Anyone else feel ripped off?

<p>Am I alone in thinking college is way too expensive?</p>

<p>I think they should have public colleges like public schools. Each area is assigned a district and you can attend that college for free. If you want to go elsewhere it's like going to a private school.</p>

<p>Anyone else in favor of this?</p>

<p>That wouldnt work... because it would take HEFTY taxes to support a University that didnt suck... and since everyone in the area is paying taxes that create the school they would be really ****ed if their kids didnt get in... besides... one of the great things about colleges is you get people from all over the place... your idea would just be another level of highschool.</p>

<p>and exactly how would you district it? a 30 mile radius?? it would suck if you lived in a large state.</p>

<p>This is the worst idea I ever heard. Considering how ****ty the public schools are in this country (high schools I mean), how can you even think of degrading college to that level?</p>

<p>Yeah, had I gone to a private school and was having to pay upwards of 30k to go there, I might feel pretty ****ed. I dont' think that most of the schools that are salivated over on this message board are worth that much in comparison to my public State U education, which got me to where I wanted to be in the end: medical school.</p>

<p>I think they should have public colleges like public schools. Each area is assigned a district and you can attend that college for free. If you want to go elsewhere it's like going to a private school.</p>

<p>they already do (kind of) they're called community colleges.</p>

<p>The problem with the public colleges idea is that with districting it could get really, really messy. (Gerrymandering!!) Naturally, everyone would want to go to a school in a rich district, and there would be no money in the poor districts... but I believe in free education (well, it's technically federally funded/taxes, you get it).</p>

<p>Isn't this similar to what some European universities are like? I may be wrong but I think this is what happens in Germany. HOwever, in sixth grade children take a test that determine if they are college prep or technical so not as many go to college.</p>

<p>I feel like I'm getting ripped off but I don't really support the free college concept that you propose. I'm going to a public school and got a $10K/year scholarship and somehow my bill(including books, transportation, computer, everything) was $28K. I could have bought a nice car for that. Whatever. I feel ripped off.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Isn't this similar to what some European universities are like? I may be wrong but I think this is what happens in Germany. HOwever, in sixth grade children take a test that determine if they are college prep or technical so not as many go to college.

[/quote]

Yeah, when I went to Italy they said public schools were paid for by the state. For me, it wouldn't matter because I feel college is a time to go somewhere new, meet new people etc. Some states like NC, VA, and California really cater to their in state kids. However others like my home state, NJ, you sure as hell are not paying 3,000 for in state tuition. Not to mention that Rutgers pales in comparison to UNC, UVA, UCB etc. My family and I are paying 35 k a year for school, but I really don't feel ripped off. It has always been my dream to go to Wake so...cost will not deter me!</p>

<p>ur crazy dude.</p>

<p>a good education is never free.</p>

<p>suck it up.</p>

<p>Well, actually, the way it's set up is fine: attending my state university, which is an excellent school, is not going to be a big dent in my family's pocket. In fact, I could get a real nice scholarship there. That's the thing with college...everybody can afford to go. But do you deserve it? Now if you want to pay 40 grand a year to go to, say, Syracuse U (or even Harvard!), that IS a rip off. Why? Because going to Harvard over UMD is not really going to open up much more doors for you...and certainly not doors that are worth the extra 120 grand.</p>

<p>"Because going to Harvard over UMD is not really going to open up much more doors for you...and certainly not doors that are worth the extra 120 grand"</p>

<p>Depends on what you do and how good you are. If you get into Blackstone or some top I-Banking company you could be making 100+k overall with base salary + yearly bonus in your FIRST year. Yearly bonuses in the six-figures are not rare.</p>

<p>^right... and how many people make more than 100k their first year out of undergrad...</p>

<p>state colleges are NOT that expensive, here in FL the yearly tuition is only like 3,500 a year or so, which is nothing compared to what it will do for me in the long run. If you decide to go to a school that costs 30k a year for tuition, well that's your choice.</p>

<p>Being middle class is the hardest part. Your family makes too much for need-based aid and too little to pay full freight. This is definitely going to be a problem next year.</p>

<p>which is what state college is for people, not everyone has to have a private school education, and believe it or not plenty of successful people have come from <em>gasp</em> state schools.</p>

<p>Pharmacists make that much, my friend is maiing 130K a year in alaska with a 5million sighning bonos to be a Pharmasist for a retail pharmacy.</p>

<p>5 million signing bonus? o.O And btw, you can't be a pharmacist out of undergrad. (at least not a real pharmacist.)</p>