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My best friend is bulimic and I'm really worried.
She says I'm imagining things but I'm positive about
what I've seen and heard. What can I do to help her without
jeopardizing our friendship?
Unfortunately, there is little help for bulimia or any
other compulsive disease (overeating, substance abuse, gambling).
Unless the individual in question wants and accepts help, your hands
are tied. Keep talking to your friend and confide this problem to an
adult that you trust. If possible, speak to your guidance counselor
and ask for recommendations for programs that assist with disorders
such as bulimia. If all else fails, you should speak directly to your
friend's parents. BOTH Anorexia and Bulimia can be life threatening
and must be taken seriously.
I have a low grade point average because of bad grades
in the ninth and tenth grades. However, in my junior year and early in
my senior year, I improved quite a bit. How will this affect my
chances of acceptance into a good college?
Colleges look very favorably on improved grades. It
will definitely help your entrance into college. One of the students
that I worked with last year had all "A's" and two
"B's" in his first two years of high school. In the eleventh
and twelfth grades, however, he had "C's" and
"B's". His GPA was 3.0 and his SAT score was 1250. The only
college he was accepted to was FIU.
His class rank was quite low due to the academic
competitiveness at MAST Academy where he attended high school.
Are most scholarships merit-based or need-based?
Most true scholarships are based on high grades and SAT scores.
Grants, on the other hand, can be need based.
My math teacher accused me of cheating, but I didn't
cheat. She still doesn't believe me! What should I do?
Make an after school appointment with your teacher.
Explain how this accusation has hurt you deeply and how much you value
your reputation. Be forthright, honest and above all else, sincere. If
you are not comfortable with this advice, try writing the teacher a
letter explaining the situation.
Should I take the ACT?
It has been my experience that the colleges prefer the SAT. In their
opinion the SAT is a realistic predictor of how well a student will do
in college. I also believe that students are under enough stress with
the plethora of tests such as SAT I,SAT II, AP exams, and finals.
Adding another test on top of all that can be overwhelming. All of the
tests cost money with an additional fee for the scores to be sent to
the selected colleges.
How do I know what college is right for me?
I believe the best way to find out about colleges is to speak with as
many college students as possible. College Admissions personnel are
bias regarding their particular institution. Formulate a list of
questions that should include reference to the following topics:
1.) What is the professor/student ratio?
2.) How available is the faculty after class hours?
3.) What scholarships/grants are available?
4.) How does the dorm situation work? Can I pick my own roommate?
5.) What is the percentage of a particular minority or religion if
applicable?
6.) Are there sororities and fraternities? Is it necessary to belong
to one of these groups in order to have a social life?
7.) What is the graduation rate? In other words what percentage of
students stay to complete their degree requirements?
If your are planning a college tour, it is my advice
to take a few days during the fall or spring semester and visit when
the colleger is in session. This is very important because you will
get a totally different picture if you visit during the summer
sessions. Another important factor in your choice process is climate.
Many Floridians and Californians have difficulty adjusting to cold
weather in the Northeast and Midwest. Cold weather, day in and day
out, is not the same as cold weather when you go skiing.
I advise students to narrow their college list to ten schools and
check each one out on the internet. Find out the requirements for
admission and the deadlines for applying. The Web sites are excellent
and most informative. It is no longer necessary, in most cases, to buy
the annual college information books if you have internet access.
How do I get an interview at a college in which I
have an interest?
Most colleges do not require an interview on campus. In some cases
colleges use alumni, located in a particular city, to handle the
interview process. When your application has been received, the
college or university will contact their representative in your
geographical location and you will receive a phone call asking that a
meeting be set up.
I am a senior in high school who has a big case of
"senioritis". Do my grades still count? Most of my friends
are content to sit back and accept their "C's." What should
I do?
Yes, your grades still count. All of your grades, including the last
semester of your senior year are sent to the colleges that request
them. The university or college that accepts you has the right to
reverse that decision if there is a noticeable difference in your
grades or if there has been a serous moral offense such as arrest and
prison time. As far as your friends and their attitude about mediocre
grades, colleges do not like to see "C's." As far as I am
concerned, a grade less than a "B" for a more capable
student is like failing the course.
Toby Rose is President that of Toby Rose's College
Prep and is an Independent College Counselor. She was Dade County's
Outstanding Teacher, 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 Southern 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 www.tobyrose.com.
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