Ok, so I find it interesting how our beloved President (said with a hint of sarcasm) tries to rally behind the whole "No Child Left Behind" act, and other such policies--which are all fine and dandy, but what's left after that? I mean, once everyone graduates from high school, its like our government leaves us high and dry.
Tuition prices are rising at a phenomenal rate every year, and it gets harder and harder to afford even one class. In today's society you can't really get any place without AT LEAST a bachelor's degree, but how do they expect you to pay for it? Student loans? Working 5 jobs? It just isn't conceivable, especially when schools decide that they are going to increase the number of credit hours you need to graduate.
I'm from Texas, born and raised. Just this past year I decided to go to school in California--BIG change. I'm participating in a program called the National Student Exchange where, at the moment, I pay in-state tuition. I really have no intention of going back to Texas, but I have looked into the price of staying in California and its OUTRAGEOUS. On top of tuition, fees, room and board, I'll have to pay out-of-state fees which start at $230 a unit. Why? It is not like i'm getting a better education then a native Californian, and its not like the teachers or the school really have to suffer with an out-of-state person. Ok, so do the math:
In State=$3000 for tuition + $7000 for room/board which comes out to around $10,000 for the whole year.
Out-of-state (and lets just assume you only take 12 units each quarter)=$3000 for tuition +$7000 for room/board + $230 (36 units)=$18280.
Now if my parents and I are struggling to pay the $10000, how can we afford an extra $8000? The FAFSA doesn't help. Both my parents work--my dad works for the Post Office, and my mom is a teacher--so according to the FAFSA my parents make too much money to quality for aid. My college tuition would have to exceed $25,000 to actually qualify for aid. Its ridiculous, and this is how it is all over the country.
What is the deal tution? And why is it that our government can worry so much about our younger years, but they "ditch" us once it comes to college? AND why is it always advertised that "billions of dollars in federal aid go unclaimed because students doing ask for it." If it was really THAT easy to find those grants, would they really go unclaimed? I THINK NOT!
Sorry for my rambling, but I hope you all understood!!
This act has some backdoor legislation attached to it that mandates all schools receiving Federal Funding must provide military recruiters with names, SSN #'s, date of Birth and even High School Transcripts without the consent of the student or parents. Not really relevant to college tution costs but interesting none-the-less.
Anthony Tenaglia, A.K.A. El Tigre Del Norte
I am in 100% agreement with you on this one. I graduated from high school a year ago and have yet to attend school because either I nor my parents can afford the tuition costs alone. I was lucky I was granted a student loan for the Summer semester, unfortunately it was only enough for the six hours of tuition and nothing else. The worst part is that the government says my parents make enough money to pay for my tuition, but what they don't take into consideration is everything that my parents are already paying for. We aren't poor, but come on if my parents had the money to pay for my college education do you think I would be applying to financial aid and scholarships? What is it going to take for our government to see that they have so much left unclaimed because they set too many standards in order to obtain the money. How can anyone expect for a better future for the children and young adults of today if we can't catch a break to give effort in bettering our minds?