“Because of the continuing existence of the SIC, I am constantly stressed about applying to medical school, for I know that my wealthier peers have taken full advantage of their time here at Yale in volunteering, taking unpaid lab positions, and making studying for the MCAT their full time job.”

In order to cover my SIC, I have had to work between 17 and 19 hours every week for each of my three years attending Yale University both on and off campus. I had to quit club water polo my second semester of first-year in order to start working and Read more…

“Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a job due to the pandemic and I have been reaching into my savings originally budgeted for the SIC to cover expenses. This university has already demonstrated they are committed to assisting their students in times of crisis and financial uncertainty through expanding this summer’s DSA. Eliminating the SIC is the next logical step.”

“I support the demand of eliminating the student income contribution.   I was very thankful that Yale extended the DSA this summer, as my original plans were canceled due to the COVID-19 situation.  The summer 2020 expansion of the DSA allowed me to take two classes so I can enter into Read more…

“I constantly ask myself If the student effort was really about making all students contribute to their education costs, why is that Yale’s SIC policy allows one’s socio-economic status to make the SIC an option for some while others have no alternative but to work? Is this really Yale’s vision of inclusivity?”

Being FGLI has always meant that I worked a job whenever I could in order to make the most of the situation financially to help cover my expenses and my family out. However, the biggest toll of the SIC isn’t the hardships of the job itself but the constant reminders Read more…

“By eliminating the SIC, I can focus on helping out my family financially and not have to worry about any additional fees that I need to pay for my education.”

“My family runs a restaurant and our business has been severely impacted due to the ongoing pandemic. We are currently operating at a limited capacity to help prevent the spread of the virus to our customers and employees. Because of our customers’ increased demand for delivery, we partnered with companies Read more…

“While my peers worried about arriving late to an extracurricular activity or campus event, I worried about maximizing the amount of time I was working, often sacrificing my physical and mental health in the process.”

“In the 2017-2018 academic year, I worked three different jobs on Yale’s campus, ranging from box office work to calling alumni for donations to cover my student contribution. While my peers worried about arriving late to an extracurricular activity or campus event, I worried about maximizing the amount of time Read more…

“If it weren’t for the SIC, I would have spent more time during my Yale Career dedicated to my studies and passions, and less time anxiously poring over my finances and career competitiveness.”

The Student Income Contribution unfairly forces students on financial aid to forgo unpaid opportunities that they would love to take, but otherwise cannot afford to. If it weren’t for the SIC, I would have spent more time during my Yale Career dedicated to my studies and passions, and less time Read more…

“Releasing students from the SIC would allow them to relocate that money to other places in their lives: to counseling, to wellness practices, to food — things that are essential sources of care.”

“This is a light on this disparity, illuminates it in particular in this moment…There’s no guise of safety. If Yale cares most about the people who make up its community, releasing students from a nominal contribution to its budget…It makes such a difference in the lives of students to not Read more…

“I had hopes then that Yale would help level the playing field for people like me. But that was a little more than three years ago. I’m now a rising senior, and I still feel lost at Yale. I still haven’t received any of the support that I was promised.”

People told me that I would find the support that I needed at Yale as a first-generation, low-income student. Advertisements from the University made it seem like I had little to worry about—that despite my lack of knowledge on how to succeed as an undergraduate, the school would help guide Read more…