Toshani R

Thanks for the session!

Learner · 1 day ago

She is greta.

Learner · 5 days ago

thank you for this session

Learner · 9 days ago

You skillfully guided the learners to explore and reason through complex topics like financial aid, scholarships, and college costs, without simply giving them answers. From the start, you invited learners to share their goals and experiences in the chat, asking them to explain what they hoped to gain from the workshop. For example, when Kylie, Brianna, and Shreyanshi introduced themselves, you acknowledged each response individually, highlighting their goals (“Amazing, nice to meet you, Eva, and Amber as well. Very great goals here.”), which reinforced that their input was valued and meaningful. Throughout the session, you used learner questions to shape your pacing and explanations. When learners expressed confusion about the pre-survey link or CSS forms, you paused and walked them through the steps, clarifying options and providing alternatives (“If you can’t find it, we can do it at the end of the session. Don’t worry about it.”). This not only ensured understanding but allowed the group to collectively navigate challenges, turning questions into teachable moments. You consistently encouraged learners to take the lead in discussions. For instance, when students shared concerns about scammy scholarships or the complexity of FAFSA, you facilitated dialogue rather than giving a lecture: “Yeah, most of them are really highly selective… You still have a chance, but you have to dig deep.” By prompting learners to reflect on their own experiences and share strategies, you turned them into active participants solving problems together. You also responded dynamically to learner input, adapting examples based on their questions. When students discussed specific colleges and costs—like MIT, NYU, or Columbia—you provided context about how sticker prices often differ from actual costs and connected it to your own experience with financial aid. This made abstract concepts tangible and actionable. Even during technical interruptions or participation challenges, you maintained awareness of learner engagement, ensuring no one was left behind. For example, when multiple learners couldn’t hear, you acknowledged their issues and kept the session moving in ways that included them, later summarizing missed content so everyone could stay aligned. By allowing learners to drive much of the conversation while providing timely clarification and context, you created a session where they were fully engaged, actively reasoning, and supporting each other—truly taking ownership of their learning while you functioned as a supportive facilitator.

Tutor · 9 days ago

You're super friendly and likable, it'd just be really helpful if you moved a bit faster and just focused more on the meaningful bits of the session

Learner · 9 days ago

I really loved how you took the time to answer every question! Thank you!

Learner · 9 days ago

Thank you so much!

Learner · 9 days ago

I really like this session

Learner · 9 days ago

This session was amazing! I learnt so much and the tutor was so friendly and kind.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you for this session! :)

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

I really like how sweat the tutor is and how she patiently answered all the questions. Thank you!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

thank you for your session

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you for your help!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you for this session! It was very helpful and informative 🫶

Learner · 1 mo. ago

The way you explained it was in a way I was able to understand it. Thank you, I appreciate it.

Learner · 3 mo. ago

Thank you for your help today.

Learner · 9 mo. ago

Thanks!

Learner · 9 mo. ago

Thx

Learner · 9 mo. ago

Thank you for this session! Although the lesson was cut short due to some technical difficulties, I found it to be very informative and helpful!

Learner · 2 days ago

Thank you so much!

Learner · 8 days ago

You were clearly very prepared to run this session smoothly. You had a clear plan, starting with a recap of key concepts, introducing the workshop goals, and walking learners through financial aid processes in an organized way. Your explanations showed a deep understanding of the material, especially when you broke down complex topics like FAFSA, CSS, scholarships, and college costs. For example, explaining that the sticker price of a college like Harvard does not necessarily reflect what a student actually pays, and giving the Princeton example where a friend received nearly full aid, made the concept tangible and reassuring for learners. I really liked how you used specific examples to clarify difficult ideas. When discussing scholarships, you mentioned the Amazon scholarship, its low acceptance rate, and the College Board scholarship, which gave learners a realistic sense of how competitive and rare some awards are. You also connected these examples to learners’ experiences, validating their frustrations about how time-consuming or difficult the search can be, which helped maintain engagement. Your analogies and conversational style worked well for making abstract ideas understandable. For instance, when describing how family income, household size, and major competitiveness affect financial aid, you provided step-by-step reasoning that helped learners see the bigger picture without feeling overwhelmed. You also offered practical tips, like encouraging learners to participate actively, ask questions, and use peer support, which reinforced understanding while keeping the session interactive. One thing that could be improved is pacing. Some parts, like the scholarship discussion, were very detailed and sometimes wandered off, which might make it harder for learners to follow the main points. You could try gently summarizing or redirecting the conversation to keep the session on track while still letting learners share their thoughts.

Tutor · 9 days ago

When Liyana asked, “For merit-based scholarships, do they take SAT scores into consideration?” you noticed right away that she was trying to understand a more nuanced part of the process. Instead of giving a brief yes/no, you acknowledged her question and explained how different scholarships weigh factors differently, including test scores, GPA, and extracurricular achievements. You also invited other learners to share their experiences with merit-based scholarships, turning it into a collaborative discussion. You followed up by clarifying common misconceptions, such as the idea that all scholarships require perfect test scores, and provided concrete examples of programs where other factors are considered. By addressing Liyana’s question in this layered way, you ensured that she (and other learners) understood both the specifics and the broader context. This approach encouraged learners to think critically, ask additional questions, and reflect on their own scholarship strategies. In addition, you created a welcoming and supportive learning environment throughout the session. You consistently addressed learners by name, such as when responding to Liyana’s question about merit-based scholarships and Antonella’s comment on U.S. citizenship requirements. You acknowledged learners’ concerns, like their frustration with scammy scholarships, and normalized confusion by explaining that navigating financial aid is challenging for everyone. You encouraged active participation by inviting students to unmute or contribute in the chat, and reinforced peer interaction by prompting learners to share personal experiences, such as Kylie describing her strategy for focusing on aid after finishing applications. You also used humor and relatable anecdotes, like joking about paying fees to “support admissions officers’ wages,” to make learners feel comfortable. These strategies created a space where learners felt safe to ask questions, share uncertainties, and engage fully in the session.

Tutor · 9 days ago

Thank you for the helpful session!

Learner · 9 days ago

Thank you for this session.

Learner · 9 days ago

thanks a lot

Learner · 9 days ago

Thank you for this session Toshani! It was a great learning experience learning about how to apply to college throughout these sessions! Again, thank you so much! 🙏

Learner · 1 mo. ago

The session was very insightful and helpful

Learner · 1 mo. ago

I had to leave early so I can't really give any feedback. However, I will say you are very organized

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you for the session! It was really helpful.

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you for this session! :)

Learner · 1 mo. ago

thank you! <3

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Thank you!!

Learner · 1 mo. ago

Really helped me in a way that helped me understand a equation that I did not understand previously which helped me solve the problem and understand it. Thank you

Learner · 2 mo. ago

Thank you just being able to talk and not be forced to really helped

Learner · 9 mo. ago

Thank you!

Learner · 9 mo. ago

The tutor, although sometimes unable to articulate clearly, was engaging and adaptive. The tutor checks the learners' prior knowledge through verbal exchange and adapts to the learners' current knowledge. The tutor does a great job engaging the learner by asking questions.

Tutor · 9 mo. ago

Thx

Learner · 9 mo. ago