Skip to main content

CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.


Why are R1 research universities important?

Hi, I’m a junior and have been researching college options. My counselor mentioned 'R1 research universities' to me, but I'm still not quite sure what they are and why they are important. Can someone …

2 years ago

Is the University of Southern California a research university?

Hi all. I'm currently considering applying to the University of Southern California, but I'm not sure if it's characterized as a research university. If it is, how does that impact the undergraduate e …

2 years ago

Would you say Penn State is a research university?

Hi there! I'm interested in attending Penn State University, and I was curious if it's considered a research university. Also, what kind of research opportunities does the school provide for its under …

2 years ago

What's a good class rank for Ivy League consideration?

Hey there, I'm in the top 10% of my class, but I'm not sure if that's good enough for Ivy League schools. What class rank do you think is considered competitive for these schools? I want to make sure …

2 years ago

Can I apply early action and early decision at the same time?

Hey everyone! I'm hoping to apply early decision to my dream school, but there is also another school I really like that offers early action. Can I apply to both early decision (binding) and early act …

2 years ago

Can I apply regular decision to a school after applying early action?

If I apply early action to one of my top schools but don't get accepted, can I apply again during the regular decision round or is that not allowed? I'm trying to plan out my applications and want to …

2 years ago

Would NYU be classified as a research university?

Hi, I'm exploring colleges and wondering if New York University is considered a research university. If it is, how would that affect my educational experience there? I'm strongly considering majoring …

2 years ago

What's a good unweighted GPA for Ivy League admission?

Hi everyone! I'm a junior and have been thinking about applying to Ivy League schools. My unweighted GPA is 3.85 and I'm concerned about how it will affect my admissions chances. Could anyone provide …

2 years ago

Should I retake the SAT if I'm not satisfied with my score?

Hey there! I'm a high school junior, and I recently took the SAT. While my score was decent, I'm not sure if it's good enough for the colleges I'm interested in. Should I consider retaking the SAT, an …

2 years ago

Applying regular decision to other schools after being rejected early action?

Hi everyone! My question is, can I apply regular decision to different schools if I get rejected from my early action application? My main concern is missing regular decision deadlines if I'm not acce …

2 years ago

How is research at universities typically funded?

I've been looking into research opportunities that I could be part of as an undergraduate student, and I'm wondering about how research at universities is funded. How do schools acquire the necessary …

2 years ago

Will a 34 ACT score be competitive for Ivy League admissions?

Hey, so I took the ACT recently and scored a 34. I'm aiming to apply to some Ivy League schools, but I'm not sure if my score is good enough to be considered at that level. Any insights or opinions on …

2 years ago

Is it fine to use contractions in college essays?

Yo, so I'm kinda struggling with my college essay here. Should I use contractions or not? Some people say it's okay to use them for a more natural tone, but others say it's too informal. Help, please?

2 years ago

Strategies for getting into UCLA with subpar grades?

Hello! UCLA has always been my dream school, but my GPA is only around 3.3. I have strong SAT scores, good extracurriculars, and I plan on applying to their Film Studies program. Do any of you have ti …

2 years ago

Do colleges look at social media?

Hi everyone! I've heard that some colleges check applicants' social media profiles during the admissions process. Is this true, and if so, should I be worried about what's on my accounts? Thanks for a …

2 years ago

What's the ideal number of extracurriculars for an Ivy League application?

Hi there, I'm working on building my extracurricular profile for my Ivy League applications. I'm wondering if there's an ideal number of extracurricular activities I should aim for to make the stronge …

2 years ago

Does Northwestern University have a strong research focus?

Hello! I'm thinking about applying to Northwestern University and wondering if it's regarded as a research university. I would like to be involved in research related to machine learning and artificia …

2 years ago

Should you title your college essay?

Hi everyone! As I'm finalizing my college essays, I realized I haven't added any titles to them. Is it recommended or required to include a title for your college essay? Will it make a difference in t …

2 years ago

How can I make my college essay unique?

Hello! I want my college essay to stand out from the thousands of other applicants, but I'm not sure how to make my story unique. Any advice on how to approach my essay in a way that will grab the adm …

2 years ago

What are some good safety schools for a STEM major?

Hello everyone! I'm a high school junior interested in pursuing a STEM major in college. I was wondering if you guys could recommend some good safety schools for me to consider? I've got a 3.9 GPA and …

2 years ago
Displaying questions 174101-174120 of 178040 total
About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.