Belles Need Graduate School Money
One Belle needs $1000 in eight weeks and another needs $500 in two weeks. That’s the barrier between two Belles getting into their desired Ivy League graduate program.
Myeisha Essex is one student who is seeking funding for her $1000 administrative fee that is due May 1. Essex, a journalism and media studies major from Los Angeles, CA was accepted into Columbia University – Graduate School of Journalism March 15.
“If worst comes to worst, I’ll have to put it on a credit card,” Essex says. “I don’t have credit.”
Essex says that she contacted President Malveaux, the advising graduate chapter of her sorority, and two mentors, all of who told her they would assist.
“It’s my senior year, so I put money aside for things that could have gone towards this fee. If I would have known [about the fee] I would have had [money] to pay it.”
Essex says money she spent on other senior year related activities could have been used for the fee.
“I knew it would have been some type of fee, but I didn’t know it would have been in the $1000 range.”
Without the fee, Essex says she would not be able to register for classes nor will she have priority housing – which she says will not guarantee her housing.
Two students admitted into Duke University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program also are pulling their resources for graduate school.
Ashley Barham and Ebonitta Boykin had a fundraising car wash April 2 and 3. They met half of their goals.
“I thought about a loan but it didn’t work out,” Barham says. “Since we are both sisters I thought about having a fundraiser.”
Barham said on April 3, Rex ‘‘The Rib Man” offered to bring his grill for a cookout in partnership with the fundraiser. He donated half of his proceeds to the two.
Barham, biology major from Newark, NJ says she found out about her $500 deposit two Fridays before it was due. Boykin is a biology major from Fayetteville, NC.
“Duke is passionate about us being there, they are willing to be flexible,” Barham says. “It is good we have networks, because our mentors are a part of the admissions board and they have been instrumental in this process.”
In addition to deposits and fees, students are also looking for funding tuition costs.
The full-time, student budget is estimated at $75,206 for Columbia University M.S. in Journalism according their website.
Duke’s ASBN program is $49,550.
Barham and Essex say they’ll use a combination of federal loans and hopefully grants to fund graduate school programs.
The students are excited about being accepted into these prestigious programs, so they are doing all they can to make sure they can attend.
By: Carmen Smith
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