[Date]
The Honorable [full name – use www.house.gov to find your representative]
[Room Number] [Name] House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative [last name],
My name is [name] and I am a U.S. Citizen currently attending McGill University in Canada. As
your constituent and post-secondary student, I would like to draw your attention to the inequity
that exists in the US Direct Loan (Title IV aid) program for Americans who choose to pursue
their degree outside of the United States.
The US government, through 34 CFR 668.5, restricts choice and access for American students
who must use government student loans through the US Direct Loan program to finance their
studies. Students who receive US Direct Loans to study at a foreign school are not able to
participate in study abroad/exchange programs at schools located in the US or at a foreign
school which does not participate in the US Direct Loan program.
This regulation affects more than 23,000 American students in 400 foreign schools worldwide
each year. This impacts students, like myself, of modest or normal means who require
government loans to assist with the cost of post-secondary studies. Students attending schools
in the US have no such limitations or restrictions placed on their educational experiences.
If ‘international education’ is a U.S. government priority, as is the ability to choose the education
best suited for the individual, then why am I disadvantaged simply because I’ve chosen to study
at a highly reputable school outside of the U.S.?
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I appreciate your efforts to promote educational
opportunities for American students, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip]
[Your Phone Number ]
Important note to student: McGill is a member of the International Education Council (IEC), a
non-profit organization that works closely with foreign schools to lobby for policy changes on
behalf of American students pursuing their degree outside the U.S. It would be helpful to
provide a copy of your letter to us.studentaid@mcgill.ca as well as
contact@internationaleducationcouncil.org