<p>i think he's genuinely apologizing
and sadly, he's not the only person who posts and/or reads cc who felt that way about low income families...
to anyone who agreed with kenneth, just ask yourselves this: Would you rather have grown up poor, just so that your parents could "take advantage" of financial aid programs? Think about it...</p>
<p>While I don't agree with what he says I just want to answer that question that you posed for him.</p>
<p>It may seem crazy but I actually wouldn't trade the experiences I've been through growing up in a low income family. I don't think I would know the real value of money or the hard work it takes to get it if I had grown with rich parents. That's not to say all kids who come from wealthy families don't know how to value their money, but certainly I think coming from a poor background makes you appreciate more of the things you do have.</p>
<p>Well yeah, thats sorta the other side of the question i was asking. But think about it this way, obviously there are some people like you, Balmes, who value the lessons they have learned more than any material wealth they could be offered. Thus, there will be some poor people who wouldn't be willing to trade lives with their rich counterparts.
However, the number of rich people who would be willing to become impoverished is probably a single digit number.</p>
<p>and that digit is 0.</p>
<p>but ive gone through some "hard times" and now i have "great expectations."</p>
<p>thats dickens, btw</p>
<p>Kenneth,</p>
<p>I'm sorry that your mother has cancer. I know how draining those chemo and radiation treatments can be. That shouldn't have to happen to any body. It is something that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. And it does not help her well being that your father has to be in China at such a time. PLEASE, be patient with her. People in extreme pain sometimes lash out at those whom they love, simply because of the pain. Do not take it personally. She still loves you. </p>
<p>I apologize for my post, as there were several that came between your initial post and mine. The reasons for the time delay are the fact that we have a rather ancient computer (2 GB, yes, two!), the only service available here is by dial-up, I type with only one finger (when I went to school, (I graduated H.S.in 1964) only girls needed to know how to type to be secretaries), and we are on a party line (and not really supposed to have computers, so they won't tie up the phone lines for other people wanting to use the phone). You get to your site, then go off-line, type your e-mail, post, or whatever you're doing, then go back on line and send it. Yes, there actually are rural areas that still have party lines, and no cell phone service available due to the mountains.</p>
<p>I must add, though, that salries differ by location. all you have to do is look at last week's Parade Magazine. The Mayor of Billings, Montana, our largest city, earns a whopping salary of $9,600.00! I'm sure that he has other financial interests, however.</p>
<p>Kenneth, good job on the apology and color me impressed with your learning curve. I was reminded of that ancient Irish saying...Don't criticize a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes....that way you will be a mile away....and you'll have his shoes! :-)</p>
<p>This is the way I see it. People really do have equal opportunities in America regardless of income levels, theoretically. One can work as hard as the other person, ruthlessly pursue opportunities with passion, and etc.</p>
<p>However, poor people generally do not have the same kind of values as more affluent people in terms of education. Affluent parents generally believe that their actions and their guidance can make a huge impact, while poorer people generally remain uninvolved. It's evident when you notice the over representation of affluent people in PTA meetings, school board meetings, etc.</p>
<p>While there are always exceptional cases, as an average, it is clear that wealthier people will succeed more. What should we do to equalize this disparity? Well, it definitely makes sense to help out the people who excel academically but lack the financial resources to attend the top colleges.</p>
<p>I agree with you brady. Many on here bemoan the fact that the problems of inequity in education begin in elementary school: private vs public vs urban, etc. It's not really the school, or the resources available that makes the difference (witness poor parochial schools). Much of the disparity starts at home. Do the parents demand effort and excellence? Are the parents involved in the schools? Are the parents even at home? I don't know how to fix this, but I believe that parental expectations and family support are mostly responsible for the success of the children.</p>
<p>I need to transfer to Stanford.</p>
<p>**** my family makes 32K a year. I might apply</p>
<p>i applied
it was one of my reaches
but not an EXTREME reach
first generation; child of single parent
making 36k a year
are they saying this affects their admission decisions???</p>
<p>Middle class is probably the worse.</p>
<p>Crap financial aid.</p>
<p>Your parents can't afford it anyways.</p>
<p>You end up being the most in debt.</p>
<p>Then again, this might be some sort of technique of restructuring the class structures...</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>no not really. If you make 50k+ a year, there is no way a parent cant afford college for the children. I live in a single parent household with a brother and me. My mother brings in 31K a year.</p>
<p>We do fine, sure we dont live a lucury life but its fine and i am happy. My mother lives pay-check to paycheck, she does it so if you make more than 50K, you are fine.</p>
<p>dont complain, your just used to to good of a life.</p>
<p>I have friends whos mother makes 15-20K a year and they have it alot worse but they survive.</p>
<p>Its about giving up luxurys, you dont need the things that you have, ya dont need a 30K a year education and ya dont need a $500 ipod.</p>
<p>I agree, but no matter your income, there are things that you do need. You need a roof of some kind over your head (preferably one that doesn't leak), and some kind of running vehicle, unless there is ample public transportation available in your area. What you don't need is a new vehicle. Mine is an '88 LeBaron. My roof is attached to a '72 12x64 mobile home. It works, and both are paid for. Of course, if someone were to offer me a newer car or home. I wouldn't refuse. but the problem of paying the taxes would creep in.</p>
<p>my family makes 90,000 a year and our EFC was 19,000. not everyone with $100k income will be paying 40 grand a year</p>
<p>lastcall, no, they're not saying it affects their admissions decisions</p>
<p>I would just like to point out that it says before this policy it says families making 45000 were paying about 2650 per year, or 6% of their income, but a family making 100000 would probably receive no aid and have to pay 47000, or nearly 47% of their income.</p>
<hr>
<p>Right. Which can't be done. This seems to be the norm at expensive privates these days. Need-blind admission is useless (perhaps even cruel) if this is to be the policy.</p>
<p>families making 100k should have a decent amount of money put away for their children's college educations
also, just look at justcallmefunk's example, his/her family is making 90k and his/her efc's only 19k
you can't generalize and say a family making 100k will probably receive no aid</p>
<p>Leonard, you've misread the figure. Before the policy, families making 45000 or lesss were paying an <em>average</em> of 2650 per year. That means that some families were paying more, and some less. As for families making 100K, if you do an EFC calculation with absolutely no assets other than the income, the EFC does not come out to 47000. The "problem" is, as someone else pointed out, many families making 100K also have savings, home equity, etc -- things that families making much less may not have.</p>
<p>No, I didn't misread it. But your point is accurate. If you've been thrifty enough to save anything for your old age (had a look at the cost of health insurance for oldies lately?), and straightfoward in your finances (belatedly, one discovers that there are lots of tricks), a huge bill rolls in. One predicted by EFC, but which may bear no relation to real-world capacity to pay that bill.</p>