Dundee student battles the odds for scholarship to New York

Published On Fri 23 Jun 2017 by Dominic Younger

A University of Dundee student has won a prestigious scholarship that will take her to the United States.

Rachel Main, 23, who will receive a first class honours degree in English and Film Studies on Friday, 23^rd June, is one of just two students to be awarded the annual St Andrew’s Society of the State of New York Scholarship.

The $30,000 prize will see Rachel, who thought that she would never be able to travel the world and pursue her love of writing, take up a coveted place on the MFA Dramatic Writing programme at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

Rachel, from Glenrothes, became a carer for her mother when she was in school. She said, “I left high school with poor Standard Grades and suffered with depression and anxiety. At one point it was so bad I couldn’t leave the house. After my mum got ill I just didn’t want to be around people, but writing helped. I could create an imaginary safe world in writing and ever since I can remember I wanted to be a writer.” 

Rachel eventually got back into education and studied at Fife College before applying to Dundee. During her time at University, she became President of the School of Humanities, won a screenplay writing competition and produced a play performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

She continued, “I know it seems cheesy but we should all ‘dream big’. Three years ago I used a picture of the New York University Tisch campus as my laptop screensaver, and now I’ll be going there in August. When I doubted if I could get a place or the funding I told myself over and over ‘Why not me?’”

Dr Shona Johnston, Head of Careers, Employability and Enterprise at the University, who encouraged Rachel to apply for the scholarship, said, “Rachel has taken every chance to get involved in the full student experience at Dundee, and we are delighted that her hard work and talent have been recognised.”

Rachel’s mother and grandmother will attend her graduation celebration on Friday morning when she will also receive a prize for excellence from the School of Humanities. 

The St Andrew’s Society of the State of New York was founded over 250 years ago to improve the lives of Scots and their descendants worldwide, with a strong commitment to education and fostering international connections.  Rachel’s scholarship is awarded annually to just two exceptional students from Scotland to allow them to study in the USA. Previous recipients have been students from Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews Universities.

The New York University Tisch School of the Arts is one of the USA’s leading centres for professional training in the Arts.

For media enquiries contact:
Dominic Glasgow
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 385131
Email: d.w.glasgow@dundee.ac.uk