Financial aid means access. It opens doors hidden right in plain sight, blocked by lacking digits in a bank account. Financial aid gets your foot in the door into rooms you’ve always belonged in. It hands you perspective while building your pedestal from gratitude. It asks you to remember why you pursue dreams in the first place, and the strength you gain with a community supporting you from behind. A highlight of my experience was my year abroad in Sydney, Australia. Thanks to the generosity of donors, I had a year of pure enlightenment ingrained into my being for the rest of time. I’m planning on applying to graduate school in Sydney to continue my studies in astrophysics.
Maria Vieira '26 Astronomy, Physics, Art & Art History
My experience with Colgate has been profoundly transformative. When I started college, I was unsure of my interests. Three years later, I was applying to doctoral programs in mathematics. Colgate’s academics have significantly influenced my career goals. I have had the opportunity to travel to Japan and the Fields Institute, which has largely guided my decision to pursue a career as a mathematics professor. Participating in the liberal arts curriculum has broadened my knowledge and prepared me to engage in meaningful discussions across various contexts.
I often wonder how different my personal path might have been if I hadn’t attended Colgate. I wouldn’t have developed an interest in math, nor would I recognize the importance of an interdisciplinary education for personal intellectual growth. Without financial aid, attending Colgate wouldn’t have been possible, and this distant thought would have become a reality. I have invested a lot of effort into my time at Colgate, but being in an environment that appreciates that effort and helps me become a stronger student and more well-rounded person is an invaluable gift.
Nayda Farnsworth '26 Graduate student at Rutgers University