<p>I wouldn't "force" anybody to really pay all of their tuition upfront (although that is an option), but rather to nominally charge that tuition upfront, but then immediately offer to trade it for a series of payments that would be similar to the the stream of payments that are paid per semester right now. For example, basic finance theory dictates that you can convert any lump sum of money into a steady stream of payments, and vice versa. So right now, I can convert the stream of semester payments that students pay now, and convert it to a nominal upfront fee, but still offer the choice of a stream of semester payments. The major difference is that if you don't graduate, you are still responsible for making payments until your payments are fully settled. I would inject the modification that if you graduate early, you will get a 'rebate' (which would basically mean that any further periodic payments would cease). However, if you don't graduate, then you are still required to make payments.</p>
<p>I implement this policy primarily to force students who aren't serious about graduating to get serious, hence raising the graduation rate. We all know that there are some Berkeley students who, quite frankly, aren't really serious about graduating. I would like for them to either get serious, or not come to Berkeley and therefore give their spots to somebody else who will be serious. A nice side effect would be to generate more revenue for Berkeley.</p>
<p>Most students don't pay for college and berkeley tuition is pretty low for in-staters such that many middle class students care even less. </p>
<p>Hence, I doubt that your plan will do little to increase the quality of the student body.</p>
<p>And many poor students are also those that just don't have what it takes to succeed. I think the selection progress should be more rigorous for berkeley and equivalent (in terms of future expected income) training paths should be available to those who are C and D students right now in college. </p>
<p>SOme people think this is racist, but I think it critical in creating a more even distribution of income in the US similar to Germany's school system, versus the increasingly bimodal distribution we have now.</p>
<p>Everyone will most likely be happier anyways, because in the end its all about the money to most people.</p>
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Most students don't pay for college and berkeley tuition is pretty low for in-staters such that many middle class students care even less. </p>
<p>Hence, I doubt that your plan will do little to increase the quality of the student body.
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<p>Fair enough. Then at least this idea would generate more revenue for Berkeley. Berkeley can then use that money to build that honors college that I have been pushing.</p>