Posted on 02/01/2008 4:12:08 AM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
Adult working students are not given a fair chance at an education. The majority of adult students attending college work full time and many have children and family obligations. As a working student, I have only been offered financial aid in the form of student loans, which require repayment. Ten percent of UNCG's student enrollment is adult students.
Throughout my college career, I have come in contact with students privileged enough to not need to work while attending school. Most, however, do not and will not have that opportunity. I have also noticed that certain minorities often get offered financial aid that doesn't require repayment. This seems unfair to non-minorities.
If the government would offer more funding to students, there would be more adults attending college. It appears that those of us who do not fall into one of the previously mentioned categories are forced to work full time while incurring debt in order to support ourselves through college .
Our legislators should take a hard look at students who put themselves through school and how much debt they incur while doing so.
Stacie Hazelwood Greensboro
"
This letter is absolutely astounding in it's revelation of our contemporary generation of college students. I read it in the print N&R at the kitchen table and nearly dropped my cereal on the floor.
"As a working student, I have only been offered financial aid in the form of student loans, which require repayment."
Yep...uh huh....that would be the definition of a loan. You borrow money and then pay it back. Imagine that.
Let me get this straight Stacie, the govt. is supposed to give everyone free money for their college education? Where does this money come from? How about your food, transportation, shelter, books, clothing and other needs during your education. Since you don't want to be "forced to work full time" perhaps the govt. should offer these free as well. That way you can focus only on your education.
Our American experiment has failed as Neo mentioned earlier. People want the school system to tell them when to drive or not, now Stacie here is repulsed by the idea of borrowing money for her education and actually paying it back."
_________________________________________________________ "
"Our legislators should take a hard look at students who put themselves through school and how much debt they incur while doing so."
How about our legislators taking a "hard look" at my power bill, my grocery bill, and while they're at it, I'd like to upgrade my satellite system. Oh, and I still want that new Tahoe, but every time I approach a salesperson about it, they always come up with these annoying 'loan contracts'... expecting me to sign them. What's up with that?
Stacie, it's victims like you that created the welfare state which has bankrupted the country."
I worked my way thru school. I agree with the person however, I think somebody studying engineering while living below the poverty level(as was my case) deserves the govt. assistence more than a pregneant teenager. Maybe loans are OK but I see his point.
Hey Stacie,
I joined the military, saved as much as I could, and then when I went back to school, I borrowed what I had to, and am still paying it back a decade later. Also, I delayed getting married and having kids until I had finished my degree, because I knew I couldn’t support a family as a student.
Go to Wal-Mart, buy the biggest straw they have and SUCK IT UP.
Stacie’s mom was busy with the lawn boy.
Let me point out that the college student who works full time while going to school, has developed a work ethic that any employer would want.
A students who expects the government to pay for their education with grants become teachers and joins the NEA.
.....Bob
Free education for adults?
Dude! Where’s my food?
Food is a NECESSITY. Keeps me out of the hospital. I have a right to eat, and I feel right passionate about that.
Why should I be penalized for living in a state where I can’t grow vegetables year-round? And them Texans hoarding all the beef, it’s unfair I tell ya! Share! Redistribute! Feed me feed me FEED ME!
Ditto!!
The Gov has helped and helped and helped. As a direct result the tuition costs of colleges have exploded. Why? Because they can. We poured tons of money into the student loan trough and “corporate colleges” have continued to raise tuition to suck up the tax dollars. Oink oink professor. It’s no wonder professor “on-the-dole” is going to vote for Obama.
My gut reaction to poor little Stacie is not very sympathetic, because I worked like a dog every summer to make tuition for the next year. I needed a student loan for only one semester, and I paid it off early once I started woking, just to be rid of it.
However,the way expenses have shot through the roof, is it still possible to do it that way? My buddy at work was griping about a single textbook for his son costing over $150. I remember paying $20 or $30.
“...it encourages colleges to jack up their tuition...”
Yes, it does. I want somebody to chart the increase in gas prices from 1958 to 2008 against the increase in college tuition for the same period. There’s a lot of money being made here, and no accountability for it. Don’t be fooled by “non-profit” labels. There’s plenty being made, and it’s being made off of you and me, while they do all they can to advance the Socialist cause.
They have the same chance everybody else does. They need to quit whining because they are not “privileged”.
This is why our mothers tell us to stay in school, right through college. If these folks would pay attention to those who rear them, life would be so much better. But, NO! The young ones are always smarter than thier advisors.
Hey now, I was forced to join the NEA. In Ohio, it is required. However, my middle class, non-college educated parents did pay for my brother and I to go through Akron U. I did have a small athletic scholarship because I was on the Rifle Team, but they paid for all of it. Does that make me priveleged?
While I agree with the minority thing, Stacie needs to grow up and quit whining.
Yes, it does. I want somebody to chart the increase in gas prices from 1958 to 2008 against the increase in college tuition for the same period. There’s a lot of money being made here, and no accountability for it. Don’t be fooled by “non-profit” labels. There’s plenty being made, and it’s being made off of you and me, while they do all they can to advance the Socialist cause.Meh... basically a college can never have too much money. The more endowment you have the bigger buildings you can make, the more research crap you can buy... this attracts better students, better faculty etc...
Oh, I see what you mean. You and I recieved good advice from our parents. It is not natural to consider the alternative.
I wish all these folks would sh*tcan their entitlement mentalities. I worked my way through school and I would have eaten my foot before I took government assistance.
I'm just sayin'...
I'm just sayin'...I agree there too ;)
Can I come at this w/ another viewpoint?
I teach at a small community college. There is a government funded program (your tax dollars at work) where an outreach worker goes out into the lower income neighborhoods and looks for potential students. The students who are enrolled through this government funded program don’t pay one dime for their class at the school as well as having money for all their books & supplies.
All instructors who have a student enrolled in this program receive questionnaires several times throughout the semester designed to assist the individuals responsible for this program to monitor how the students are doing and to presumably to assist the student who needs help in a specific area such as being prepared for class, being on time, etc.
Sounds like a great opportunity, doesn’t it. Well, let me tell you my experiences with students from this program
At least 60% of the students in this program enrolled in my class NEVER show up for class, not once!
Another 30% come to 1, maybe 2 classes then disappear.
The remaining 10% always come to class late, not just 5 minutes, but they usually wander in when the class is half over. They usually miss at least half the classes. They do not understand why they have to do homework. Not one of the remaining 10% has had the basic skills needed for college, not one. Most disappear by the midterm.
Not one of these students has ever gotten a passing grade (D or better) in my class, not one!! And I offer them the chance to work on their skills individually, not one has ever taken me up on my offer!!
So, every semester I see my tax dollars being thrown away on these students. Personally, I would rather see my money going toward an adult student who will at least appreciate and make use of what is being given to them. And I can see why the woman who wrote this letter is upset I’m sure she sees all of the money & benefits going toward these special students who really have no interest in getting a college education. And I have never seen a Caucasian student in this program. There maybe one somewhere, but I have never had one in my class.
“Does that make me privileged?”
From my point of view, it does. I graduated High School, joined the Army, sent my civilian clothes home, and all financial ties to my parents were severed. Eight years later, 2 overseas tours under my belt, I finally got my BS in meteorology via both night school and off campus mail courses. I learned the real value of an education is not in what you learn, but in dedication to a goal.
....Bob
In my case, legislators should take a hard look at what it would cost me to own a new Ferrari and give me some Ferrari aid....this entitlement mentality is sickening.....
Claiming that you "knocked-up" a girl is better than "outing" yourself to Mom and Dad?
I a student works, then their income disqualifies them for scholarship aid.
If they don’t work their income is low enough to qualify for loans and grants.
Also, If the student decides to get married, the spouse’s income is considered the non-working student’s income, so, this encourages a lot of “shacking-up”. I have seen a lot of this happen in my extended family precisely because getting married would immediately eliminate student aid for the person attending school.
as a student going through you recieve scholarships for good grades.
If you have been out of school your grades go stale.
It does not matter that 15 years ago you had straigt a and would have had a scholarship but for X needing you to work.
Stacie needs to change her last name to Garcia or Hernandez, then she’ll get what she wants.
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