CollegeVine Expert FAQ

Hey everybody, I'm beginning the essay writing process and I'm a little bit stressed about it. I want to know how long it might take realistically to write a good college essay. Could someone please s …

Hi everyone! I'm a junior right now and I'm really stressing about college applications. I haven't been able to decide on a major yet, and I'm worried that applying undecided will hurt my chances of g …

Hi everyone, I'm polishing up my college essay and I'm not sure if I should double space it or not. Is there a standard format colleges prefer? Thanks for any help!

Hey everyone, I'm considering attending a summer program to boost my college application. Do you think participating in a summer program would make a significant difference in my application? Is it wo …

Hi! I'm a junior in high school, and I've been thinking about what I can do to make my college application stand out. I know that admissions officers read thousands of applications, so I want to make …

I took the SAT in my sophomore year and got a decent score, but I'm wondering if I should retake it to improve my chances of getting into a top college. Is it worth the time and effort to try and rais …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I'm wondering how much weight colleges place on AP classes. I've taken a few, but I'm not sure if I should take more next year. Do colleges really care about how many AP …

Hey everyone, I'm a junior, and I've been looking at college rankings to help me decide where to apply. Is it a good idea to apply to a college just because of its ranking, or should I focus more on o …

Hey guys, I'm considering writing my college essay about a failure I experienced and how I learned from it. Is this a good idea or should I focus on something more positive? I want to make sure my ess …

Hello everyone! I'm a junior and I've been hearing about demonstrated interest as a factor in college admissions. How significant is it, and what are some effective ways to show demonstrated interest …

Unfortunately, I have a felony on my record from a few years ago. I'm trying to turn my life around and go to college, but I'm worried this will affect my chances of receiving financial aid. Is it pos …

Hey guys! I'm a junior, and I really want to find a college mentor who can guide me through the application process. When is the best time to start reaching out to potential mentors? And how should I …

Hi all, I'm a first-generation immigrant and I want to write my college essay about how this experience has shaped me. I'm not sure how to approach this topic without sounding cliché. Does anyone have …

Hi everyone! I have a dream college in mind and I'm considering applying Early Decision. I've heard that applying ED can increase your chances of getting in, but I'm not sure if it's true. Can anyone …

Hello! I'm a high school junior and I've been hearing a lot about the importance of college essays. I want to make sure I have enough time to write a really strong essay, but I'm not sure when I shoul …

Hello! I'm a junior and I've been homeschooled throughout high school. I'm wondering how college admissions officers view homeschooling and if it will affect my chances of getting into college. Can an …

Hey everyone, I'm a high school junior and I'm starting my college search. Unfortunately, I don't have the time or resources to visit all the colleges I'm interested in. How can I get a good sense of …

Hi everyone, I'm a junior in high school and I had a rough freshman year, but my grades have steadily improved since then. I'm wondering if colleges will take this upward trend into consideration when …

Hello! I'm a high school junior, and I'm starting to prepare for college interviews. What are some tips for making a strong, positive impression on my interviewer? Thanks for any suggestions!

I know that colleges value leadership, but I'm not sure how to showcase my leadership skills on my college application. What are some ways I can demonstrate leadership in my activities and essays? Tha …