You could not be more poor than I was when I went to college. Not possible. I worked in a grocery store and ate beans and rice through college. I paid my own way.
And you know what? It really wasn't that bad because I wanted to do it. It paid off not only in the degree, but every time I need to knuckle down to accomplish something in life.
In fact, though I'm someone of measurable means now, I am going to make my kids pay for their college, too. It was perhaps the most character-building experience of my life, and it has paid off a million-fold.
You start letting just anyone who "kinda" wants to go to college in, and it will water down the system with people that simply have no serious business being there.
That's awesome. Obviously it meant a lot to you and was very important - and having been there and done that surely you see what I was referring to when I said that I believe a C average shouldn't net one a degree - for many it's just party-central. We all know this.
But everyone should be given a chance to prove they can possibly handle it.
No one's saying that such committment to your own education is wrong or a bad example. But, looking back, if you had some help wouldn't it have been nice? You worked your ass off - but I'm sure the occasional support would have been happily accepted by you.
Help should be given to thsoe who've proven they're responsible enough to handle it and can stick with it.
And, surely, that's how things *do go* - if a student is in with a FAFSA and they fail a course - they can lose their support.
the cost of college, though, like everything else, has gone up considerably - for me to go to my school, not even full time, it costs me $5,000 out of pocket and the rest is covered by my husband's GI Bill - which he shed blood for.
But someone being POOR shouldn't be a reason for them NOT to be given a solid education - are we wanting to improve our youth or not? Being IN college is more than just *covering the cost* - there's a considerable amount on the part of the student to make it through. Focusing more on the cost portion is undercutting all the other work that goes into it.
IF someone doesn't really want to stick with the college program for 4 or 6 years - then they won't last that 4 or 6 years. Justl ike joining the military - you can sign up, doesn't mean you'll make it through boot camp.
I have 4 kids - I'm maxed out with home, family and 4 classes and I'm pulling A's. . . I have it quite decent (financially) because my husband works hard and sacrificed a lot to get where he is.
But for anyone to tell a poor but determined student that "you MUST pay your own damned way in" is just anti-American, in my opinion. . . and ensuring them that they won't EVER be able to achieve that "American Dream" at all.
You're assuming that everyone lives in an area brimming with job opportunities - but I'm not. I'm not even attending a solid 4-year university. Merely a 2-year leg for right now. In a small town where every possible job is TAKEN. I'm sure - right now - there are quite a few deserving teens who aren't attending college because they can't manage transportation and other things. . . which is a shame.
I'd like to improve our country - not make it so impossible to maintain that it just falls apart.