Erica Virtue, Staff ReporterJamaican students have earned scholarships valued at $400 million since the start of the year, allowing them to pursue studies at some of the top secondary schools and Ivy League colleges and universities in the United States.
The students, who are at the secondary to post-graduate levels here, are to take up the scholarships at the start of the next academic school year in August.
Some 236 of them received the bulk of the scholarships - worth $360 million. Forty-seven are to enter secondary schools to complete grades 11-12 or the equivalent of local sixth forms. They include children 16 years and under who have secured scholarships valuing US$1,069,880 million (approximately J$46 million).
The children, who are assessed under the Secondary School Achievement Test (SSAT), an American exam, undergo a written test and are interviewed by representatives of the interested colleges. The tests are administered by Versan Educational Services, which charges fees ranging between $18,000 and $35,000 for preparatory courses which last three months.
Two successful students, who spoke with The Sunday Gleaner, said they are eager to change addresses for the new school year. Sixteen-year-old Leslie-Ann Welsh, a student at Campion College said she was ready to take on the new challenge of Milton Academy, a private boarding school in Connecticut.
"I'm looking forward to starting school. All I have to do is to maintain my grades," she said on Friday.
Maintaining good grades will also put her in a favourable position to secure another scholarship when she is ready for university. She said she is currently waiting to sit CXC exams, but even if she fails those it would not affect her scholarship to the U.S..
With a 972 score out of a possible 1,050 marks, Leslie-Ann's involvement in extra-curricular activities and community outreach programme of helping street people, impressed overseas recruits. Her scholarship is worth US$32,000 per year. Her mother said that for the family to find that amount would have meant making difficult sacrifices.
Another pre-university awardee Robyn-Ann Lee Hing wants to be a doctor. A fifth former at Immaculate Conception High School, she will be attending Kent boarding school, also in Connecticut. She earned 960 marks out of 1,050, she said confidently. A former swimmer and badminton player she said she received much support from her mother, father and younger sister.
Michelle Tracey, administrative assistant at the school, said the success rate of students using that institution continues to be very high. According to her, Versan, which is located in the Corporate Area and Montego Bay, has offered scholarships to some of the poorer children who have the ability, but who cannot afford to pay the fees.
Students entering colleges and university do the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) for undergraduate programmes and the Graduate Record Test (GRE) for post-graduate programmes. The Graduate Management Achievement Test (GMAT) admits students for the MBA and Law School Achievement Test (LSAT) for entry to U.S. law schools. The Medical Achievement Test (MCAT) is for those entering U.S. medical schools.
She said Versan has maintained an 86 per cent success rate for the past five years for scholarships received.
