The number of people complaining that it is not their job to “pay for my college” is astounding. In that logic, it’s not my “job” to fund medicaid, social security, and food stamps. But that’s what taxes are, it’s money taken to be put to use for those who need it, and I don’t have a problem with paying a few cents here and there to benefit the health and well being of fellow citizens. On the other hand, our military spending is absolutely ridiculous, but that is another issue.
There are requirements already in place in order to recieve Pell grants. If you want more strict requirements, fine, but don’t make them so constricting that low income students don’t even stand a chance. There is already so much pressure and stress associated with being low income and/or first generation in college.
And please keep in my mind we can’t all be priveledged enough to have parents giving thousands of dollars a year in tuition. It’s wonderful that some people have that privelege, but not everyone does, and not everyone has affordable community college options, or the ability to finish college in 6 years for various (and valid) reasons. With the increases in tuition not slowing down any time soon, college is becoming more and more inaccessible for low income students. It already feels like we have to jump through so many hoops in order to succeed; if more requirements are necessary to receive the Pell grant, they should be reasonable and need to understand not everyone can go straight to a four year college and get a degree right away, EVEN IF they are not just slacking off and taking 100 level courses (which, in my experience, is the exact opposite of what lower income students do at my school because we all appreciate the opportunity we have been given and know not to waste it). We don’t deserve any less of a chance for bettering our lives than our more wealthy peers when we have worked just as hard (and sometimes harder) to get where we are.