CollegeVine Expert FAQ

I'm really interested in how Brown University allows students to shape their own educational journey with an open curriculum. Are there other colleges that offer a similar level of academic freedom an …

Yo, so I've been super into Reed College because of its unique culture and academic intensity, but I want to have more options. How do I search for colleges that have a similar feel to Reed but might …

Need some quick advice! Have a bunch of honors classes available next year, and I'm trying to decide if I should take them. How do colleges look at honors classes compared to regular or AP classes? Do …

Im totally appealed by Swarthmore's rigorous academics and how everyone seems super engaged with their studies - but uh, it's pretty selective. In the event I need plan B (or C...), which colleges als …

Hey everyone! I'm really into USC's blend of strong academics, vibrant social scene, and entrepreneurial spirit, but I want to expand my list. Can anyone suggest colleges that offer a similar kind of …

I'm a little bit stressed about balancing my academics during the second semester of senior year. How important is your performance in the second semester to colleges? Should I be worried about senior …

Hello! I know that colleges often review first semester senior year grades during the admissions process, but do they also look at second semester grades? If so, how important are those grades? I want …

Hi, I'm stressing out a bit about the college application process. If I apply for Early Decision somewhere, do colleges even see my senior year grades? I want to make sure I don't slack off senior yea …

Hey guys, I'm concerned that if I get accepted into a college through Early Decision, but the financial aid package isn't enough, I'd be stuck. Can I get out of an Early Decision agreement if the fina …

I'm looking for universities that offer a solid education similar to UMass Amherst. I'm especially interested in their strong programs and research opportunities for undergrads. Any tips on other publ …

Hey y'all! So in a bit of a dilemma here – I've taken three years of Spanish but I'm not sure if I should go for the fourth year. Is it true that colleges like to see 4 years of a language? Or can I s …

I visited James Madison University and fell in love with the campus culture and the way students seemed so connected. Unfortunately, it’s not a guarantee I’ll get in. Do you all know of any other scho …

I'm planning my schedule for senior year and wondering how many classes I should take to maintain a challenging but manageable workload. How many classes did you guys take during your senior year and …

I'm weighing my options for college applications and stumbled upon ED2. In your experience, does applying Early Decision 2 increase your chances of getting accepted compared to Regular Decision? Feeli …

Hi! My dream is to attend an Ivy League school and I am currently trying to put together my college application strategy. I'm aware that many of these schools have Early Decision, but do any of them a …

Hey, I applied and got accepted through Early Decision at a college, but I might need to take a gap year first. Is there a way to defer my acceptance so that I can attend the college the following yea …

Hey everyone, does anyone else feel super deflated when you start looking at colleges and comparing yourself to others? How do you deal with this overwhelming sense of possibly not measuring up?

Hey guys, I'm a junior and I'm considering applying Early Decision to my dream school soon. I understand that it is a binding decision if I get accepted. However, has anyone heard of situations where …

Question for y’all – when writing application essays, I know personal struggles can be compelling, but do colleges get tired of 'sob stories,' or do they genuinely value these narratives? Just trying …

Do most colleges require freshman students to live on campus, or do some schools allow alternative housing arrangements? How does this vary depending on the institution? Is it better to live on campus …