Sanjeev Bery isn't about to take scholarship scams sitting down. In fact, he stood up for student rights ... in front of Congress.
Ripped Off
As a senior, Bery was a good student, active in the speech team and the marching band. College was definitely in his future, but he wasn't sure how he was going to pay for it. That's when he thought help had arrived.
"We got a postcard in the mail advertising a college scholarship service. For a $200 fee, they claimed that they would send me a list of scholarships that were tailored specifically to me," Bery said.
Though $200 was a lot of money, it seemed like a bargain compared to the help they were promised. The family paid the fee and Bery spoke with a representative from the company about his background and academic plans.
But Bery's hopes ended in disappointment. "The list I subsequently received was of very poor quality." It included scholarships for Native American students and those interested in studying medicine. This was of little help to Bery, who wanted to major in political science and was of Indian descent.
The frustration continued when the Bery family tried to get a refund. "The only way we could get our money back was if we had proof that I had applied to all of the scholarships they recommended. Applying to scholarships for which I was in no way qualified would have been a complete waste of time."
Fighting Back
Bery went on to study political science at the University of California at Berkeley where he heard fellow classmates complain of the similar scams. Bery decided to do something about it. Upon graduation he went to work for the Public Interest Research Group's (PIRG) Higher Education Project.
"I wanted to make a difference and help students," Bery said. "Because of the rising costs of college and limited federal funding, students are vulnerable to these scams."
Bery's work has led him to testify in a Congressional hearing, advocating The College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act. This legislation targets companies that promise access to scholarships and then don't deliver by stiffening penalties for cases of fraud involving educational services. The bill has since become a law.
Bery hopes to continue advocating for students' rights and making higher education more accessible by eliminating scholarship frauds and increasing funding for education. "Higher education is one of the greatest equalizers in American society," Bery said. "Regardless of where you come from, a college education can open doors for you."
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