Spring Break
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Merit scholars deserve to go abroad
Letters to the Editor | 1/27/09
Posted online at 3:28 AM EST on 1/27/09
To the Editor:
In response to your editorial "Poor choices for study abroad"?(Jan. 20 issue): I graduated from Brandeis in 2006. I received a merit scholarship that covered almost the entire tuition. This was a huge factor in my decision to attend Brandeis-as I believe is the intention of Brandeis' generous merit scholarship program-and also allowed me to study abroad in Spain. I would have needed to take out substantial loans to study abroad if my scholarship had not transferred.
I do understand that the University needs to cut money wherever it can, and I'm sure this was a difficult decision to make. But I urge administrators to reconsider. It could be fair to begin this policy for next year's incoming first-years; those students would know when they accepted their scholarships that it would not transfer abroad. But it is not fair to rescind a scholarship that was offered, in writing, with the promise it would transfer abroad.
Studying abroad gives students new knowledge and perspective and opens their eyes to many career options they may pursue after graduation. These wide-ranging choices certainly add value to the Brandeis name, and it would be a shame if students were unable to study abroad and lost the opportunity to gain this perspective.
-Alexandra Perloe '06
In response to your editorial "Poor choices for study abroad"?(Jan. 20 issue): I graduated from Brandeis in 2006. I received a merit scholarship that covered almost the entire tuition. This was a huge factor in my decision to attend Brandeis-as I believe is the intention of Brandeis' generous merit scholarship program-and also allowed me to study abroad in Spain. I would have needed to take out substantial loans to study abroad if my scholarship had not transferred.
I do understand that the University needs to cut money wherever it can, and I'm sure this was a difficult decision to make. But I urge administrators to reconsider. It could be fair to begin this policy for next year's incoming first-years; those students would know when they accepted their scholarships that it would not transfer abroad. But it is not fair to rescind a scholarship that was offered, in writing, with the promise it would transfer abroad.
Studying abroad gives students new knowledge and perspective and opens their eyes to many career options they may pursue after graduation. These wide-ranging choices certainly add value to the Brandeis name, and it would be a shame if students were unable to study abroad and lost the opportunity to gain this perspective.
-Alexandra Perloe '06
Be the first to comment on this story