For most AU students, their college career started with the big envelope and little envelope dilemma. High school seniors know a big envelope means “Congratulations!” but a little envelope has only one sheet of paper that starts with, “We regret to inform you that we cannot offer you admission at this time.”
Everyone at AU came home one day to find a big envelope waiting. But for some 150 students each year, the big envelope they found didn’t really solve the problem. I was one of those students.
One day I received my own big envelope. But instead of admission for the fall 2012 semester, I had been offered admission to the Washington Mentorship Program (WMP), which was designed to give some freshman the same opportunity along with an internship for credit. I was ecstatic.
And then I turned the page.
A small black list itemized the cost of the program. Below the total, written in red capital letters, was one sentence explaining that federal and financial aid did not apply in any way to this program. I immediately burst into tears.
It turns out the WMP is part of the School of Professional and Extended Studies (SPEX), which offers a variety of programs for undergraduate and graduate students whether they attend AU or not. The problem is students enrolled in programs like the WMP are considered “non-degree seeking students” and therefore ineligible to receive financial aid from school or federal government.
I do not know what other programs SPEX offers, but AU needs to label WMP students as “degree seeking students.” Why? Because that is what they are.
The WMP is structured so all enrolled students have Wednesdays and Thursdays free for a three credit internship. In addition to this internship, students are required to take three classes, all of which resemble three courses offered on main campus.
When I received my big envelope, AU gave me the resources to make sense of the WMP. There was a link to an informative website, and the phone number of a student who had previously been a part of the WMP. When I called, the girl talked about her internship, her incredible experience, how well acquainted she’d become with D.C. and the strong, tight knit community the program built.
And then we started to talk money. I asked about whether it was really possible that no aid could apply. No, aid did not apply. But she recommended private loans from a list supplied by AU. Not one had an annual interest rate under 9 percent.
Luckily I figured out a way to get here. But that won’t be the case for many students who equally deserve the opportunity. WMP was an incredible experience. I interned at Planned Parenthood For America during the 2012 presidential election while others worked for campaign finance offices or on Capitol Hill. We all worked hard and had to balance time between works and class. If that is not degree seeking, then what is?
Shelby Ostergaard is a junior in the School of Public Affairs.
