Progress report on education

Academic Progress Report

Introduction greatly appreciate the financial support the Foundation has son generously offered to me; without it I would not be able to attend school or complete my degree. With this financial aid, I have been able to pursue my academic and career interests without being preoccupied with my finances. As I have a family, the financial aid is not only a boon, but it is absolutely necessary for my academic and professional development. The Foundation offered me a partial tuition grant for the past three years so that I could complete my Bachelor's Degree at ABC College. I am now entering my senior year at ABC and hope to continue receiving the financial aid that I need in order to receive a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art. I will require one more semester's worth of tuition aid. Through the following progress report, I hope to convey to the Foundation that the financial aid has thus far been well-spent and that I will continue to be productive throughout my academic career. I plan on receiving my Bachelor's Degree at the graduation ceremonies in May of 2005.

Work Completed: In my freshman and sophomore years I took four courses per semester for a total of eight courses per school year, total. During my first two years of school I focused on academic requirements such as hard science, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and politics. However, to prepare myself for my intended major I also elected to take some fine arts classes such as ceramics and art history. I struggled considerably with my science courses during my first two years of college because science is not my best subject. However, I still received a passing grade and maintained a 3.1 grade point average during my freshman year. My grade point average rose to 3.5 in my sophomore year, during which I took the art classes I would apply toward my major in the future. During my first two years at ABC, I narrowed down my academic focus to photography. Determined to pursue photography as a career, I delved into my art courses and spoke with academic advisors about specializing in photography as part of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. The financial aid I received from the Foundation was essential in allowing me to pursue this as a major and has offered me increased confidence and peace of mind. Last year, my junior year, was my best year academically at ABC. I took three art courses each semester and flourished in each of them, receiving all As. I spent time after class with my professors discussing my artwork and also worked as a teacher's assistant to one of my academic advisors. This experience was invaluable to developing a working relationship with my professors as well as in gleaning an understanding of how to channel my energies and talents. Working as a teacher's assistance also enabled me to have increased interactions with my classmates. Without the financial aid I have been receiving from the Foundation, I would probably have had to take a full-time job to support my education. Therefore, I would not have been able to work as a teacher's assistant in my free time, an experience I consider invaluable and an integral part of my college career.

Work Scheduled: In my senior year I will focus exclusively on photography and on my senior project. I will be working closely with my academic advisors to this end and with continued financial aid, I will also be able to continue working as a teacher's assistant.