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Advisor Questions and Answers

Answers to questions frequently asked by parents and students applying to colleges. Post your questions and receive responses from CollegeSimply Advisor and the community.

Do ACT subscores flag academic strengths or weaknesses?

Do colleges like Harvard or Dartmouth use ACT subscores to identify specific academic strengths or weaknesses, or do they mostly look at the composite score? How could this affect their admissions decision?

Harvard Dartmouth

Top Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Oklahoma

Hey, I'm starting my college search and looking at schools in Oklahoma. I'd like to know which colleges are considered the hardest to get into. Does anyone have insights on their admission rates or personal experiences? I'm trying to figure out where to focus my applications.

OU Oklahoma State University-Main Campus ORU Tulsa University

Impact of Weighted GPA on College Applications

Does a weighted GPA look better than an unweighted one when applying to colleges like MIT or Harvard? I've taken a few AP and honors classes, and my weighted GPA is higher.

MIT Harvard

Battle of the Ivies: Brown vs. Dartmouth for liberal arts?

Brown or Dartmouth for a liberal arts focus? I'm trying to figure out which campus community and academic approach would suit me better. Insights, please?

Brown Dartmouth

Class rank and its importance for honors programs?

When applying to honors programs within universities, is class rank a huge determining factor, or do these programs look more at other academic accomplishments and test scores?

How Does AP Impact Admission Decisions?

Does taking AP courses influence my chances of getting in? I'm curious about how schools like Columbia or Duke view them in applications.

Columbia Duke

Is a 1060 SAT score competitive?

I just got my SAT scores back, and I scored a 1060. I'm super curious how this stacks up for college applications, especially for schools like Arizona State or University of Oregon. Should I retake the test, or is this score decent enough to make me competitive for admissions?

ASU UO

Am I a Fit for Williams College?

I'm interested in Williams College but worried about fitting in. I excel in humanities and have a few leadership roles but not much in sports or arts. How important is it to have diverse interests to get accepted?

Williams

Choosing a Recommender

Is it better to ask a teacher from a difficult class for a letter of recommendation or someone who taught me for multiple years? Trying to decide who would provide a stronger reference.

Marine Corps University Admission Difficulty

Thinking about applying to Marine Corps University but I'm not sure how difficult it is. Can someone break down what they focus on during the admissions process?

UT Austin Early Decision Acceptance Rate?

Does anyone know what the acceptance rate is for early decision at UT Austin? I'm thinking about applying early but I'm not sure how much it actually improves my chances. Any insights about early admission there would be appreciated!

UT Austin

Should I stress over a 3.0 GPA during freshman year?

I've got a 3.0 GPA as a freshman and I feel like it's not good enough for top schools. Is this something that should worry me, or is there still room to improve my chances over the next few years?

What are the top hard-to-get-into colleges in Alabama?

I'm looking into college options and curious about the hardest schools to get into in Alabama. Any insights into what makes them so selective? I'm considering places like Auburn University and the University of Alabama, but not sure how they compare in terms of admissions difficulty.

Auburn Alabama Samford University

Is a 1030 SAT Score Sufficient for College?

Hey, does anyone know if a 1030 SAT score is decent enough for admission into most colleges? I'm figuring out if I need to retake it or if I can apply to schools I'm interested in without stress. Any tips on what colleges might accept this score? Appreciate the help!

WKU UNT

CSULB vs. SDSU: Best for business management?

Anyone have some pointers on choosing between CSULB and SDSU for a business management degree? What's campus life like, and are there good networking opportunities at either school?

Should I take the SAT or the ACT?

If I'm not a math person, would it be better to take the ACT or the SAT? I'm trying to apply for colleges like Northwestern and Duke, and I've heard different things about which test could be easier. Any tips on which one I might do better on?

Northwestern Duke

Rhode Island colleges with diverse student bodies?

Hi everyone, I'm interested in colleges in Rhode Island. Which ones have a genuinely diverse student body and inclusive programs?

Brown RIC Providence URI Johnson & Wales University-Providence

What are some good safety schools in Massachusetts?

Hey everyone, I'm starting my college search and want to apply to schools in Massachusetts. I have a few reach and target schools in mind, but I'm struggling to find good safety options. Any recommendations? Ideally looking for somewhere that still has a strong academic reputation but is a bit easier to get into.

UMass WSSU Bridgewater State Framingham State University

How does Northwestern's study abroad compare to other Big 10 schools?

I've got Northwestern on my list, and I'm curious how their study abroad options stack up against other Big 10 schools. I really want a school with strong international opportunities.

Northwestern

GPA needed for a scholarship at Stanford?

I'm really interested in Stanford, but I also need a scholarship to afford it. Does anyone know what GPA I would need to be competitive for scholarships at Stanford?

Stanford