Aphiwe Hlatshwayo, a South African student, has turned down a scholarship offer to study in the United States. Aphiwe, who graduated with six distinctions from Reddford House The Hills in Pretoria, has been accepted to study anatomy at Seattle University in the United States. She turned down the offer to study medicine at a South African university, according to News24.
According to the platform, Aphiwe was offered the opportunity to study anatomy for four years at Seattle University, followed by four years in medicine as part of its postgraduate program. The Pretoria student said she declined the offer after her mentor advised her not to go to the United States because she would have to wait four years before finishing her four-year medical degree.
“I understood where she (mentor) was coming from because you can get the same education here for six years (instead of eight), which works because I will be here (in South Africa) around my family so that I can have my support structure with me,” Aphiwe said. “So, it is kind of a blessing in disguise.”
Aphiwe has no regrets about studying medicine at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa. Her main issue right now is money. She is also aware that she may be passing up an excellent opportunity to study outside of South Africa, but the fear of not succeeding in the United States due to the absence of her support structure and the differences in the educational system also influenced her decision.
“I may be losing more quality education, but I am gaining more support here in South Africa,” the brilliant student said.
Aphiwe was also quick to point out that the quality of her education at her private school had also prepared her for UCT. The young girl spent most of her time in school organizing school events, serving her classmates, and representing the school in competitions. Her academic performance suffered as a result of these activities.
She then resolved to engage in some “self-reflection” in order to get back on track. Her diligence would earn her six distinctions and place her in the top 5% of Independent Examinations Board candidates nationally in several subjects.
And now if she gets another scholarship opportunity like the one above, she would take it only for the postgraduate program, she said.