<p>I think the protest was timely but the reduced enrollment compared to H and Ps increase might have been the actual impedus. The U of V already is recognizing the importance of making college affordable for students. I hope California will figure a way to reduce the overall cost of college for its citizens.</p>
<p>Mr.B, the UCs are the most generous of the top schools. They have more students who are qualified for Pell Grants than any of the top schools.</p>
<p>Tha Cal States are cheap compared to comparable schools.</p>
<p>The community colleges are cheap.</p>
<p>I hope California will figure a way to reduce the overall cost of college for its citizens.</p>
<p>Dude, for an in-state applicant, tuition is only something like 6k...where else can you get a UC Berkeley or UCLA quality education for so cheap???</p>
<p>does this mean that all admitted students under yale finaid will now receive new finaid packages in the mail?</p>
<p>One way or the other, either now or later, the packages will be adjusted.</p>
<p>Yale's new finaid policy really rocks! I am sure this will make yale's science department more popular as now yale's finaid policy is much much better than at other engineering schools aka JHU etc.</p>
<p>If its true that people are put on a waiting list before they can donate money to the big ivy leagues like yale and havard, then why couldn't they afford to give tons of aid to their students in the first place?</p>
<p>Ok, stupid question here, I read the article and all but something confused me. I read somewhere something about helping people with an EFC of zero attend for free, but then somewhere else it mentioned people with incomes of less than 45,000 attending for free. I don't have an EFC of zero, but its pretty close to it and my family makes less than 45,000 so does that mean I can go for free if accepted? And if so, is that just first year, or all four years provided I demonstrate the same need? If someone could clear this up for me I would really appreaciate it. Thanks for any and all help. =)</p>
<p>all four years would be free as long as your family made less than 40,000</p>
<p>not quite. Your parents wouldn't be expected to contribute so long as their income was less than 45,000. That doesn't take into account student work-study, which still remains and would be expected.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input you guys!</p>
<p>GESO wasn't directly involved in the sit-in, although they did support the undergraduate action. At around dinner time, when the University was stalling the arrests of the 15 students and waiting for the news cameras to go away, GESO provided pizza for the crowd gathered outside the admissions office, which was much appreciated.</p>
<p>As to why GESO supported the action, I can't provide an official statement or anything. However, one of GESO's main goals is to increase diversity in education, and that is definitely one of the main aims of the financial aid reform movement at Yale. So despite the fact that the sit-in was, in fact, an undergraduate action, GESO's support isn't surprising at all.</p>
<p>And to GESO haters - even though this isn't really the right thread for this discussion - why the intense dislike? What exactly did GESO do to deserve such negativity?</p>
<p>GESO is GReat</p>
<p>And in a nice example of Harvard-Yale love...</p>
<p>From the Harvard Crimson on 3/10/2005:</p>
<p>Instant Gratification
By THE CRIMSON STAFF
THE CRIMSON STAFF</p>
<p>A successful sit-in is an unusual accomplishment. It requires thorough planning, excellent timing, an understanding of the media, and a group of students willing to stand up (or sit down) for their cause. Yales Undergraduate Organizing Committee (UOC) planned such a successful sit-in two Thursdays ago, when 15 students took over Yales Office of Undergraduate Admissions while 150 others protested outside. The students were spurred by concern over the welfare of fellow students who could not afford an Ivy League tuition under Yales financial aid policies.</p>
<p>In the few days since the protest, Yale President Richard C. Levin announced sweeping changes in the universitys financial aid packages. Yale will now match Harvard policy of reducing contributions from families that earn less than $60,000 per year. Yale has also guaranteed that it will not require contributions from families that earn less than $45,000 per year, up from Harvards threshold of $40,000.</p>
<p>Yales student body was right to pursue this worthy cause, and their pressure was at least partially responsible for Yales generous new aid package. While its unfortunate that the UOC had to resort to sit-in tactics, it was forced to do all it could to attract the attention of Yale administrators. To that end, the UOCs sit-in was an effective and peaceful way to show its commitment to the issue at hand while simultaneously gathering needed attention.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, President Levin must use this protest and his recent presentation of new aid packages as an opportunity, not a hindrance, for his universityperhaps using student response as a tool to engage more alumni donors. In that way, the financial burden of the change could be offset by more alumni giving.</p>
<p>The UOCs bold move was not the only pressure that Yale administrators felt while debating remaking financial aid. President Levin was due to announce a new aid package soon, in fact, regardless of the protest. That said, the UOCs success in compellingly presenting student grievances bodes well for other student initiatives, whether at Yale, Harvard, or other schools. It proves that student voices carry weight when aired in the right way, at the right time. Many Harvard groups, from the Undergraduate Council to ethnically- and gender-based organizations, could stand to learn a thing or two about effective, confrontational lobbying from the UOCs example.</p>
<p>Through a petition, multiple proposals, and a sit-in, Yale students publicized an issue they cared about. We applaud their tactics and their triumph in making a difference in the lives of thousands of future Elis.</p>