Harvard Tuition Waiver

Paying for College
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<p>
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Subject: [NAOSMM] FYI: Harvard Tuition Waiver</p>

<p>FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW - WHETHER THEY CAN USE OR NOT. IF THEY DON'T NEED IT, THEY JUST MIGHT KNOW SOMEONE WHO CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS!</p>

<p>HarvardUniversityannounced over the weekend that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families will pay no tuition. In making the announcement, Harvard's president Lawrence H. Summers said, 'When only 10 percent of the students in elite higher education come from families in lower half of the income distribution, we are not doing enough. We are not doing enough in bringing elite higher education to the lower half of the income distribution.'</p>

<p>If you know of a family earning less than $60,000 a year with an honor student graduating from high school soon, Harvard University wants to pay the tuition. The prestigious university recently announced that from now on undergraduate students from low-income families can go to Harvard for free...no tuition and no student loans!</p>

<p>"Parents with incomes of less than $60,000 will no longer be expected to contribute to the cost of their children attending Harvard. In addition, Harvard will reduce the contributions of families with incomes between $60,000 and $80,000."To find out more about Harvard offering freetuition for families making less than $60,000 a year visit Harvard's financial aid web site at:</p>

<p>Harvard</a> College Financial Aid Office or call the school's financial aid office at (617) 495-1581.

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So, what do you think of it? Will this actually encourage more low income students to start considering Harvard even if they never really thought of applying? In my point of view, I feel like Harvard is trying to use it similarly as affirmative action (not like literally) which may not help achieve their goal.</p>

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<p>This policy took effect a long time ago, at least a year ago. Yes, it'll help, but Harvard is still inaccessible to the majority of low-income students -- hell, it's inaccessible to the majority of students period. But low-income students more so, and why? Because Harvard's standards are so high, it's difficult for low-income students to compete with the high-income (or even median-income) ones who have had more opportunity. Sure, this probably encourages more low-income students to apply, but the real question is, is Harvard really going to give them a boost in admissions for being low-income students -- in other words, are they going to go a bit easier because of the adversity they've endured? I'd think not. This whole "policy change" seems more for PR than anything else -- you know, to try to break up that image of elitism that most attach to Harvard (and reasonably so, I daresay).</p>

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<p>^Hmm...thanks for the post...I see what you are saying.</p>

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<p>In some areas of the country, it still is possible to have a comfortable middle class lifestyle in a good school district with family income under $60,000.00 and experience no adversity whatsoever. But such areas tend to have fewer people applying to Harvard.</p>

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<p>How does this affect a student who is already independent and parents' income isn't required on the fafsa? Does it apply to transfer students? Anyone know?</p>

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<p>bump. I want to know too!</p>

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<p>The website given i visited had been last updated in 2006, am not that this offer is valid !!</p>