Deprivation

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I am not on financial aid, but I have seen the effects of financial aid policies on those around me. The last two summers, I worked as a research assistant for two different professors, in the Physics and Geology and Geophysics departments, as well as working as a coach for ONEXYS, and gave science tours. I would not have been able to do that and save enough for the student summer contribution on my own. If I were not lucky enough to have parents who could pay for my tuition, I might have not been able to work in these positions. This pressure to focus on monetary and not academic concerns over the summer can deprive students of key opportunities. My research led to an amazing trip to a Geophysics Conference in San Francisco in December 2014 where I was able to present the research I did during the summer. Furthermore, I was able see and explore all the different fields and possibilities of physics. Yale should ensure that this possibility is open to all students regardless of their finances.