Medical bills affecting PhD journey
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I am a PhD student at the London School of Economics (LSE). My research examines how urban green space is used to address contemporary urban challenges, such as climate change, physical and mental health conditions, and biodiversity conservation. Earning a PhD has been a lifelong goal. My journey to completing the degree has been full of ups and downs. Some of those downs came from bad luck, bad timing and medical bills, which I explain below. I've created this page to reach funders and the goal I've set is half of the medical expenses I've incurred.
Because I am from the U.S., I am on a student visa and pay overseas (read: higher) tuition. The conditions of my visa limit the time I can work to 20 hours per week. This matters because I also am a self-funded student.
Before beginning my PhD, I applied for funding from many sources. Mostly I was told I did not fit the mold of a typical student. U.S. organizations did not fund study overseas; U.K. organizations did not fund U.S. citizens. I was too old or, in a few cases, too young. Only undergraduate, and not PhD, study was eligible. I had too much academic and professional experience. I fell through a lot of cracks.
Despite being downsized from my job as an economic development consultant during the financial crisis, I worked freelance jobs, did contract work and sold a lot of my possessions. I saved enough money that, when combined with earnings from working as a teaching assistant, I could fund my degree. So, I began my PhD journey.
Then life happened.
My visa requires me to keep a large amount of money in my bank account at all times. I took out a student loan for this amount, intending to pay these untouched funds back in one lump sum when I graduate. These are U.S. student loans, as I am not eligible for U.K. loans. The loans were converted to British pounds and sent directly to my university – I had no say in this; I could not receive the loans in dollars.
Unfortunately, I developed health problems that took quite a bit of time, anxiety and expense to diagnose and treat. This included surgeries in the U.S., where I no longer had health insurance. The bills were astronomical and I used all my savings as well as additional student loans to pay them.
Then, in 2016, the British voted to leave the European Union (Brexit) and overnight the student loans I had to keep in my U.K. bank account lost a significant amount of value. The exchange rate hit a 31-year low and has never gone near what it was when I took out the loans, rendering my plan to pay my loans back useless. It also means that the money I earn from part-time jobs in London contribute much less toward paying my loans back than before Brexit.
Finally, the way the LSE categorises PhD students means I have to start paying my U.S. loans back before I finish my degree and can work full time. I am also not eligible for most academic jobs until I actually have the degree.
I work as much as my visa allows. I teach undergraduates at the LSE, where I have received five teaching awards. I write newsletters and manage electronic reading lists for my department. I have worked in the LSE’s Career Office, at exams and during graduation ceremonies. I work as the planning advisor for a local community organisation and as an analyst for a public consultation company. I even take online surveys and participate in research studies to earn additional money. I continue to apply for grants and scholarships, but I am still falling through cracks.
I know organisations and funders exist who would be a good match for me, but I have had an impossible time finding them. Last year, a mentor at the LSE suggested I use my network to try to connect with such funding organizations through a GoFundMe page.
So, that’s what this page is for. Any grants will go to paying my medical bills and the student loans I used to pay part of them. Asking for help has always been difficult, which is why I put off starting this page. But, if it will help me reach funding organizations, I’ll take my mentor’s advice and try it.
You can see my profile on the LSE’s website, http://www.lse.ac.uk/geography-and-environment/people/phd-students/meredith-whitten. And, if you're interested in my research, follow @urbanparksgirl on social media – I regularly post about my research, as well as other urban green space-related issues.
I know firsthand that everyone needs help at some point. Right now, I’m in the position of needing help. One day soon, I hope to be the one providing the help – and, hopefully, I’ll be answering to Dr. Whitten then.
All best wishes,
Meredith
@urbanparksgirl
Because I am from the U.S., I am on a student visa and pay overseas (read: higher) tuition. The conditions of my visa limit the time I can work to 20 hours per week. This matters because I also am a self-funded student.
Before beginning my PhD, I applied for funding from many sources. Mostly I was told I did not fit the mold of a typical student. U.S. organizations did not fund study overseas; U.K. organizations did not fund U.S. citizens. I was too old or, in a few cases, too young. Only undergraduate, and not PhD, study was eligible. I had too much academic and professional experience. I fell through a lot of cracks.
Despite being downsized from my job as an economic development consultant during the financial crisis, I worked freelance jobs, did contract work and sold a lot of my possessions. I saved enough money that, when combined with earnings from working as a teaching assistant, I could fund my degree. So, I began my PhD journey.
Then life happened.
My visa requires me to keep a large amount of money in my bank account at all times. I took out a student loan for this amount, intending to pay these untouched funds back in one lump sum when I graduate. These are U.S. student loans, as I am not eligible for U.K. loans. The loans were converted to British pounds and sent directly to my university – I had no say in this; I could not receive the loans in dollars.
Unfortunately, I developed health problems that took quite a bit of time, anxiety and expense to diagnose and treat. This included surgeries in the U.S., where I no longer had health insurance. The bills were astronomical and I used all my savings as well as additional student loans to pay them.
Then, in 2016, the British voted to leave the European Union (Brexit) and overnight the student loans I had to keep in my U.K. bank account lost a significant amount of value. The exchange rate hit a 31-year low and has never gone near what it was when I took out the loans, rendering my plan to pay my loans back useless. It also means that the money I earn from part-time jobs in London contribute much less toward paying my loans back than before Brexit.
Finally, the way the LSE categorises PhD students means I have to start paying my U.S. loans back before I finish my degree and can work full time. I am also not eligible for most academic jobs until I actually have the degree.
I work as much as my visa allows. I teach undergraduates at the LSE, where I have received five teaching awards. I write newsletters and manage electronic reading lists for my department. I have worked in the LSE’s Career Office, at exams and during graduation ceremonies. I work as the planning advisor for a local community organisation and as an analyst for a public consultation company. I even take online surveys and participate in research studies to earn additional money. I continue to apply for grants and scholarships, but I am still falling through cracks.
I know organisations and funders exist who would be a good match for me, but I have had an impossible time finding them. Last year, a mentor at the LSE suggested I use my network to try to connect with such funding organizations through a GoFundMe page.
So, that’s what this page is for. Any grants will go to paying my medical bills and the student loans I used to pay part of them. Asking for help has always been difficult, which is why I put off starting this page. But, if it will help me reach funding organizations, I’ll take my mentor’s advice and try it.
You can see my profile on the LSE’s website, http://www.lse.ac.uk/geography-and-environment/people/phd-students/meredith-whitten. And, if you're interested in my research, follow @urbanparksgirl on social media – I regularly post about my research, as well as other urban green space-related issues.
I know firsthand that everyone needs help at some point. Right now, I’m in the position of needing help. One day soon, I hope to be the one providing the help – and, hopefully, I’ll be answering to Dr. Whitten then.
All best wishes,
Meredith
@urbanparksgirl
Organizer
Meredith Whitten
Organizer
Austin, TX
