Explore our collection of admissions FAQs. Each answer is expert-approved by our team to help you reach your goals.
Hey everyone! I've been teaching myself Italian for the past year using apps and online resources. Can this be considered an extracurricular activity? Should I include it on my college application?
Hey everyone, as a junior, I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed trying to balance school, extracurriculars, and college applications. How do you find a balance that works for you? Any time management tips w …
Hey everyone, I had the opportunity to study abroad in France last summer through a short-term program. Can I list this experience as an extracurricular activity when applying to colleges? I'm not sur …
I've been looking into pre-college summer programs at universities like NYU and Georgetown. While they look interesting and potentially valuable, they can be expensive. Are these programs worth the in …
Hello! I'm an international student hoping to attend a competitive US college. Are there any tips or advice on what I can do to stand out in the admissions process and improve my chances of getting ac …
Hey everyone, I'm currently a junior and feeling a little overwhelmed with the whole college application process. I have decent grades and test scores, but I'm not sure what else I should be doing to …
Hi all, I'm a little bit confused about when to apply to college. Can someone help me understand the pros and cons of applying Early Action versus Regular Decision? I want to ensure I'm making the rig …
Hey everyone! I have pretty solid leadership experience as a captain of my school's debate team and a co-founder of a community service club. What's the best way to highlight these experiences on my c …
Hey guys, so I need to ask a few teachers for letters of recommendation for college applications. What's the best way to approach them, and how can I ensure they write a strong and personalized letter …
I've been working at a local retail store part-time during the school year, and I'm wondering if this is something that colleges would like to see on my application. Does it show responsibility and wo …
My grades from freshman and sophomore year were not that great, but I've improved a lot since then. Does anyone have any advice on how I can still have a shot at getting into Princeton, despite my pas …
Hello everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm considering the IB diploma program for my senior year. Can anyone tell me how many HL courses I need to take in order to earn the diploma? Thanks for y …
Hey guys, I've heard that writing about a failure can be a good topic for a college essay, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea. Should I write my college essay about a failure, or is it better to foc …
Hey all, I'm working on my college list and wondering how important school rankings really are. Should I prioritize them over other factors like programs and overall fit? I'd appreciate your thoughts!
Like many students, I had to take some pass/fail classes during the pandemic as my school switched to remote learning. How do colleges evaluate these types of classes when reviewing applications? Than …
Just got my SAT results back and scored a 1520. I'm pretty satisfied with it, but I want to apply to some Ivy League schools like Columbia and Penn. Is my score competitive for these schools, or shoul …
Hi everyone, I've seen the terms Common App and Coalition App come up a lot in college-related discussions, but I'm not entirely clear on what they are. Can someone please explain the differences betw …
Hello! I'm a high school junior and I'm planning on taking the ACT soon. I'm a little anxious about preparing for the test and I'm not sure what resources to use. Can anyone recommend some helpful stu …
Hi everyone! I'm a bit confused about the 'Additional Information' section of the Common App. What type of content should go here, and how should I use this space effectively? Thanks in advance for yo …
Hi everyone. I'm a junior, and the thought of applying to college has been causing me a lot of stress and anxiety lately. There are so many things to keep track of: grades, extracurriculars, standardi …