Alexia Nastasia (Pardee ’27, CAS ’27) earned her first byline in The Boston Globe, adding a remarkable milestone to her professional profile. The rising junior was selected as a summer intern for the Globe’s coveted Spotlight team through the Undergraduate Internships Program by BU’s Center for the Humanities.
Her article, titled “best US colleges gave $1 billion in grants and discounts to foreign undergrads. In Trump’s America, can that continue?,” explored how international undergraduate students are more likely to receive financial aid than their American peers, sparking debate in academic circles. Critics from both conservative and liberal groups argue that elite universities are prioritizing international talent over American students while benefiting from federal funding and tax breaks.
Some stress it’s essential to cap international student admissions to give a fair chance to citizens at college education. The report also mentioned advocates who emphasize the fiscal benefits international students bring, contributing nearly $44 billion to the U.S. economy. After graduating, several students stay back in the country, investing further in companies and real estate.
With the elite universities on the Trump administration’s radar, sweeping policy changes are expected, resulting in fewer international students on the campus in future.
To read Alexia’s full report, click here.
Alexia Nastasia is an international relations and social anthropology major at Boston University. Before starting her internship at The Boston Globe, she studied abroad in Paris in spring 2025. In fall 2024, she served as an Events and Engagement Intern for BU Sustainability. Currently, she is working as a Communications Assistant for BU’s Institute of Culture, Religions, and World Affairs and a Sustainability Ambassador with BU Sustainability.
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