<p>Yea - I always want to post 'boo-hoo' when I read those posts.</p>
<p>I agee with the OP. That said, I think it is fair to say that state schools are not necessarily accessible to students from truly low income families. Such students have to come up with room and board in addition to the modest to not so modest tuition and fees. These costs add up to 15-20K a year, which may be unaffordable to many low income families.</p>
<p>While there are less expensive alternatives such as CC etc, such alternatives may not be suitable for students who may want to say major in engineering.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>CC etc, such alternatives may not be suitable for students who may want to say major in engineering.>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>DH went to a community college that had a transfer relationship with a four year university. He finished ALL of his general education requirements and beginning math (calculus) and science courses (physics) at the community college. He transferred to the four year university as an engineering major. So...it's not impossible to do.</p>
<p>Reading this thread for the first time. Oh, you mean among us <em>parents</em>! And here I was ready to jump in and bemoan the entitlement attitude of our [or at least my] teens.</p>
<p>Oh, so is that where she got it from?</p>
<p>thumper1, Good for him although I would think such opprotunities are the exception rather than the norm. Sure that there are always ways to educate ourselves inexpensively, including self study. That wasn't my original point, which was that the cost of state universities may preclude many qualified state residents.</p>
<p>Padad, you are correct...the state university can be too costly for some low income students. You are absolutely correct about that. I believe you really can do most any major from community college...but you need to take the right courses there AND it helps if your CC has a transfer relationship with a four year school. Added...DH also did a co-op program and went to school one semester and worked alternating semesters at the four year school. It actually took him five full years to finish, but he had no debt when he was done (used the co-op money to pay for the following semester).</p>
<p>With regard to engineering, I do know a young lady whose parents felt she was too immature to go off to a large state U, she went to CC for two years transferred all her general ed classes and entered the well regarded engineering program. I know several of my son's friends with very decent high school grades and test scores who are finishing up their first year at the CCs and plan on finishing up a second before transferring. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There are gross misperceptions about CCs on these boards.</p>
<p>taxguy,</p>
<p>I find the premise of your question (post #1) not credible. I have been reading these boards for quite some time, and I don't recall seeing all that much in the way of an "entitlement" mentality. I see a lot of frustration and disappointment by many people when they learn what their financial "gap" is and don't have a way to fill it. I see kids unhappy because their parents won't pay and they don't qualify for FA. Why is it wrong for them to express their disappointment? We're not talking about a car here. We're talking about what could be the most life-changing experience of their lives. </p>
<p>It would be terrific if everyone could go to the school of their dreams, don't you think? We need lower tuition across the board so that any Joe Schmoe can work his way through if need be. Why reserve all the choices for the lucky few?</p>
<p>Momofthreeboys...I completely agree with your post.</p>
<p>I read a post by an international student on how unfair international students are treated differently and not given the same financial aid as Americans, because after all isn't this the land of equal opportunity. Well, after paying more than 40% of my income to tax for over 30 years, I think my kids deserve a spot at my own state university and every other private schools in this country more than any internation students.</p>
<p>Ok, that's my rant.</p>
<p>I also agree with the OP. Entitlement mentality of ANY kind turns me off.</p>
<p>When we pay our taxes we are entitled to something - we are
paying for it. Years ago, we were entitled to an affordable
state college education if we met the qualifications. These days
in my state that's not true. You can actually be way more than
qualified and still not have access. Thus the privates for many
better students, especially lower incomes ones, have become
safeties with a limited number of slots. If we once again
supported our state institutions so as to make them affordable
to all qualified citizens, we would go a long way to solving our
current higher ed crisis. As a society we made the choice not
to invest, so now we end up with lots of qualified students
who have paid their taxes and are in fact entitled - to resources
that are no longer available to them. Again the first step is
reinvestment in the state college system.</p>
<p>Taxguy ~ Great Post. Totally agree.</p>
<p>*It would be terrific if everyone could go to the school of their dreams, don't you think? *</p>
<p>no actually.
"life" is not about getting your dreams fullfilled.
"LIFE" is about working hard, falling down, getting up, falling down again, getting up again & loving every minute of it.
"It not about getting what you want, its wanting what you get"
I worry about kids who had everything come smoothly to them, they don't know how to deal with disappointment, with compromise , with mistakes & boredom.
Ultimately- something or someone is going to throw them for a loop.</p>
<p>Somehow I doubt that kids who cannot afford to attend the college of their dreams "had everything come smoothly to them."</p>
<p>emeraldkity4, “Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?”</p>
<p>In America, the "dream" is that each generation will have it better than the next. (Or at least equivalent.) But that is not necessarily the case anymore. </p>
<p>For example, I don't know if my children will be able to live the suburban middle classs lifestyle that I enjoy now. For me, it was a real step up from living in an apartment in Brooklyn to buy a house in the suburbs. I'm sure my children will expect a similar lifestyle to what they grew up with (as long as they work hard) and they might not attain it.</p>
<p>In terms of education, I took advantage of the City University of NY and my husband earned a degree from Carnegie Mellon with lots of financial aid. He was first generation American and his parents just made ends meet.</p>
<p>Our expectation, as parents, was that if we worked hard and saved money, that our children would be able to get a similar private education as their father. He has used his college education well and has been successful career-wise...but it is still very, very difficult for us to afford 2 private school educations without some merit/financial aid. I work, as well, and we don't live extravagent lifestyles at all. Do we feel that we are entitled to merit aid? To be honest, yes (if our children have the grades/ talent to qualify.) You see, from our perspective we did all the right things, but were still unable to keep up with the rising costs of education.</p>
<p>For those who are now taking advantage of financial aid at private schools, if you don't understand why merit aid exists and why people feel entitled to it...fast forward in time and try to wonder how you will feel if your own children can't afford an equivalent education to your own...even with hard working/ saving parents.</p>
<p>I guess we all need to re-think the American dream.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Somehow I doubt that kids who cannot afford to attend the college of their dreams "had everything come smoothly to them."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, it depends - but I don't feel sorry for the student who has to choose a state school scholarship over a fancy name brand "dream school." I did that and I'll be the first one to say I'm incredibly privileged. I think most students are when you think about how many people across the world would do anything to do the opportunities we're handed.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't feel sorry for the student who has to choose a state school scholarship over a fancy name brand "dream school."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So I guess that puts you in the camp of reserving the "dream school" for the lucky few?</p>
<p>Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?”</p>
<p>right, isn't that said about the
"attempt"?</p>