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CollegeVine Expert FAQ

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


Want to find research universities with a liberal arts vibe—any suggestions?

Hey everyone! I've been searching for colleges lately, and I'm really interested in finding research universities that still have a liberal arts feel to them. Is there a particular term for this type …

2 years ago

What's the best method to approach college visits?

Hey everyone! I'm planning on visiting some colleges soon, but I'm not exactly sure how to make the most of these visits. How should I evaluate each college, and what questions should I ask to get a b …

2 years ago

How important are teacher recommendations for Ivy League applications?

Hi everyone! I've been thinking about applying to Ivy League schools, and I'm unsure how much weight my teacher recommendations will have. Is it crucial to have absolutely glowing recommendations, or …

2 years ago

How do universities fund research, and does it affect undergraduates?

I was wondering how universities manage to fund all the research that takes place on campus. And, do these funding sources have any impact on undergraduate opportunities and the overall educational ex …

2 years ago

Is 1500 a strong SAT score for Ivy League schools?

Hey fellow college applicants, I scored a 1500 on my SAT and I’m honestly not sure if it’s good enough for Ivy League admissions. Can someone please tell me if this score is strong enough for Ivies? T …

2 years ago

Should I use a college counselor or rely on my school's college counselor?

Hi all! I'm a junior who's starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by the college application process. My school has a college counselor, but I know some people hire their own private college counselors. W …

2 years ago

Is Penn State a research university? Need clarification.

High school junior here, looking into applying to several colleges. I'm curious if Penn State counts as a research university. I'm mainly interested in the fields of chemistry and physics, and I hope …

2 years ago

Is Columbia University known for being a research university?

Hi there! I've been looking into Columbia University a bit more and I'm wondering if it's considered a research university. How are the research opportunities at Columbia compared to other research un …

2 years ago

What would be considered a good class rank for Ivy League admissions?

Hey everyone, I'm a high school junior who's interested in applying to the Ivy League. I was wondering if anyone knows what class rank might be considered competitive for these universities? I'm curre …

2 years ago

Help me understand: What is a Tier 1 research university?

I've been researching colleges and came across the term 'Tier 1 research university.' Could someone please clarify what that means and how they are different from other universities? Is it essential t …

2 years ago

How do universities typically fund research?

Hey guys, I'm curious about how universities manage to fund research projects, especially for undergraduates. Where does the money come from? Does it differ between private and public institutions? Ar …

2 years ago

Is a 3.9 unweighted GPA strong enough for Ivy League admission?

Hello! I've been maintaining a 3.9 unweighted GPA throughout high school, but I'm unsure if this is a strong enough GPA for applications to Ivy League schools. Does anyone have any advice or suggestio …

2 years ago

How bad do my grades have to be in order to get rescinded?

I'm a bit stressed right now because I just got accepted into my dream school, but my grades this semester aren't looking too hot. What's the likelihood that I could get rescinded? How bad do my grade …

2 years ago

Difference between public research universities and other public universities?

Hi all, I'm starting to research colleges and I see some public universities being labeled as 'public research universities.' What sets them apart from other public universities? Is there any signific …

2 years ago

Is 1490 a solid SAT score for Ivy League applications?

Hi everyone, I recently received my SAT score and my composite is 1490. I'd like to apply to Ivy League schools, but I'm unsure if this score is strong enough. Should I retake the SAT or is my score c …

2 years ago

What are some things to avoid in a college essay?

Hi everyone! I'm a junior who's working on my college essays and I want to make sure I avoid any major pitfalls. What are some things that I should definitely not include in my essays? Are there any c …

2 years ago

How much do university researchers usually make?

Hello! I'm a high school junior seriously considering a career as a university researcher. While I'm aware that salary shouldn't be my main focus, I'd like to have a rough idea of what university rese …

2 years ago

Can I include church activities as extracurriculars?

Hey! I'm heavily involved in my local church (youth group, volunteering, etc.) and was curious if I can include those activities as extracurriculars on my college applications. Do colleges view church …

2 years ago

How important are AP scores to Ivy League admissions?

Hey everyone! As a junior, I'm taking quite a few AP classes, and I'm wondering how important the AP scores are for Ivy League admissions. I have 5s on most of my exams, but a couple are 4s - is that …

2 years ago

Are AP scores of 4 considered good enough for Ivy League schools?

Hello everyone! I received a 4 on a couple of my AP exams, and I'm wondering if these scores are good enough for Ivy League schools. Do these schools expect students to have 5s on all their AP exams? …

2 years ago
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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.