Post by Zero on Feb 25, 2009 21:30:57 GMT -8
This is in response to a hypothetical proposal made in my English book. It basically reads:
Say a proposal was made stating that college tuition would not be a fixed price, but levied in a similar way income taxes are, in that, student tuition would be based on you or your parent's annual income. Now, write an essay in which you support or oppose this proposition.
Isaac Rosete
I would have to say that I somewhat dislike the idea. College tuition is one of those things, like taxes, that few people would happily pay for. Unlike the federal income tax, college tuition is used for the good of the community or student body (to an extent). There are many schools that spend their money unwisely, like those who throw loads of money to teachers from other areas or nations just to say, "Hey, we've got this person teaching at our school." However, those same schools are among the most prestigious, and acceptance from those schools are widely sought after. Given the nature of people with power, those in charge of accepting or denying people entrance from their school may very well begin accepting the wealthy over the academically proficient. Bribery would no doubt take place, more so than it does today, and those who truely deserve admittance may be shoved aside.
However, some schools would surely like to keep their integrity and wouldn't hear of such a thing like bribery. There would have to be at least a few colleges in the nation that would want the smartest students, not the richest, and they would eventually take the place of the corrupt rich schools. More than likely, they'd hold fundraisers and collect donations to help keep them up and running. This brings up the question: "how long?" How long must we endure the bad before it gets good? How long before the scandals of the corrupted are make pubic? Hopefully not too long, right?... These ideas may seem far fetched or extreme, but how can we even begin think of implementing such a proposal without considering the possibilities, as well as their probabilities. The idea of corruption is not a new one, and neither is the idea that it may go on unrecognized for several years. And in response those who believe that I'm looking too much into it, that I'm going to far, that what I say, while not inapplicable, is totally blown out of proportion, I ask that if we worry so much about the problems in our government, then why not our system of higher education?
There are upsides to the equation: those who are intelligent and cannot afford to pay for such prestigious institutions would receive just the help they need. People who have what it takes to go to a University could do so without the worry that they need to pay some ridiculously expensive tuition. It's just what we need, right? Well, one should still keep in mind the prospect of scholarships, student loans, and financial aid. All of those things are available to those who seek them. Even if you don't qualify for financial aid or don't want to pay back some student loan, scholarships are available to all people. In fact, there are over six million dollars in uncollected scholarship money each year, which shows just how few people ever actually apply. That's not a product of poverty, but of laziness. If you have the grades and the scores to make it to Harvard Law, but you can't pay for it, then you'd better have the brains, or better yet the will, to get off the couch and look for the free money that's offered every year to people in just that position.
Say a proposal was made stating that college tuition would not be a fixed price, but levied in a similar way income taxes are, in that, student tuition would be based on you or your parent's annual income. Now, write an essay in which you support or oppose this proposition.
Isaac Rosete
I would have to say that I somewhat dislike the idea. College tuition is one of those things, like taxes, that few people would happily pay for. Unlike the federal income tax, college tuition is used for the good of the community or student body (to an extent). There are many schools that spend their money unwisely, like those who throw loads of money to teachers from other areas or nations just to say, "Hey, we've got this person teaching at our school." However, those same schools are among the most prestigious, and acceptance from those schools are widely sought after. Given the nature of people with power, those in charge of accepting or denying people entrance from their school may very well begin accepting the wealthy over the academically proficient. Bribery would no doubt take place, more so than it does today, and those who truely deserve admittance may be shoved aside.
However, some schools would surely like to keep their integrity and wouldn't hear of such a thing like bribery. There would have to be at least a few colleges in the nation that would want the smartest students, not the richest, and they would eventually take the place of the corrupt rich schools. More than likely, they'd hold fundraisers and collect donations to help keep them up and running. This brings up the question: "how long?" How long must we endure the bad before it gets good? How long before the scandals of the corrupted are make pubic? Hopefully not too long, right?... These ideas may seem far fetched or extreme, but how can we even begin think of implementing such a proposal without considering the possibilities, as well as their probabilities. The idea of corruption is not a new one, and neither is the idea that it may go on unrecognized for several years. And in response those who believe that I'm looking too much into it, that I'm going to far, that what I say, while not inapplicable, is totally blown out of proportion, I ask that if we worry so much about the problems in our government, then why not our system of higher education?
There are upsides to the equation: those who are intelligent and cannot afford to pay for such prestigious institutions would receive just the help they need. People who have what it takes to go to a University could do so without the worry that they need to pay some ridiculously expensive tuition. It's just what we need, right? Well, one should still keep in mind the prospect of scholarships, student loans, and financial aid. All of those things are available to those who seek them. Even if you don't qualify for financial aid or don't want to pay back some student loan, scholarships are available to all people. In fact, there are over six million dollars in uncollected scholarship money each year, which shows just how few people ever actually apply. That's not a product of poverty, but of laziness. If you have the grades and the scores to make it to Harvard Law, but you can't pay for it, then you'd better have the brains, or better yet the will, to get off the couch and look for the free money that's offered every year to people in just that position.