CollegeVine Expert FAQ

So, I'm a little bit stressed out thinking about topics for my essays and I want to reflect on my religious journey because it's a huge part of my life. But, is there a chance that writing about relig …

Hey everyone, I'm kind of new to this whole AP exam thing. Could someone explain the process of how to actually buy an AP exam? I'm not sure if I should go through my school or if there's a way to do …

Ok, so I'm working on my drafts and I'm experimenting with writing styles. I'm wondering if using 'you' in my college essay might break the fourth wall and engage the reader, or if it's just too infor …

Ok, I've decided to take AP Calc AB next year, but I'm a bit nervous about the Free Response Questions (FRQs). Can anyone tell me exactly how many FRQs there are on the exam? Also, any tips on how to …

Got a question that’s bugging me. When we submit our college apps, do universities use plagiarism detectors like Turnitin to check our essays? It’s not that I’m planning to copy anything—just want to …

I've been sketching out ideas for my Common App essay and I'm not sure about formatting—like, should it be MLA style, or are there other formatting expectations I should know about? What's the standar …

Does anyone know where I can find the stats on how many students took the AP World History exam in 2023? I’m curious to see if the numbers have increased or decreased due to any recent changes in AP p …

Hi folks, I’m starting my college search and noticed Allegheny College has a strong emphasis on undergrad involvement and research within a liberal arts framework. What are some other colleges with a …

Pals, I'm branching out internationally and eyeing the University of British Columbia. Does anyone know what kind of GPA UBC expects from their applicants? Share some wisdom, eh?

Feeling a bit stressed with all these application essays. Are there colleges out there that don't even require an essay for admission? It would be a huge relief to know there are options without the e …

Hey! I’m currently slogging through AP World History. I’m just wondering how the grading works for this specific AP exam. How do they decide on the final score, and what’s a good score if you're aimin …

Starting to feel the pressure here - do colleges look at your grades from sophomore year? My GPA wasn't as solid as I'd hoped, and I'm wondering how much this will impact my college applications. Any …

I'm trying to plan things out and was wondering, what do people usually do after their AP exams are done? Should I just jump straight into studying for finals or is it cool to take a break and decompr …

Just wondering, for anyone who's done really well on the AP Psych exam, what kind of percentage are we looking at for a score of 4? Any study tips for reaching that would be very much appreciated!

Hey everyone! I've been really working hard to keep my grades up, and I'm aiming for Texas A&M. I'm getting a bit anxious because I'm not sure what the GPA expectations are. Can anyone shed some light …

Hey guys, I'm finalizing my college applications and I’ve noticed several schools offer 'optional' essays. Should I bother doing these or are they truly optional? Will it hurt my chances if I don't su …

Hey everyone, just came across the term 'unsat GPA' while looking at some college requirements, and I'm kind of confused. Could anyone explain what 'unsat GPA' usually refers to, especially in the con …

Anyone knows how many multiple-choice questions (MCQs) are on a typical AP exam? I heard they might vary between exams, but what's the general format? A bit stressed since I'm better at MCQs than essa …

I'm drawn to NYU because of its urban setting and the whole 'city is your campus' thing. What are some other universities that offer a similar experience in a big city?

I'm getting down to the nitty-gritty of my college essay, and it hit me – do I even need a title for this thing? Some people have told me it’s more polished with a title but others say it’s just fluff …