'm not sure which is more beneficial to submit. …

When looking at colleges, I get stressed by the variety of requirements. Can someone lay out the basic elements that are almost always needed in college applications? SAT/ACT, GPA, essays, anything el …

Okay so I’m trying to figure out if aiming for a 4.0 GPA is really necessary. Is a 4.0 unweighted GPA really that important for getting into a top college, or should I focus more on the classes I'm ta …