I know that this is not exactly political, but since the majority of people are probably on here for the blogging for progress scholarship, I think it related. Right now, college tuition is something that I am very upset with. The college which I really want to go to is Drexel University, in Philadelphia. They accepted me, but the tuition is over $47,000 a year when room and board is added into the picture. While they have given me $14,000 in scholarships, I would still be in about $132,000 debt once I graduated, not counting if the rates when up or the interest on the loans that I would have to pay. I have found that if you are Caucasian, middle class, have no disabilities, are not related to an alumni, and are not a complete genius, you are screwed when it comes to the FASFA and financial aid. Even being second in my class with an SAT of 1990 there is only so much merit based aid I can get. Also, I don’t understand how the FAFSA calculates that my mother, who is a single mom with two children, a mortgage and a home equity line would be able to cough up $32,000 a year, almost half of her yearly salary. Luckily for me I have a school which I can go to for much cheaper, however, what about those who qualify for less merit scholarship than I do and still getting no need-based? The assertion that college is affordable for everyone is simply not true. It is only affordable with drastic measures, like when parents take out a second mortgage or if you send the student into tens of thousands of dollars of debt before they have even upheld a proper job. The only place I see as a method of payment is the independent scholarships, like blogging for progress. But still, anyone who has a fastwebs account knows that there are just so many different scholarships it can be a little overwhelming to find which really apply. One top of that, you are competing with thousands of other kids, some who are not even yet seniors. For instance, I am participating in the ProgressiveU scholarship because it seemed fun and interesting, but I am guessing that I have little chance to actually win against so many others. Maybe I am just unknowledgeable in this area, or too lazy to really search, but I just don’t see how some people make college happen.
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...I'm in the same position (though the college I'm going to is only 35k a year, but still). The other thing that gets me is since I'm going out of state, all of the scholarships that I won from state testing don't apply. It's very annoying. I think it would be a good idea to do what some European countries do and raise taxes so that college is basically free... though I've voiced that opinion in my government class a few times and not many people were willilng to go along with it.
Yes, everyone hates it when the words raise and taxes are put together. For instance, the public school that I go to has been making ridiculous cuts as long as I have been there, because voters never approve the budget.
Yeah, I know. They don't seem to understand that raising taxes can be a good thing in the long run.
People can barely pay their taxes and you want them to raise them so your college education can be practically free? College is optional, which means the state doesn't have to pay for you. They choose to because they feel bad.
Jennie.
But other than flipping burgers, how many jobs are really available to people without a college education. Particularly if you are not naturally gifted in an area like art, sports or acting. Anyway, My main complaint with raising taxes has to do with public schools all field trips have been cut. All transportation for after school activities have been cut. Almost all textbooks are falling apart, the few that are actually new, teachers talk about like they are the holy grail.
With college, I blame the actual colleges. The amount of they recieve between tuition and donations from wealthy alumini has to be more than enough to keep the institution running. But they waste money. For instance as my sisters school last year they bought several massive flat screen tv's and an X-Box 360 for the commuters lounge. If they can afford flat screen tvs, they can afford to give their students a little bit of a break. Instead they raise there prices because they know how important a college education is, and they know that someone who really wants one will pay what they have to, and they know a lot of teenagers don't understand how in debt they will be. But they can get away with charging whatever they want, because they can say - College is optional.
I agree college is way expensive and I don't understand how many people can afford it. I chose work hard in school to earn money so I wouldn't be in debt but it is still very expensive for me.