Financial Aid Improvements
One of the most important economic issues affecting us as college students is that of financial aid. The costs of attending college are rising rapidly. Something must be done to improve the financial aid situation in the United States to ensure the best and brightest are able to attend the most prestigious institutions regardless of cost. Increasing the overall budget of the financial aid program, especially the amounts of federal grants and loans, will help more students attend college allow for better educations to the less fortunate students of America.
The universities and colleges of America are places where the bright minds of young people are molded into knowledgeable scholars ready to take on the world and succeed. However, it is becoming harder and harder for these bright minds to afford such institutions. While the economy in the United States is struggling, college costs are increasing. “The average tuition for undergrads attending four-year public universities jumped 10.5 percent this year. That helped to push the average price of attendance, including room, board and fees, up $824 to $11,354” (Sahadi par. 1). The present financial aid available simply cannot account for such increases. Students are overwhelmed with the “sticker shock” caused by the high price tags of many of America’s higher learning institutions.
The first step in helping deserving students to attend college is to increase the budget allotted to the financial aid program. “More than 10.3 million students will be able to afford college through President Bush’s record $73 billion in financial aid assistance – an increase of $25.9 billion, or 55 percent, over 2001”( "A Plan for Creating Opportunity for America's Workers" par. 9). Allowing more students to attend college will ensure that Americans’ tax dollars are going to work in a good way. With more students attending college, more people will be better qualified to enter the workforce in order to boost the nation’s economy. Right now, my family makes too much money to be eligible for federal aid, but not enough to be able to pay the entire bill. With an increase in budget, middle class students such as myself will have a better chance of receiving federal aid. We will then be able to focus more on our studies than worrying about how this education is being paid for.
Enhancing the federal Pell Grant is another great way to help less fortunate students get a leg up. “Low-income students who take the rigorous high school curriculum will be allowed to receive up to $1,000 in additional Pell Grant funding”(“A Plan for…America’s Workers” par. 9). Increasing the Pell Grant will better prepare students for the college learning environment. If students are offered incentives to take harder classes and do well, then they will develop the study skills and time management habits that are necessary to succeed in college. Money is a great motivator. Students provided with financial aid are more likely to strive for greatness because they do not want to waste the gift that the government has provided them.
Another vital improvement necessary for providing financial assistance to students is to increase the AmeriCorps program. By increasing the number of members in the program, more students will be able to work towards earning money for school. President Bush has plans for “increasing to 75,000 the number of AmeriCorps members. Full-time members will receive and educational award of $4,725 to pay for college or graduate school”(A Plan for…America’s Workers” par. 9). This money will serve two purposes. It will give students motivation to want to help to improve our great land through the many services that AmeriCorps provides. It will also provide another avenue for deserving students to further their educational endeavors.
“Dual enrollment programs are programs which allow high school students to earn college credit and graduate in less time. Increasing the grants to community colleges will serve as an incentive for them to provide such programs”(A Plan for…America’s Workers” par. 9). Dual enrollment allows students to get on the fast track to success. By taking college classes while still in high school, students will be better prepared for classes when the arrive at a four-year institution. They will also be able to transfer the credits to their university and graduate early. If students have credits going in, then they will have to take less classes to fulfill all requirements necessary for graduation. Less classes means less money. It also means that educated students will be better prepared to go out into the workforce in order to improve the nation’s economy.
Increasing the money allocated to the financial aid system is a great step in improving education in America. Increased and enhanced grants and loans will motivate students to do well in both high school and in college. Reforms to the AmeriCorps program will give students who participate and help out in the community a sense of self-gratification. They will feel as if they are working for their aid and not simply accepting a handout. Overall, an increase in the budget provided to the financial aid program will produce a better education system, more motivated students, and well-rounded individuals prepped for success in the workforce of America.
"A Plan for Creating Opportunity for America's Workers." 2004. Agenda for
America - Chapter 1. BUSH-CHENEY '04, Inc. 22Sept2004. http://www.georgewbush.com/Agenda/Chapter.aspx?ID=1#ed.
Sahadi, Jeanne. "College costs spike again." 19 Oct 2004. CNNmoney.
Cable News Network LP, LLLP.. 25 Oct 2004. http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/18/pf/college/college_costs/.
The universities and colleges of America are places where the bright minds of young people are molded into knowledgeable scholars ready to take on the world and succeed. However, it is becoming harder and harder for these bright minds to afford such institutions. While the economy in the United States is struggling, college costs are increasing. “The average tuition for undergrads attending four-year public universities jumped 10.5 percent this year. That helped to push the average price of attendance, including room, board and fees, up $824 to $11,354” (Sahadi par. 1). The present financial aid available simply cannot account for such increases. Students are overwhelmed with the “sticker shock” caused by the high price tags of many of America’s higher learning institutions.
The first step in helping deserving students to attend college is to increase the budget allotted to the financial aid program. “More than 10.3 million students will be able to afford college through President Bush’s record $73 billion in financial aid assistance – an increase of $25.9 billion, or 55 percent, over 2001”( "A Plan for Creating Opportunity for America's Workers" par. 9). Allowing more students to attend college will ensure that Americans’ tax dollars are going to work in a good way. With more students attending college, more people will be better qualified to enter the workforce in order to boost the nation’s economy. Right now, my family makes too much money to be eligible for federal aid, but not enough to be able to pay the entire bill. With an increase in budget, middle class students such as myself will have a better chance of receiving federal aid. We will then be able to focus more on our studies than worrying about how this education is being paid for.
Enhancing the federal Pell Grant is another great way to help less fortunate students get a leg up. “Low-income students who take the rigorous high school curriculum will be allowed to receive up to $1,000 in additional Pell Grant funding”(“A Plan for…America’s Workers” par. 9). Increasing the Pell Grant will better prepare students for the college learning environment. If students are offered incentives to take harder classes and do well, then they will develop the study skills and time management habits that are necessary to succeed in college. Money is a great motivator. Students provided with financial aid are more likely to strive for greatness because they do not want to waste the gift that the government has provided them.
Another vital improvement necessary for providing financial assistance to students is to increase the AmeriCorps program. By increasing the number of members in the program, more students will be able to work towards earning money for school. President Bush has plans for “increasing to 75,000 the number of AmeriCorps members. Full-time members will receive and educational award of $4,725 to pay for college or graduate school”(A Plan for…America’s Workers” par. 9). This money will serve two purposes. It will give students motivation to want to help to improve our great land through the many services that AmeriCorps provides. It will also provide another avenue for deserving students to further their educational endeavors.
“Dual enrollment programs are programs which allow high school students to earn college credit and graduate in less time. Increasing the grants to community colleges will serve as an incentive for them to provide such programs”(A Plan for…America’s Workers” par. 9). Dual enrollment allows students to get on the fast track to success. By taking college classes while still in high school, students will be better prepared for classes when the arrive at a four-year institution. They will also be able to transfer the credits to their university and graduate early. If students have credits going in, then they will have to take less classes to fulfill all requirements necessary for graduation. Less classes means less money. It also means that educated students will be better prepared to go out into the workforce in order to improve the nation’s economy.
Increasing the money allocated to the financial aid system is a great step in improving education in America. Increased and enhanced grants and loans will motivate students to do well in both high school and in college. Reforms to the AmeriCorps program will give students who participate and help out in the community a sense of self-gratification. They will feel as if they are working for their aid and not simply accepting a handout. Overall, an increase in the budget provided to the financial aid program will produce a better education system, more motivated students, and well-rounded individuals prepped for success in the workforce of America.
"A Plan for Creating Opportunity for America's Workers." 2004. Agenda for
America - Chapter 1. BUSH-CHENEY '04, Inc. 22Sept2004. http://www.georgewbush.com/Agenda/Chapter.aspx?ID=1#ed.
Sahadi, Jeanne. "College costs spike again." 19 Oct 2004. CNNmoney.
Cable News Network LP, LLLP.. 25 Oct 2004. http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/18/pf/college/college_costs/.
1 Comments:
I have to agree that there needs to be reform in the financial aid system. I think that it needs to address not only aiding the working class families more, but also the middle and upper middle class families that may not have a substantial savings account. My family for example, makes too much money, just like Sam's to be qualified for financial aid, which is one of the main reason that I chose to come to this school. I desired to attend Wake Forest, but because my parents currently earn too much, I am not eligible for financial aid, and it would place to much economic burden on my family for me to attend Wake now because we do not have much savings. This paper does an excellent job addressing counter arguments and then refuting them. I also agree that it will improve youth's future if we give them better opportunites to attend the colleges of their choice, no matter how much tuition costs.
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