The Culture of Entitlement: Somebody Else Should Pay for My College Tuition!

Pajamas Media ^ | 03/21/2015 | Michael Walsh

[SeekAndFind]

The headline on this op-ed piece in the Washington Post says it all:

College applicant: I got in! But I can’t afford it. Was all my hard work for nothing?

The author of the piece is a high-school senior in Lousiana who just got admitted to Tulane, so let’s cut her some slack here. But what does it say about the success of President Obama’s constant yammering about how college should be “free” (incrementally, of course, beginning with community college, but we’ve all seen this leftist movie before and know where it’s going)? A lot, is what:

I am one of the top two prospects for valedictorian at Riverside, the opposing student is an African-American female and scholarship student as well. With silent fervor and diligence, together we worked to rise to become the top senior ranks. History will be made graduation day; our high school has yet to rear an African-American valedictorian or salutatorian since its opening in 1970. I believe this to be an extraordinary achievement, considering the politics of our community, the region we live in, the current year, and the odds stacked against us…

To my dismay, I was denied the full scholarship to Tulane. Although being accepted is a pretty astounding achievement, somehow I feel the point I’m desperately trying to prove disintegrated completely. Yes, the middle and lower classes have a place at universities such as this, but when it comes to funding we are on our own. It’s almost as if being let in the door to take a brief look around, but shooed off outright.

One might suggest to Ms. Svrluga that millions of students have faced similar circumstances over the years, and many have found a way around or through them: loans, part-time jobs, scholarships (both from the school and elsewhere). Government need not be the first and last resort. Here comes the kicker, though, and it’s unutterably sad:

I want a voice. I want to prove that I am not a product of my hometown’s low expectations.

I want the college education that I worked so hard for yet cannot afford.

I want the rest of the students within my community to leave, to branch out, and to thrive.

I want the destructive system crippling my community to fall.

I want equality of outcome.

And there you have it.

[Sherman Logan]

Ran some numbers once. It’s been a while, so I may be somewhat off.

In 1965 the average tuition at a state university was about 50% of a minimum wage job worked 40 hours/week for a year.

Today it’s about 3x the annual salary for such a job.

IOW, it really isn’t possible to finance a college education in the way many did decades ago.

[Terry L Smith]

dear stupid punk,

Take yo’ tahd arse outta yo’ momma’s house, an’ go do dah military t’ing, for one term, maybe.

Ya’s might learn a REAL job, in d’ere, decidin’ who’s papers ya’s gonna go sign.

Ya’s ‘do yo’ duty’, mebbe git some place in dah country where’s nuttin’ goin’s on, do some night school work, or some work-by-mail or sumptin’ like d’at, an’ d’en yo’ can come out, an’ have some know-how, meebe some learning, tah go’s ‘n’ git dah rest of yo’ degree!

but, if’n ya’s don’, just shut up!

[clearcarbon]

It was still possible to pay for your own education and find a job after graduation up to GHWB. What’s happened since then?

[kearnyirish2]

Four-year degrees are already meaningless in the hands of certain groups that are just awarded them for showing up; in the workforce a “non-preferred” degree is worth ten times that of a preferred minority”. Same applies for high school diplomas...

[kearnyirish2]

That’s a shame; normally such schools are intended to save 1% of the black children from the fate that awaits the other 99% (illiteracy and ignorance).

[kearnyirish2]

I’d hope young people today can see the risk in spending the time & money on a four-year degree (and make informed decisions); many who invested in them have had their jobs either outsourced to Asia or given to foreigners here on work visas via fabricated shortages.

In my area the biggest demand for two-year degrees seems to be from those who want to work as cops; a degree is required, but an Associates Degree will do...