CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey all, as a Key Club president, what's the best way to articulate my leadership and volunteer experiences on the Common App? I've planned numerous events and have a lot of volunteer hours but I'm no …

So I've been sweating over whether or not I need to take the PSAT. My school doesn't make it super clear if it's mandatory or just recommended. What's the real deal with the PSATs? Are they a must for …

I've had a pretty unique experience with the whole process of writing my college essay and thought it could be interesting. But is it too navel-gazing or try-hard to write about writing the essay itse …

Need a quick clarification – do you have to write an essay when you're taking the PSAT, or is it just multiple-choice sections? Just trying to prep and I really can't find a straight answer on this!

I got my PSAT scores back, and I'm not exactly sure how to read them. What’s considered a good score, and how can I tell what my strengths and weaknesses are from the score report?

Hey all, how are you making use of the 'Additional Information' section in the Common App? I want to talk about an illness that affected my grades, but I'm not sure how to articulate it. Thoughts and …

Hi everyone! Junior here starting to freak out a little bit about college apps. Does anyone know if the Common App is already open for the 2024 application cycle? Want to get a head start if possible, …

Hey everyone, I'm starting to think about college prep and I've heard a lot about the PSAT. Can anyone tell me what the PSAT actually does for students? Like, does it help with college admissions or i …

Hi friends, I’m working on my financial aid applications and I’ve heard that I need to connect my FAFSA to the Common App? Is that really a thing, and if so, how do I actually do it? Do I need to do i …

Hey everyone, I was just about to start working on my college applications, and I realized that Georgetown University has its own separate application process. Can someone explain to me why Georgetown …

As the title suggests, I'm on edge waiting for my PSAT scores to drop. Does anyone know what time they typically release them? Is it early morning, or do I have to wait until the afternoon? Just tryin …

Hey everyone! With so many things accessed online these days, I was wondering if there’s a way to take the PSAT remotely? I’m not too keen on going to a testing center if I can avoid it.

Hey everyone, I’ve been hearing a lot about the PSAT and I’m kinda confused about its significance. Can someone explain how important the PSAT is for college admissions? I know it's linked to National …

I'm trying to understand how the PSAT is scored. Can someone explain the scoring process or point me toward a guide that explains how the raw scores are turned into the scaled scores you see on the re …

Out of pure curiosity (I promise!), I stumbled upon services offering to write your college essay for you. Obviously, this raises some red flags, but do people actually do this? Isn't it, like, totall …

Hey, does anyone have an idea about when the PSAT scores from this year are typically released? I just want to mark the date in my calendar so I can prepare myself mentally for the moment of truth.

Hey everyone, feeling a bit frazzled here. So, I accidentally matched my Common App with my Naviance, but it seems like there's a mistake. Does anyone know how to unmatch my Common App from Naviance, …

Hey everyone, I'm trying to plan ahead and was wondering, with all the shifts to digital formats, is there any possibility to take the PSAT online this year? Has anyone done it before or know more abo …

Hey guys, junior here starting to think about college admissions tests. I know the PSAT is like a practice SAT, but I'm kinda confused about the best time to take it. Should I take it the same year as …

So I kinda procrastinated and now I have the PSAT tomorrow. I know, not the best move, but do you guys have any tips on how to study effectively when you're short on time? I'm looking for some quick s …