<p>I go to a state university so I understand they want to cater to poorer people but I still want to vent. I have 3 other siblings that are in college so I still have to take 99% in loans. It's not like I'm "rich." The thing that annoys me is the advantages that are given to poorer people. I know this kind of makes me sound like a jerk but just hear me out.</p>
<p>I was applying for financial aid but what I really wanted was a work study job - specifically a research assistant. Everyone I know at my school gets these work study jobs that bend around their schedule, pay decently, and look great on a resume. I applied for one this year and appealed and was rejected because they "didn't have any money" left.</p>
<p>I am so angry because these people get to have these great experiences while making money while I'm left out to work at some crappy starbucks or mcdonalds job. I'm taking out all these loans still and have no advantages. All these educational opportunities cater to poor people. </p>
<p>I think my family is right on the border but the fact that I go to my state university means there are tons of really poor people there. Should I try to transfer to a private university?</p>
<p>You’re not annoyed by poor people and minorities. You’re mad that they seemingly have more opportunities than you. Articulate your thoughts correctly.</p>
<p>I agree- you applied too late. You can’t blame racial factors for not securing these opportunities. Stop jumping to conclusions and accept responsibiity for your actions instead of blaming “poor people” and “minorities.”</p>
<p>If you want to go to a private university with triple the loans to avoid poorer people, go ahead. I just hope you realize how conceited that makes you sound.</p>
<p>I’ll give you more information about the financial aid office then. I sent in my information early but did not receive my FA when everyone else did. I called the office and they told me because I switched schools within the university they messed up processing it. They told me to wait a few more days so I did. </p>
<p>When I finally got it, I immediately called back to appeal and they told me they still had money left for the work study and I should send a letter immediatiately. I sent in the letter in immediately and a few days later I got a letter telling me they had no money left and couldn’t accept me for a work study. I don’t know why they seemingly lied to be earlier but it’s not my fault. Maybe it’s the incompetence of the financial aid department but I wouldn’t have had this trouble if they accepted me to begin with.</p>
<p>It sounds like because you switched schools within the university, the process of appealing was too late and so you couldn’t get the work-study job you wanted. So basically based on what you’re saying, it was a matter of being in an unfortunate situation, not a matter of favoritism to minorities, right?</p>
<p>Ok, the minority topic is not something I wanted to talk about - (that’s a whole other discussion). I am really not sure on how they select work study candidates, but it would seem like they do it on family income. However, they rejected me - twice - when I feel like I really needed it. I need it not only for the money but also for the experience. You may be right that it’s just the fault of the financial aid office but, again, it wouldn’t have happened if they accepted me to begin with.</p>
<p>I’m going to the office on Tuesday in person to see what happens. Don’t get me wrong though, I really like how there are scholarships for poor people and minorities. I just wish that there were more opportunities for people who are not.</p>
<p>Do yourself a favor and drop out and find a crummy job. Find a woman with an equally crummy job and procreate. Maybe marry. Have kids. Struggle to provide for those kids and raise them in a crappy school district. Be unable to provide them much in the way of extracurriculars and cultural enrichment activities. When they hit junior year, buy them an SAT study guide. All the while, be barely present because you and your wife are working over time to make ends meet.</p>
<p>You’re kids will probably get a Pell Grant and THEN SOME. Of course, that won’t be enough to cover tuition and they’ll have to take out massive loans anyway. They’ll also be FORCED to do twenty hours a week of work study.</p>
<p>There are other jobs besides work study that look good on a resume and pay decently. Have you considered applying to be a research assistant?</p>
<p>Your sense of entitlement is amazing, by the way. Is this the first time you weren’t able to get what you wanted in a life that progressed from success to success thus far? I’m not saying you don’t deserve one of these jobs, but your assumption that you are more qualified than every minority or ‘poor people’ out there is questionable.</p>
<p>“I go to a state university so I understand they want to cater to poorer people but I still want to vent.”</p>
<p>Poor students at virtually all state universities have it far worse than you do. Only 5 or fewer state universities guarantee to meet full demonstrated financial need for all accepted students. The public schools that do this are among the hardest in the country to gain admission to. They include UNC and U Va.</p>
<p>More than likely the poor students at your school are carrying a staggering amount of loans in order to be in college. Even if you have loans, probably you are carrying far less in loans than are most poor students at your school. </p>
<p>When I taught at a public university with large numbers of poor students, I had poor students who were having to drop out of school, sell their blood, and even work 30 hours a week during the school year – all in addition to taking out loans – to pay for their education.</p>
<p>So – you are annoyed by poor people like that?</p>
<p>Most minorities also aren’t getting minority scholarships to go to college. Many are going to college under the circumstances that I described earlier.</p>
<p>I agree that you are demonstrating an offputting sense of entitlement. BTW, I’m black and my son doesn’t qualify for work study or need-based financial aid though we could use the money. We all are taking out loans, and son works during the summer and during the school year works on campus in a non workstudy job. I’d rather be in this situation than be poor because we had far more choices than do poor people.</p>
<p>You shouldn’t blame others for your unfortunate circumstances, however difficult. Jumping into bigoted and overall antiquated conclusions hurts everyone, including yourself.</p>
<p>“However, they rejected me - twice - when I feel like I really needed it. I need it not only for the money but also for the experience.”</p>
<p>The students who got work study jobs need experience, too. Many work study jobs don’t provide the kind of experience that is most impressive to employers. To get the best work study jobs, one has to apply for those jobs and be accepted to them. It’s not like one automatically gets a terrific work study job by qualifying for work study. Some work study jobs are things like shelving books in the library.</p>
<p>There also are nonwork study jobs that provide good experience. However, one has to look for those jobs and submit excellent applications. Often the people who get the best work study and non work study jobs have some kind of previous job experience including at the kind of places that you’re turning your nose up at.</p>
<p>Bigoted people who feel the world owes them don’t tend to get selected for good opportunities anywhere.</p>
<p>I don’t think you can blame this on poor people and minorities. It’s possible for everyone to have a low-cost and high-value education if he or she tries for it.</p>