2011 USAP Forum Student Presentations and Discussions

There were quite a number of student presentations, both formal and informal. Below we highlight two formal student presentations. More presentations will be listed as they become available.

Student Presentations

1. USAP Cares

Doreen Mashu founded USAP Cares in December 2010 to provide a platform through which students can volunteer in communities in Zimbabwe. So far, USAP Cares has worked with returning students to organize fun activities and provide mentorship for children at the Chiedza Child Care Center as well as for the orphanage, Tariro.

Each year, the members of the youngest class of USAP students receive their admissions decisions around March and have to wait until August before they can leave the country to commence their studies abroad. It is the aim of USAP Cares to expand its volunteer activities by recruiting these students during this quiescent period to work with impoverished communities around the country.

Another way to get involved with USAP Cares is through donations fund activities. Doreen Mashu encouraged students and professionals to make use of their connections in school and at work by letting them know about the organization and creating openings for donations.

The Welcome Address at the 2011 Forum was given by Marichal Gentry, the Dean of Student Affairs and Associate Dean of Yale College.

2. USAP Mentorship Program

The mentorship program was started in 2009 by Zimbabwean students Blessing Mukome and Tendai Mudyiwa. The aim of the program is to create a mentoring network by connecting first-year USAP students with older students based on academic interests ad school regions. During the conference, attendees suggested expanding the mentorship program to include USAP students from other countries. In order to do this it was determined that the mentorship program would need an effective structure to facilitate communication and collaboration between mentors and mentees.

Discussions


Challenges Faced By Students

At every USAP Forum the challenges faced by students during the application process and once they reach their colleges are discussed. The aim of this discussion is to encourage students by showing them that their problems are not unique or insurmountable and share ideas and possible solutions. Admissions officers and other university staff also get an idea of the uncommon types of challenges that USAP students face. Below we summarize some of the challenges international students face and what those in attendance suggested as possible solutions.

Challenges Suggested Solutions
How to write an effective 'Why I want to go to XYZ college' essay
  • Research the school well
  • Include some personal stories/anecdotes
  • Communicate with and get help from students who are already at the school
Financial aid packages are not sufficiently described by the schools
  • Advisors can try and explain the aid letters to the students. This might not be very effective since the advisors have limited knowledge of each school's financial aid system.
  • Get in touch with the financial aid office at the school
Schools do not have standard procedures to use when a student's parents are not formally employed i.e. have no financial documents
  • Find out what documents other students in similar situations are using.
  • Write to financial services explaining why you cannot provide the documentation
Documents sent using regular mail arrive late due to inefficient postal services
  • Students should be more responsible in making sure that they are sending their applications way ahead of deadlines and that they contain all necessary documents.
  • Advisors can try to organize to have returning students to travel back to the US with the letters so they can send them from there.
Lack of winter housing
  • Visit other students with similar school schedules but may have accommodation.
Lack of winter and summer storage
  • Rent a storage room with friends and split the cost.
Gap between the time when the student first arrives at school and the time when they receive financial aid
  • Get financial assistance from other USAP students at the school or in the region.
The risk factor of taking a semester/year off  e.g you have to reapply to get back into some schools
  • Talk to academic advisors at your school and determine how the system can work for you.
  • Taking time off can complicate the terms of your scholarship and it is a situation you want to avoid. Try taking the time to travel and visit friends during the breaks.
    Remember that you are not alone, you have resources at your school as well as fellow USAP brothers and sisters who are willing to help out in desperate times of need.
Sometimes schools are not clear about what is covered by the medical insurance they give students on financial aid
  • Contact the school's student health department with questions you may have or ask other students at the school.