Put Grad School Within My Grasp

Washington Post ^ | July 25, 2006 | Sui Lang Panoke

[Bubba_Leroy]

s access to graduate education in America exclusively for the upper class?

As a first-year graduate student struggling to make ends meet, I believe the answer is yes. In my experience, searching for funding to pay the extensive costs of my higher education has been an upward climb leading only to dead ends.

I am a single mother who qualifies for the maximum amount in federal aid for graduate students. But this amount barely covers my tuition; paying for housing, books and living expenses is up to me.

[Bubba_Leroy]

The writer is a first-year graduate student at American University working toward a master's degree in public administration.

That pretty much says it all.

[bboop]

Just another wah-sad story. Get the violin.

[bybybill]

Sure a lot of I`s and me`s in this story.

[bboop]

"The graduate degree I am entitled to."

Words escape me.

[Bubba_Leroy]

[jwalsh07]

As a benefit of serving in the US Army 30 some years ago, I got some help going to college. I worked nights to support my family at the same time. I suggest she do the same.

[ClearCase_guy]

qualifies for the maximum amount in federal aid

Translation: I'm feeding at the public trough as much as I can, but it's not enough. It takes a village to support someone like me. And, by the way, my career in public administration will allow me to be supported by your tax dollars for the rest of my life. Please make this happen.

[Wolfhound777]

This is telling also:

I lack the substantial credit or employment history that is required...

Another parasite who doesn't work but wants a free ride

[VOA]

I am a single mother who qualifies for the maximum amount in federal aid for graduate students.

This lady should have access to scholarships reserved for females; e.g.,
often raised by women's service organizations.
An old scholmate got a free ride to medical school (a state school) via
a scholarship targeted at older women.
IIRC, she entered med school at about age 35.

[BlessedBeGod]

We are failing to redistribute the wealth in America...

Speechless.

[Bubba_Leroy]

Words escape me.

Here is my favorite part:

"We are failing to redistribute the wealth in America"

How about going to work and creating some?

[larrysh]

A. Her age?
B. How attractive?
C. Would she make a deal?

[msnimje]

Everybody I know had a little bit of baggage called "student loans" when they left college. I paid mine off in 10 years, 11 months and 16 days.

[Bubba_Leroy]

What's even more frustrating is that if I were seeking an undergraduate degree, being a single mother would qualify me to have most of my college expenses paid for.

As someone who worked full time all through college and graduate school I find that pretty damned frustrating too.

Probably for a different reason though.

[SteveMcKing]

If she were in a worthy field, many programs pay about $25K stipend a year. That often breaks even with tuition and fees, plus a small amount left over to live very modestly.

But I have small sympathy for easy degree programs. "Work" is not a hobby, it's a headache by definition, and most humanity majors amount to glorified pastimes.

[Old Professer]

While the argument is fundamentally flawed, the writing was coherent and the grammar acceptable; however Bush has squandered Clinton's surplus and there is really no money left to administer, so I guess even if she is able to beg a few dollars over the next few years, she'll still be flipping burgers, hawking fries and swatting flies, or else she'll have to dig ditches.

[The people have spoken]

We are failing to redistribute the wealth in America.

If that's what she thinks the government is supposed to do, I hope she fails in her quest for a graduate degree.

In other fields, such as the sciences or liberal arts, graduate students pay for their education with the help of teaching assistantships. The claim that you need to be upper class to pursue a degree is totally bogus.

[SALChamps03]

I am by no means upper class, and I did what most people did to pay for grad school. I took out loans. I will be paying them back for years. That's life.

[ladyjane]

If you are in graduate school and you are not getting full support from the university you ought to re-think your goals.

If you still want to continue, in spite of lack of academic sponsorship, you need to figure out how to do it yourself.

BTW it is graduate school, not grad school.

[Dianna]

I am a single mother who qualifies for the maximum amount in federal aid for graduate students. But this amount barely covers my tuition; paying for housing, books and living expenses is up to me.

Oh dear, her school loans only pay for school??!!

Furthermore, I can work only part-time jobs while in school; otherwise I would not qualify for child-care assistance.

She hamstrings herself and then complains about her restrictions.