Help Kazakh-American Adoptee Attend Columbia University

Summary

My name is Noah. I'm a teacher, writer, and adoptee. If I can raise enough money to support my transportation, living expenses, and tuition, I will likely be the first Kazakh to enroll in Columbia University's MFA Fiction program.

Columbia is in New York City, which has an extremely high cost of living. I intend to stay employed while attending Columbia. I have been a working student throughout my undergrad, working full-time at the University of California, Berkeley.

Studying and graduating from Columbia University is one of my wildest dreams. Columbia University is an Ivy League school with an acceptance rate of 3.9% with my program having an acceptance rate of 2.7%. This is not an opportunity one gets every day, and I don't want financial hurdles to block me from my dreams. But I will need help from my community.

My Background

I grew up in California where I got to enjoy the temperate weather and beautiful biodiversity. I learned to appreciate literature and storytelling through my mother, who always encouraged my affinity for writing. At 17, I enrolled in my local community college, and at 19 I transferred to Berkeley to complete my studies. After graduating from Berkeley, I pursued teaching as stable employment and dealt with homelessness in 2022. During these years, I discovered my love for teaching, especially high school literature along with philosophy, and culture criticism, which is why I would like to become a college professor, but also focus on my hobbies and interests which include, photography, writing, and the research and preservation of the history and culture of people.

My goals:

Since I was a kid, I've dreamed of graduating with a master's degree. Receiving an MFA in writing from Columbia would open up opportunities to become a college professor who can amplify POC/marginalized voices, focus on my writing, and research the social aspects of orphans worldwide.

My personal experiences have heavily defined a large part of who I am and have driven me in my fields of study. I want to represent in writing what I wished to see growing up. I want to tell the story and culture of my people persevering despite genocide from the Soviet Union.

How I Need Support:

Transportation

I aim to rent a U-Haul truck to transport my and my partner's belongings across the country. The estimated cost is $4,758.

School Expenses

While I will be working at Columbia, the cost, especially of school supplies (textbooks, etc.) and medical services fees, are generally high. The total cost for year one is estimated to be this:

I want to raise enough to cover at least the expenses below:

Total:

$18,244

Living in New York

Columbia University is in New York City, the hub of the literary world in America. Unfortunately, New York is one of the most expensive cities in which to live. The high cost of living is one of the reasons I need support from my community to attain my degree. Currently, I teach English & History and work a second job at Trader Joe's in the afternoons + nights, usually about 14/hrs a day. If I can attend Columbia, I shall continue working while taking on funding and employment opportunities offered by the school to contribute to the cost of rent and food.

How I'm tackling the obstacles:

I will apply to train and work as a graduate instructor at Columbia and hope to transfer my job to New York. Columbia has offered me a generous scholarship of $30,000, which will go directly towards my tuition.

So far, to try and attain my goal of studying at Columbia, I have:

Started working a second job (14/hrs a day)!

Started selling some of my personal belongings

Applied for financial aid (received the Federal Graduate Loans)

Applied for scholarships

Worked on an application for writing fellowships

Taken out private loans (though there's a limit on federal loans!)

Other Ways to Support:

I am open to tutoring employment and am a photographer. Booking photography shoots (in the SF Bay Area) with me or hiring me to tutor English + History is also another way that you can support me!

Tuition Costs/Scholarships

The one thing holding me back from pursuing my dreams is the cost. Below is the price for one year of tuition and living expenses for the MFA program in Fiction. All donations will go towards supporting me in this tier:

(1) moving across the United States

(2) school fees and school supplies

(3) Rent and living expenses

(4) any remaining support will go towards tuition.

However, I would like to raise additional funds to cover as much tuition as possible.

Tuition Cost & Scholarships

Right now, I am struggling to attain my dream financially. While I am being offered a $30,000 scholarship, the cost of living alone in New York City is a huge barrier. Below is my first year's estimated cost of attendance!

Wrap Up

All donations will be used towards tuition, living expenses, and the cost of transportation across the United States. I appreciate all donations beyond what I can articulate. As you support me on this adventure, you will be helping me change my life for the better. I need my community to reach the sky and my potential.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story. I appreciate any support you can offer me as I face the obstacles blocking my dreams. If you want to know more about me or ask questions, please don't hesitate to contact me on social media @35mmarshall or via email.

Sincerely,

Noah Sultan Marshall