It’s easy to imagine the reaction of applicants to McGill upon learning they have been admitted to their dream university: excitement, joy, anxious anticipation. But for many of these future students, when that initial euphoria dissipates, a question creeps up: how will I afford this?
The first stop for new and returning students is often McGill’s Scholarships and Student Aid Office, which administers merit-based entrance scholarships and need-based financial aid for entering and continuing students during their McGill journey. The University’s Work Study program – which offers access to clerical, research, technical, library or other jobs on campus and in some McGill-affiliated organizations to students in financial need – also falls under the unit’s purview.
“Celebrating students’ academic achievements, and helping students be able to afford their degree would not be possible without the support of the University and McGill donors,” says Director Cara Piperni. “Our team is honoured to be the bridge between deserving students who are committed to making the most of their education, and their generous benefactors.”
The Scholarships and Student Aid Office is busy year-round, with financial aid counsellors taking appointments with students to assess their financial need and offer aid as well as other interventions. At the start of the pandemic, though, this work increased exponentially, as more students found themselves in a position of unforeseen, even crippling, financial need.
Nearly overnight, in-person appointments shifted to virtual ones, and financial aid counsellors began addressing urgent aid applications at all times of day from students in Canada and across the world. In dire cases, students received approval of their request and funding within days of first reaching out to the Office. That turnaround is not feasible nor sustainable in normal times, but in these exceptional circumstances, every moment counted.
“Our team of financial aid counsellors, front line representatives, as well as back-office fund managers and processors were all instrumental in deploying emergency aid during the COVID-19 crisis,” says Piperni. “In many cases, this involved overtime work, postponed vacations and coping with the taxing emotional effort. Like so many other services on campus, it was adrenaline and passion for the work that kept us afloat.”
The crisis conditions triggered by the pandemic prompted the creation of a new Student Emergency Support Fund, drawing a tremendous response from McGill donors, in support of students with urgent financial need. “The onset of the pandemic was six weeks from our fiscal year end with most of our funding already exhausted. We could not have mobilized efforts without this injection of funds. Every dollar made a difference,” asserts Piperni.
The need for student support will continue. Students and their families remain affected by economic disruptions. While remote learning allowed many students to remain at home to save on living expenses, heightened demand for aid is anticipated next year, as students return to Montreal.
The Scholarships and Student Aid Office will be as prepared as possible to make every dollar count.
Read more about some of McGill's everyday heroes, and learn how to support the next generation of heroes on McGill24.