CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hi fellow high school students and collegevine experts! I'm a junior and I've been taking a mix of honors and AP classes throughout my high school career. My GPA is pretty good, but I'm wondering if c …

My GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities are all good, but I'm worried about standing out from the crowd when I apply to competitive schools like Stanford and Harvard. How can I make my app …

With technology getting more advanced, I'm a little worried about accidental plagiarism since I tend to discuss popular topics in my essays. Does anyone know if colleges are using AI detectors to find …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm unsure about my future career goals. Is it important to have a clear career goal when applying to college, or is it okay to be undecided? Thank you!

I'm currently at a decent college, but I've been considering transferring to an Ivy League school. I was wondering if any of you have experience or know if it's easier to get accepted as a transfer st …

Hello! I took the SAT and scored a 1480, which I feel good about. However, I'm concerned that it may not be impressive enough for Ivy League applications. Should I try to improve my score, or is a 148 …

Hey all! I've been practicing yoga consistently for a few years now and have even attended some workshops and training sessions. Can I include yoga as an extracurricular activity on my college applica …

Hi all, I'm a junior and I've been hearing a lot about the SAT and ACT lately. When do you think is the best time to start studying for these tests? I want to make sure I give myself enough time to pr …

I'm a junior struggling to decide if I should take AP classes next year or focus on maintaining a high GPA. What's more important for college admissions: taking AP classes or having a high GPA? Thanks …

Hi all! I'm currently in my junior year and I've started looking for colleges that I'd like to apply to. I'm trying to find some research universities that have a strong liberal arts feel to them. Any …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior in high school, and I'm wondering if I should start applying for college scholarships now or wait until my senior year. Is there a benefit to applying early? Thanks for any a …

Hey guys! I'm really into drawing and painting, and I'm in my school's art club. Do you think this could be considered an extracurricular activity? If so, can I include it on my college application?

Hi everyone! I'm a high school junior, and I'm starting to think about the college application process. I'm not entirely sure what I want to major in yet, and I'm wondering if that's going to hurt my …

Hi all, I've been dreaming of going to Princeton, but my grades aren't exactly stellar. I do have strong test scores and several best-in-state awards. Is there any chance I could get in if I put toget …

Hi, I'm a junior trying to plan my schedule for senior year, and I'm curious about the IB Diploma requirements. How many Higher Level (HL) courses do I need to take in order to qualify for the diploma …

I'm applying for several scholarships, and I was wondering if it's okay to submit the same essay to different scholarships. Do they check for this kind of thing, or is it alright as long as the essay …

Hey there! I participated in a study abroad program last summer and I'm wondering if it would be considered an extracurricular activity for college applications? It was a great experience and I learne …

Hi there! I'm a junior and I want to make sure I get strong letters of recommendation for my college applications. What's the best way to approach teachers and ask for a recommendation? Any tips would …

Hello! I just got my AP scores back, and I have mostly 5s, but one 4. I'm worried that this 4 might hurt my chances when applying to Ivy League schools. Should I be concerned or is a 4 still considere …

Hi everyone! I'm working on my college essay and I want to use some abbreviations to keep it concise. Is that okay, or should I spell everything out? I don't want it to seem unprofessional. Thanks for …