Is it just me...

[jdoggg12]

...than low class (especially minority) students. I was fortunate enough to have my parents help pay for a substantial portion of my college education. But I had a lot of friends who's parent had decent incomes yet wouldn't help them financially.

Student aid wasn't available b/c their ~3.?? gpa's weren't high enough and their families made too much money.

My gf for example. Her and her mom combined gross less than $35k/year. The government said they make too much money for any free aid. WTF?! She pays for herself, is doing it on her own, but the state still factors in her moms income.



Another friends parents have no drive and are on welfare. They want nothing more than to be lazy. The government felt that THAT student was worthy of free money (2.7 gpa). On top of that, he got a couple scholarships simply for being (his nationality).


These are only a couple of examples of dozens of cases i've seen....

How do you guys feel about this kind of BS? Or DO you think it's BS?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

welcome to reality.

 

[chrisms]

A minority student took my place at my first choice college. Yes I should've got better grades but it is still frustrating to have been on the borderline and see people with 2.0 GPAs get in. I am fortunate enough that my parents are paying for my college, but there was a period where I got cut off and I came to realize how hard it was going to be to get help when my dad was pulling down as much money as he was.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: chrisms
A minority student took my place at my first choice college. Yes I should've got better grades but it is still frustrating to have been on the borderline and see people with 2.0 GPAs get in. I am fortunate enough that my parents are paying for my college, but there was a period where I got cut off and I came to realize how hard it was going to be to get help when my dad was pulling down as much money as he was.

and you know this how?

 

[Toastedlightly]

I'm paying for it myself... hurray loans!

 

[chrisms]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: chrisms
A minority student took my place at my first choice college. Yes I should've got better grades but it is still frustrating to have been on the borderline and see people with 2.0 GPAs get in. I am fortunate enough that my parents are paying for my college, but there was a period where I got cut off and I came to realize how hard it was going to be to get help when my dad was pulling down as much money as he was.

and you know this how?

I was borderline and got me rejection letter at the last minute. Just a slight majority of students with my credentials were accepted. Meanwhile they accepted a large number of minority students, which from personal experience I know many of them have very low grade point averages. Take away the affirmative action and there is room for me.

 

[hehatedme]

You are only comparing one part of a much larger situation. Would you trade your life and where you were brought up with a some from a lower socioeconomic class just so it would be easier for you to get into college?

 

[chambersc]

I'm in the same situation as your gf. After my parents split, I stuck around with my mom. She's going through a VERY messy divorce where her finances are tied up. I fully expect to fund my college on my own through loans from the government and a scholarship here and there. I see it as a means to an end. Also, with my prospective career as a lawyer, I don't feel I'll have much of an issue paying my debt back in a timely manner.

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: chambersc
I'm in the same situation as your gf. After my parents split, I stuck around with my mom. She's going through a VERY messy divorce where her finances are tied up. I fully expect to fund my college on my own through loans from the government and a scholarship here and there. I see it as a means to an end. Also, with my prospective career as a lawyer, I don't feel I'll have much of an issue paying my debt back in a timely manner.

Thats her problem... loans are going to hurt her b/c she wants to be a writer/teacher (read - mediocre income). She's 1/2 white 1/2 Filipino, and she's not wanting to use the race card to get the loans. I tell her she wont change anything by not taking them.

it just sucks for the rest of us who had/have nothing to fall back on b/c our "above poverty line" parents could supposedly afford to help.

 

[Toonces]

we have it better than you can ever imagine; just asking that question reflects upon your ignorance to the hardships faced by those disadvantaged socially, economically, or racially.

how many kids parent's can't afford to give them breakfast wouldn't dream of spending $2000+ on a computer. You have assets and the financial wherewithal to succeed, spending frivolously like that. Get a loan and pay it off for a few years like the rest of us.

 

[thehstrybean]

Same situation here. My parents are right above the line, but luckily I've got HOPE from the state, so my tuition comes out to ~$400/semester.

 

[50cent1228]

Originally posted by: UNESC0
we have it better than you can ever imagine; just asking that question reflects upon your ignorance to the hardships faced by those disadvantaged socially, economically, or racially.

how many kids parent's can't afford to give them breakfast wouldn't dream of spending $2000+ on a computer. You have assets and the financial wherewithal to succeed, spending frivolously like that. Get a loan and pay it off for a few years like the rest of us.

:thumbsup:

 

[GeneValgene]

dude...suck it up. want some cheese to go with that whine?

 

[Whisper]

You have to take into account more factors than simply the amount of money being thrown your (or someone else's) way. Take the example you gave regarding a friend whose parents are completely content with their welfare-driven income. Compared to your upbringing, do you feel that individual had the same educational opportunities? Were they read to as much as a child, or did they even have adequate access to books in the home? Do you think their parents at all espoused the importance of education, and provided guidance in the same manner that your parents likely did?

I truly doubt it. And besides all that, even if the parents are at fault for their current economic situation, should their child also be held accountable for their irresponsibility? The parents, no matter how you look at it, have less money, and are thereby less able to provide for their child's education.

I came from an upper-middle class, single-parent home. My brother and I both received essentially no financial aid (other than merit-based scholarships) from the undergraduate institutions we attended, despite the fact that our mother was the only person providing for both of us. Do I feel I should have received more money at the expense of someone who, while possibly having a lower GPA, also came from an underprivileged family? No. I don't care how irresponsible his or her parents might've been; he/she was still more deserving of that need-based money than was I.

 

[jdoggg12]

Originally posted by: UNESC0
we have it better than you can ever imagine; just asking that question reflects upon your ignorance to the hardships faced by those disadvantaged socially, economically, or racially.

how many kids parent's can't afford to give them breakfast wouldn't dream of spending $2000+ on a computer. You have assets and the financial wherewithal to succeed, spending frivolously like that. Get a loan and pay it off for a few years like the rest of us.

You are deluded. I went to school for 5 years. 2.5 of which were fully funded. The rest i could only get loans for, no grants, nothing.

You honestly believe that just b/c the middle working class isn't impoverished, their kids shouldn't be allowed free aid?

You really believe that just b/c the parents HAVE the $$ they'll all share it??

Originally posted by: UNESC0
Get a loan and pay it off for a few years like the rest of us.

I did after my parents stopped paying. It's just not right that b/c the poor grew up poor, they get the $$ for college while more affluent kids who've been cut off need to fend totally on their own. AT THAT POINT IN TIME they are, for all intents and purposes, financial equals.

 

[thesurge]

The middle-class white student may have it 'harder'...

but the middle-class Asian student has it hardest (statistically, in terms of college apps, of course).

 

[Wags1974]

The absolute worst thing you can do is to obsess over the rules you have no current power over. If things arent the way you would prefer them to be, take note of it and decide whether you are willing to devote the time/energy towards changing them. If your not willing to be part of the change, the only affect produced by realizing the world isnt fair is in your atitude and demeanor.

If you do decide to start a political/public awareness etc.. campaign to change something then you also have to accept going in that your ideals, and ideas may not be so readily accepted now or ever. So either way I think you need a large dose of humility.

Realize that you are where you are and that has advantages and disadvantages. Many time people look from their perspective and see things as much easier if they were only richer, poorer, minority... Each of these things carries with it a set of advantages and disadvantages.

 

[Kappo]

How many scholarships now have the CRITERIA that you must be white now? How many for other nationalities?

If we remove race from being calculated in the education systems, and people who have more than half a braincell stop naming their kids non-traditional names, then you have a fair deal.

Government sponsored racism is BS, no matter how you look at it. I dont even care about it anymore, since most people (70+% in GA) fail out after getting free money to goto school anyhow.

 

[EagleKeeper]

It is felt that the more affluent should be able to prepare for the college costs instead of attempting to keep up with the Jones

Note that these rules are made up by the silver spooners

 

[jdoggg12]

Good point Wag... i started this thread after talking to my gf. She's 20 y/o and works 3 jobs. Her mom is a truck driver. it just pisses me off, as a 3rd party witness, to see that the government states that their 35k/year income is too much to receive free federal aid.

Get rid of the aid for poor college students and put that $ towards poor grade school students. IMO they need it more.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

I've thought about it, and while it is true, I've learned to live with it. My parents are probably what is considered upper middle class, making somewhere in the mid six figures combined. They won't pay for my school even though they could easily pay my tuition for a year in less than a month. So, I'm taking out loans. I've realized that I will graduate with debt, but I'm hoping with my choice of majors that I will have a bright financial future, so the debt is worth it to me. My advice: live with it.

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12

Originally posted by: UNESC0
we have it better than you can ever imagine; just asking that question reflects upon your ignorance to the hardships faced by those disadvantaged socially, economically, or racially.

how many kids parent's can't afford to give them breakfast wouldn't dream of spending $2000+ on a computer. You have assets and the financial wherewithal to succeed, spending frivolously like that. Get a loan and pay it off for a few years like the rest of us.

You are deluded. I went to school for 5 years. 2.5 of which were fully funded. The rest i could only get loans for, no grants, nothing.

You honestly believe that just b/c the middle working class isn't impoverished, their kids shouldn't be allowed free aid?

You really believe that just b/c the parents HAVE the $$ they'll all share it??

Originally posted by: UNESC0
Get a loan and pay it off for a few years like the rest of us.

I did after my parents stopped paying. It's just not right that b/c the poor grew up poor, they get the $$ for college while more affluent kids who've been cut off need to fend totally on their own. AT THAT POINT IN TIME they are, for all intents and purposes, financial equals.

At that point in time, yes. But part of the reason the less-privileged receive the aid is in an attempt to encourage them to attend college despite the lack of opportunities and enrichment they likely had growing up. As I (and others) have said earlier, you have to consider everything leading up to the present, as well as the present itself.

As for race-based scholarships, those are generally given out by private corporations, so let them do as they please. I personally am in favor of it. Diversity in higher education is a VERY important goal, and I see nothing wrong with a successful black/asian/american indian/whatever person wanting to help others like themselves who might've experienced similar difficulties while growing up.

Besides, there are plenty of scholarships for european individuals as well. My mother received a scholarship for Polish-American students when she was in school; she was born in Boston, and is 1/2 Polish at best.

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12
Good point Wag... i started this thread after talking to my gf. She's 20 y/o and works 3 jobs. Her mom is a truck driver. it just pisses me off, as a 3rd party witness, to see that the government states that their 35k/year income is too much to receive free federal aid.

Get rid of the aid for poor college students and put that $ towards poor grade school students. IMO they need it more.

Giving the money as scholarships to "poor college students" in one of the ways of combating the poverty that people experience as grade school students. It gives them a chance to attend college when one might not have initially existed.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Originally posted by: jdoggg12
...than low class (especially minority) students. I was fortunate enough to have my parents help pay for a substantial portion of my college education. But I had a lot of friends who's parent had decent incomes yet wouldn't help them financially.

Student aid wasn't available b/c their ~3.?? gpa's weren't high enough and their families made too much money.

My gf for example. Her and her mom combined gross less than $35k/year. The government said they make too much money for any free aid. WTF?! She pays for herself, is doing it on her own, but the state still factors in her moms income.



Another friends parents have no drive and are on welfare. They want nothing more than to be lazy. The government felt that THAT student was worthy of free money (2.7 gpa). On top of that, he got a couple scholarships simply for being (his nationality).


These are only a couple of examples of dozens of cases i've seen....

How do you guys feel about this kind of BS? Or DO you think it's BS?

Kind of off topic, but I just applied to graduate school for biology and now the situaiton is reversed. Domestic caucasians are the minority and are favored in the selection process.

 

[Wags1974]

I would hope that 35k annual income should qualify for at least a pell grant with 3kids and living expenses. It did for my wife when she went through nursing school.

I was turned down for financial aid 14yrs ago when I was single and had a 15k a yr income. It was barely enough to pay rent and eat pb+j and mac and cheese didnt even have a car then, it did upset me that I watched welfare recipients goto college with ease. Now I think it is a great thing in place that unfortunately only gets used correctly by a few. I did think about how I could do it better but there is an inherent complexity in guidelines for who is acceptable and who isnt, and with more complexity although more cases (such as your girlfriend) may be allowed aid, the screening system in current tech would require a large portion of available student funds, thereby further straining it.

I found a way to goto school anyway when I dedicated my efforts to finding a way rather than being pissed off about the way things were. (took me 2yrs to get over it)