<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/education/poor-students-struggle-as-class-plays-a-greater-role-in-success.html?_r=0%5B/url%5D">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/23/education/poor-students-struggle-as-class-plays-a-greater-role-in-success.html?_r=0</a></p>
<p>I don't know if anyone else has seen this article, but this really gets at class issues in persistence and graduation in higher education. Still, I can't believe the efforts that Emory went through to contact this student and her failure to respond to any outreach. As mentioned in the article, her failure to complete required financial aid forms led her to have to take $40,000 in debt that she would have otherwise received in grants. Per university policy, she would have needed less than a 1.5 for two consecutive semesters. </p>
<p>While the article indicates her inability to do so was based on the number of hours she was taking, it would have made far more sense for her to have taken unsubsidized loans than work insane hours at $9/hour.</p>
<p>Angelica’s case is a good example of Emory’s inefficient, unforgiving (cruel?) administration. The administrators have their backs turned to the students by default; you have to run up to them, tap on their shoulders, and ask the right questions and tell them the right things, often repeatedly, if you want anything done. The biggest problem with this is, as noted in the article, that if you don’t know what to ask, or what to tell, is ignorant about even having to ask/tell or not (as in Angelica’s case with financial aid), then you’re screwed. It’s unfair and cruel, in my opinion, for most college students who aren’t prepared for the real world yet and need to learn and grow a lot more. A bad university administration will eventually damage the school’s environment. The faculties do what they can, but without good administrative support…</p>
<p>Ignore what I said about “cruel.” However, I will remain standing on the grounds of “unforgiving” and “unfair.” As for “inefficient,” it might be more accurate to say “incompetent” instead, but I personally don’t think so. Maybe both.</p>
<p>Perhaps bernie12 can offer better and deeper insights.</p>
<p>I know exactly what Bernie will say to this.</p>
<p>Tough ****. In a few paragraphs worth of writing to make it sound mellow.</p>