ASK TOBY! Toby Rose  Independent College Counselor President, Toby Rose's College Prep of Miami, Inc. Have questions regarding college, applications, SAT, scholarships, or just confused about life? Ask Toby! Toby Rose, President of Toby Rose’s College Prep of Miami, Inc., has an educational and teen advice column in the Pinecrest Community Newspaper. She is an independent college counselor, was a Dade County Outstanding Teacher and served as chairperson of the Dade County School Board’s Academic Advisory Committee. Rose is a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors and the Higher Education Consultants Association.  She also is a member of the University of Miami’s Women’s Guild and the American Association of University Women and is past president of the Pinecrest Business Association. Toby Rose may be contacted by calling 305-238-7737 or by email, toby@tobyrose.com.

Chris Horachek with Nikita		Vivian Eiroa Our Lady of Lourdes Academy Miami, Florida
Jeanette Smith with Arshi Jahanp		Mayra Castellon Gulliver Prep. Pinecrest, Florida
Lauren Lareau with SSAT Class		Claudia Iturrgui Carrollton
Tiffany Lau Palmetto Senior H. S. Pinecrest, Florida Stanford University	Morgan Wicks Florida Christian School FSU	Tanner Simkins Palmetto Senior H. S. Pinecrest, Florida
David Lee Palmetto Senior H. S. Pinecrest, Florida	Harrison Rosnei Killian H. S.	Hyun-Woo Lim Palmetto Senior H. S. Pinecrest, Florida
Julie Silberman Gulliver Academy Pinecrest, Florida UF Bright Futures	Nicholas Hart Palmetto Senior H. S. Pinecrest, Florida University of Colorado	Alexandera Barr Palmetto Senior H. S. Pinecrest, Florida
Raquel Decespedes Coral Reef Senior H.S. Miami, Florida	George & Justin Metcalfe Belen Senior H. S. Miami, Florida

Toby's Newspaper Columns

Question: I’m a junior and watching all my friends who are seniors do their college applications. Why don’t they just all do the Common Application and be done with it?

Answer: It’s not that easy. The majority of schools who do use the Common Application will send you a supplemental application, which has their information and perhaps additional essays. In reality, if the school has their own application to begin with, you might just do that and it will take the same amount of time as the Common Application and a supplement.

 

Question: My son is applying to both Emory College and Oxford College of Emory University. Will he receive 2 separate notifications of acceptance or rejection, or just one?

Answer: He will receive 2 separate letters.

 

Question: The registrar at my school did not send in my transcript. I have a Nov. 1st deadline for UF. Will UF still accept my application?

Answer: Yes, they will accept your application but will not review it until everything that they asked for is complete. What it means is that your application will not be read till one of the last.

 

 

Question: My parents are nagging me about taking the SAT. I’m a junior and I don’t see what the big deal is. I’ll take it in my senior year and not have to stress this year. What do you think of that strategy and what’s the big deal about the SAT anyway?

Answer: I don’t know enough about your situation to give you a personal strategy, but my best suggestion for any student would be to take the SAT at the end of your junior year, May and/or June. And why is it so important? Because the SAT is a predictor of how well you will do in college. It is a 5 hour test that is used to compare you to thousands of other students taking the same test. Please call me if I can be of further assistance (305-238-7737).

 

 

Question: How is Florida going to reduce class size as mandated by law for school next year?

Answer: They are going to try a number of things, such as

• redrawing school boundaries to shift students from full schools to those with space
• asking students to take courses online
• placing partitions in classrooms
• mixing students of different ages in the same class
• adding portable classrooms
• stripping teachers of their classrooms
• turning students away from some classes all together

 

Question: What is the total enrollment of the University of Florida?

Answer: The total enrollment is 46,549, of which 35,110 are undergraduate students. 46% of the University of Florida are male with 54% being female. The total percent minority is 34%. The breakdown on that is African American 10%, Asian 7%, Hispanic 13%, Native Americans 0%, percent other 4%. In-state 95% of students, and out-of-state 5%. The retention rate of the University of Florida is 94%.

                     

 

Question: Do any of your students apply out of the United States for college?

Answer: Yes, this year one of my students is applying to Franklin University in Switzerland and The London School of Economics and Political Science

 

 

Question: I have a really important question: all of the kids are talking about majors and what they are going to major in in college. I have absolutely no idea what I want to major in. Do I have to declare a major or can I go and explore different fields?

Answer: I think unless you are absolutely positive, you do not need to declare a major. There’s always a section on the application where it gives you a chance to put “do not know” or something similar. Just be honest when you do your applications. If you don’t know your major, say so.

 

 

Question: Do you have a list of religiously affiliated institutions on college campuses?

Answer: The following is a listing of resources for students seeking religious affiliated colleges and universities: Adventist Education Net (www.nadeducation.org), Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (www.accunet.org), Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (www.ajeunet.ed), Christian College Mentor (www.christiancollegementor.com), Evangelical Lutheran Church in American: Colleges and Universities (www.elca.org/colleges), Hillel: Guide to Jewish  Life on Campuses (www.hillel.org/hillel/hillel/school/NEW.nsf/schoolsopenforum) .

 

 

Question: My guidance counselor at school keeps changing. How does he/she write me a college recommendation if they don’t know me?

Answer: That’s a really good question that I don’t have a good answer for. All I can tell you is that I am aware of the problem and aware that guidance counselors are overworked with the caseload of as many as 7- to 800 students. I suggest that you go introduce yourself to your guidance counselor and take along an activities sheet or resume and leave it so that they will get to know who you are.

 

Question: Can you explain the new legislation regarding student aid?

Answer: In September, Congress approved the largest overhaul of education funding in the past five decades. Subsidies to lenders by 20.9 billion over 5 years have been slashed and redirected to boost financial aid to students and reduced interest payments on their loans. This bill would also offer debt forgiveness for students who enter certain public sector jobs. Also, this bill would invest 510 million in minority colleges. Passage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act is extremely significant. College cost has soared over 40% in the past 5 years. This bill would halve interest rates for students starting July 1st from a current 6.8% to 3.4% faced in over 4 years. At the start of the 2008-09 academic year, the bill would begin increasing the maximum Pell Grant from 4,300 to 5,400 by 2012. Starting by July 1st, 2009, the bill would cap students’ monthly federal loan repayments to 15% of their discretionary income. Also, 285 million would be funneled to the Upward Bound College-Prep Program.

                                        

 

Question: With all of your experience in reading college applications, could you please give me a few relatively easy essay questions that I might find on next year’s applications?

Answer: The following are questions found this year on many applications that the majority of my students have found quite easy, although you may not. One, “The university takes pride in the contributions made by all members of our community. Briefly describe what you believe other students could learn from you both in and out of the classroom.” Two, “Identify one person who has had a significant influence on you and briefly describe that influence.” Three, “Briefly describe a significant event or circumstance and how it has impacted your personal and academic development.” When first reading these essays they may seem difficult to you but in comparison to other essays, believe me, these are the easiest.

 

 

Question: In your opinion, what are some of the best essay questions that you’ve seen this year?

Answer: From Catholic University of America, the following 3 essays are really, in my eyes, a winner:

• “It is often said that you do not know someone until you have walked a mile in his or her shoes. Whose shoes would you walk in and why?”
• “In your opinion, what is the greatest obstacle your generation will face? And what solution would you propose to overcome it?”
• “John Keith wrote ‘nothing ever becomes real till it’s experienced, even a proverb is no proverb to you till your life has illustrated it’. Please tell us about an experience in your own life which has illustrated a special proverb or quote that has meaning to you.”

 

 

Question: I’m a senior and really, really need financial aid. Every little penny helps and I can’t go out of town to a state school because I don’t have the money for housing or trips back and forth. What do you think I should do? Go to University of Miami, try to apply for scholarships there and earn money, or go to Miami-Dade College? What do you think I should do, go to UM, FIU, or Miami-Dade. I want to become a teacher.

Answer: I think we are very lucky to have Miami-Dade College right in our own backyard. Your best bet, in my opinion, is to go to Miami-Dade College and get a teaching degree. Also, I’m almost positive that you could get a full tuition reimbursement if you want to be a teacher. There are many scholarships for students aspiring to be teachers.
 

                              

Question: My friend is applying to at least 20 different colleges. What do you think of this?

Answer: I think the standard rate should be 7 and no more. Each college application takes approximately 10 to 25 hours, plus the cost of sending the application, the application fee, sending your test scores, etc, etc.

 

Question: What do I wear to college interview?

Answer: Be natural, be yourself. Boys don’t need to wear a suit and tie. If the interview is directly after school and you have a school uniform, by all means, wear it. If not, make sure your clothes are neatly pressed. Girls, have your nails clean without nail polish. Same thing for boys, clean nails. Do not wear anything outrageous. Girls, play down the makeup and jewelry. Less is best. Take a pen and paper because that shows the person interviewing you that you are ready to take notes. Come prepared with at least 3 questions about the college that you are interviewing for; that shows that you are really interested. Never be late. Late shows that you really don’t care about being there. Being on time or early shows that this is a priority in your life. Look the person directly in the eyes (eye contact). Turn your body towards the interviewer, not away. Shake hands firmly at the start and end of the interview. It is important to thank the person for his or her time.

 

Question: My counselor said I only need to take 2 years of math. I think this is great because math is my weakest subject. Some of my friends said that’s not true. What is the truth?

Answer: The truth is that the state of Florida requires only 2 years of math. However, all major colleges prefer 4 years, and many require 4 years of math.

 

Question: What do you know about Barnard College?

Answer: Barnard College is located at 3009 Broadway, NY and was founded in 1889. Their regular application deadline is Jan 2nd and they are an all-women’s college. The cost for room and board is $11,392. The cost for tuition and fees is $33,078. The student faculty ratio is 10:1. The 3 most popular majors are Public Administration and Social Services, Psychology, English. 91% of students live on-campus and there is no affiliation with the Greek System. Barnard is a small school with 2,350 students.

 

Question: What is the Miami Dade school system using instead of class rank?

Answer: We now have a system that gives honors to a greater range of students. Students who graduate in the top 5% of their class will receive Suma Cum Laude honors. Students in the top 10%, Magnet Cum Laude, and Cum Laude designation will go to the top 15% of the students or any student who earns a grade point average of 4.0 or better.

 

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Toby Rose is President of Toby Rose’s College Prep of Miami, Inc., and is an Independent College Counselor. She has been awarded Dade County’s Outstanding Teacher, has directed the High School in Israel Program, and was the Chairperson of the Dade County School Board’s Academic Advisory Committee. Toby’s professional affiliations include membership in both the National Association of College Admissions Counselors and the Higher Education Consultants’ Association. She is also a member of the University of Miami Women’s Guild and the American Association of University Women.

If you have any educational concerns or questions, you can contact her at 305-238-7737 or by email: toby@tobyrose.com.