The cost of education is rising to inordinate proportions. I very recently was accepted to my dream school. I've been wanting to go to this school since I was a freshman. So, when I got the acceptance letter, I was understandably excited. My parents, depite the fact that they said they were happy for me, were unduly stoic. Upon pursuing the reason for this, I quickly uncovered the truth: "No, it's nothing. Well, this one costs more..." Which was true. It's just under double what the other schools are. I offered to go to my second choice, but my parents didn't hold me to that because they know how badly I want this.
So, what did I do? I've spent hours upon hours working on scholarships. Of course, one cannot always depend upon that, so I got a job. I evaluated the situation, realized that I still wasn't going to have enough, and got a second job. Once spring comes and school's over, I plan to stop driving as well, to cut down cost. Both of my jobs are within biking distance and it's better for the enviroment, so might as well. And I still won't have enough.
Fine, financial aid, student loans, whatever it takes. Except now I'm going to be in debt for the next fifteen to twenty years of my life, if I'm lucky. Well, money doesn't really hold that much of a sway over me... if I have enough to live on, I'm pretty content.
But is this how it should be? A college education used to be much more inexpensive, even considering the different rates of the dollar. Less people used to go to university, too. So, more people are going, the tuition and room and board, etc. costs more, and professors are still getting paid inordinately low salaries, in most cases. Obama talks of a plan where, in exchange for community service, students get money for college. Oh, stipulations and qualifiers are insinuated here, and I'm sure we'll learn of them later, but for some reason, it doesn't seem right that a presidential candidate is putting forth plans to help us pay for college, not because he shouldn't, but because the joyous scream that erupted from the audience was louder than most of the others (health care was an exception, of course ; D). Teachers, grad students, college students, high school students, we all yelled for him then.
The price of college was never cheap, but I'm not sure that it was ever so unaffordable as it is now. What's changed? More professions require a college degree, and more people are going. It seems to me that if anyting, college should be getting less expensive.
If anyone knows the rhyme or reason, let me in. Of if you have any other questions, comments, or concerns, feel free...
