Offshore schools may lose federal loans

[dimples]

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LI...menu_109_1.htm

Not yet it seems. So I guess keep calling and writing your representatives!

[vugar215]

That's not necc a bad thing though. Sure, it'd be ideal for them to use the whole 609 bill. All this means is that they'll have to reach a compromise. Remember, there are TONS of other issues up for debate in S.1614 and H.R 609. Hopefully when they get to the part we're concerned with, the House will win the debate.


[quote=RUJC05]"Staffers indicated that committee leaders will create a bipartisan bill from the current HEA instead of using the House’s HEA reauthorization bill, H.R. 609."

[nataliestewart21]

Below is the letter I sent the Tennessee and Kentucky senators on our behalf. I realize it is not perfect and I have altered the spelling before sending it, but at least I am trying. We should all step up.

Dear Senator_____________:
Hello, sir. My name is Natalie Henderson, and I am writing you on a very urgent matter. The purpose for my contacting you is that I will begin medical school at Ross University's School of Medicine in Dominica and will thus quite possibly lose my Stafford Loan eligibility if the current bill regarding this matter is passed. This issue is of great importance to me in that my parents and I alone can not afford to the cost for me to attend medical school. Granted, private loans are available to supplement my educational expenses; yet, none of these provide the interest rates and benefits of federally funded loans such as a Stafford loan.
Furthermore, I have been an American citizen since birth and will remain a US citizen while in Dominica. As such, I have earned certain freedoms afforded to all US citizens. Being so, while my peers attending Morehouse, the University of Kentucky, or Vanderbilt University are receiving federal grants because of their citizenship, I, on the other hand, may be forced to struggle to finance my higher education though we share citizenship status. I find the mere possibility of this change in educational funding a great travesty to higher education due to fact that education iniatives are strongly thrust into the forefront of every congressional session, but when the very students the government wants to educate decide to seek their professional degrees, if even temporarily, elsewhere, all funding is pulled from them because they are not at a typical US school. If the goal is helping to educate all of America by providing federal aid, the government is misleading a nation into believing that education and its funding is equally available. However, people like myself might possibly be ousted from this so called educated population.
Moreover, I hypothesize that a main reason for the potential change in funding is due to the economical contribution from the foreign schools into the United States economy. Though iniatially the schools may not directly contribute to the US economy, ultimately more than seventy-five percent or more of foreign graduates return to the United States to practice medicine, teach at the university level, research a wide array of subject matter, or contribute through many other professions. The average medical student, such as myself, may pay a foreign school nearly $200,000 in tuitions and fees. However, the loans we receive are from US institutions, and in turn, are paid back into the US economy. A feasible argument can be made the average doctor will earn and therefore contribute more than $200,000 to the US goverenment, educational system, and economy through taxes, charitable gifts, and overall consumer needs. Therefore, arguing the economy as a sole reason for removing federal funding from US citizens attending foreign schools is, thus, null and void.
Finally, through becoming a doctor, regardless of where I receive my education, I will improve the quality of life for American citizens. I will be providing health care for citizens of this country, yet it seems contradictory that this same country may refuse to help me attain the education necessary to serve its citizens. I intend to practice medicine either in Kentucky, the state in which I was raised, or in the greater Nashville, Tennessee area. Because of this, I am appealing to you to stand up and support your students and leaders of the future in their educational pursuits. Do this if not only to help them, but to help yourself. We will be your majority voting base in the not so distant future. Thank you and I look forward to hearing of your decision.
Sincerely,

[dimples]

make sure you email it because all letters sent to the white house have to go through a screening process which can take weeks! great job!

[FireFighterMD]

Better to Fax it .

[erichaj]

It is simple economics. There are thousands of residency slots left open after the match. If those don't get filled, thousands of dollars go to waiste. Thousand will be spent on treating the complications that will happen due to lack of medical care for those patients.

Simple economics. We need doctors. These schools supply good doctors.

We don't need funding for more think tanks or other ** spending.

Our govt. funds lots of **. Education funding is not **. It's good economics.

[options]

Originally Posted by erichaj

It is simple economics. There are thousands of residency slots left open after the match. If those don't get filled, thousands of dollars go to waiste. Thousand will be spent on treating the complications that will happen due to lack of medical care for those patients.

Simple economics. We need doctors. These schools supply good doctors.

We don't need funding for more think tanks or other ** spending.

Our govt. funds lots of **. Education funding is not **. It's good economics.

It's not that simple. True foriegn graduates would be glad to take those spots.

[nataliestewart21]

I faxed it today directly to senators' offices. I would have sent it to every senator if I had the time. Nevertheless, lets hope they listen. Senator McConnell, who is a majority leader, spoke at my undergrad graduation in 2004. Let's hope he listens.

[azskeptic]

Originally Posted by options

It's not that simple. True foriegn graduates would be glad to take those spots.

Rumor was that this came out of committee today..anyone know for sure how the vote went?

[medstudent101]

when do we get the results of the vote ?