To my community, wherever you may be:
(East to West and in between) 

tldr; 

They gave me 13 days to come up with $2,000 dollars, and expect me to pay $12,000 out of pocket for my last year at Mills College.  I'm asking for your help to pay for my long-awaited, hard-won degree. 
Venmo: @niarka
Paypal: [email redacted] 


I received my financial aid award for my last year here at Mills on July 2nd, 2019.  This year they've awarded me over $4,000 less than they have in previous years. 

From what I have learned, this is because of the following reasons:

I've reached my lifetime eligibility usage of the Pell Grant. This source of funding made my ability to pay for my tuition reasonably manageable. The loss of this grant adds an additional $3,000 to my cost of attendance. I've also exhausted my maximum federal loan limit for this year. 
In addition, my first two years at Mills I was able to qualify for private loans, but this year, my attempts at qualifying were denied by multiple lenders. 

I  have one final requirement in obtaining my degree. This upcoming fall semester, I will complete my thesis in a semester long seminar course. After this class, I will be eligible to graduate.  

I am now attempting to fundraising $12,000 so that I can finally graduate with my Bachelors in Cell and Molecular Biology. 

This money will allow me to continue research I've begun earlier this year under an Evolutionary Biology professor at Mills. My access to this research is essential to applying to Grad schools, and securing future employment in my field. 

The $12,000 dollar cost of tuition will be divided into a 6-month payment plan, which I have to enroll and make my first payment in by July 15th. 

I received this information on JULY 2nd.  This gives me a full 13 days to fundraise for my first payment of $2000. I've already submitted an appeal, but there is no guarantee that they will adjust my aid. 

I am asking for community support to help lessen this financial burden, as I contribute what I can from my part time job. 

tldr; 

They gave me 13 days to come up with $2,000 dollars, and expect me to pay $12,000 out of pocket for my last year at Mills College.  I'm asking for your help to pay for my long-awaited, hard-won degree.