The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: TAB on January 29, 2011, 04:52:51 PM

Title: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: TAB on January 29, 2011, 04:52:51 PM
I have a relative that is going to community college... now she has zero living expenses, as she lives at home.

She is getting $4500 a semister to go to said commuinty college.

I did the math, after you subtract fees, books and the discounted bus pass, she is making $24.30/hr for every hour she is in school.


I qualfied for a grant my last semister at sac state, it was like for $50 bucks so I didn't even bother.



We need to stop this shit.

Title: Re: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: mkm on January 29, 2011, 05:21:48 PM
What kind of financial aid is it?  I worked hard in high school/college and was rewarded with multiple scholarships throughout my college career.  I actually looked forward to tuition being due because I got a refund of several hundred dollars plus, depending on the amount of scholarships for that year.  I don't think it's unfair for someone who works hard and gets awarded scholarships to not get the full amount they are awarded.
Title: Re: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: twyacht on January 29, 2011, 05:38:39 PM
Scholarships and grants are one thing. Especially if she has the academic record to back it up. Student Loans are another.

My wife's daughter, graduated from John's Hopkins University with a Masters, and now is in Dental School. Honor Roll the entire time.

Had grants, scholarships, and family paying.

Still owes, almost $50,000 in student loans.,... :-\

In school tuition, loopholes, who you know, can go a long way.  After all the "trickle down" effect comes in the form of endowments, which is a fancy term for taxpayer money.
Title: Re: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: TAB on January 29, 2011, 05:55:18 PM
Scholarships and grants are one thing. Especially if she has the academic record to back it up. Student Loans are another.

My wife's daughter, graduated from John's Hopkins University with a Masters, and now is in Dental School. Honor Roll the entire time.

Had grants, scholarships, and family paying.

Still owes, almost $50,000 in student loans.,... :-\

In school tuition, loopholes, who you know, can go a long way.  After all the "trickle down" effect comes in the form of endowments, which is a fancy term for taxpayer money.

don't get me started on student loans... my wife went to stanford, for both under grad and medical school all on loans.  600k when she was done.  more then half her gross goes to pay them off.

I'm talking about just grants, in the OP.  I never got any, I worked my ass off all the way thru school.
Title: Re: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: twyacht on January 29, 2011, 06:55:13 PM
Based on all the famous TV interviews, about current affairs, politics, history, on so called "top shelf" universities,.....the student body, or should I say the parents, or Gov't schools, or whoever is footing the bill for a "college education" are getting shafted.

When $45,000-$60,000 can't even get an answer on what country did America fight to gain Independence?

Well,.......

They keep restructuring the grants and copies of parents tax returns, etc,..., including the big "Pell". My son hits college in 3 years. It's in state NC tuition rates, or I'll be selling guns to get em through. :'(

Don;t get me started on college books.... >:( Worse than a pawn shop.



Title: Re: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: mkm on January 29, 2011, 07:36:16 PM
I have to agree that I don't understand grants.  Growing up, and still for that matter, my family was far from "wealthy."  We didn't do without, but there is no way I could have gone to college without scholarships.  I checked on a grant and my understanding of the results was that I should recieve the generous amount of $XXXX but my parents' made a little too much money; so, I would get $0.00 instead.

Thankfully, I didn't have to deal with loans or out-of-state tuition (3x in-state) and graduated owing nothing.  I have to pay mysterious activities fees as a grad student, but thankfully my project covers my out-of-state tuition and stipend. 

Books are ridiculous.  I always reccommend waiting till after the first day of class to make sure the prof will actually require them.  Sometimes, you can check them out of the library or find them cheaper online.  They are still insanely expensive to buy, and you get virtually nothing for selling them back.

What I don't fully understand is how the racket of standardized tests (ACT, SAT, GRE, etc) are allowed to continue.  You have no choice but to take them to get into various levels of college. They are expensive, and, if you need additional copies of your score or your score sent to another University, you have to pay again.
Title: Re: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: PegLeg45 on January 29, 2011, 07:49:10 PM
Scholarships and grants are one thing. Especially if she has the academic record to back it up. Student Loans are another.

My wife's daughter, graduated from John's Hopkins University with a Masters, and now is in Dental School. Honor Roll the entire time.

Had grants, scholarships, and family paying.

Still owes, almost $50,000 in student loans.,... :-\

In school tuition, loopholes, who you know, can go a long way.  After all the "trickle down" effect comes in the form of endowments, which is a fancy term for taxpayer money.

Heck, for what dental work costs these days, a few fillings and a root canal and she'll be in the black.  ;)  ;D  ;D

Like mkm, I never qualified for grants because my dad made just above the cut-off numbers.....but, that's OK...I worked part time and most weekends to pay my way...and was glad of it.
Title: Re: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: twyacht on January 29, 2011, 08:15:04 PM
Liberal academia, (predominately)..........what else should we expect from the "business" end of "higher' education.

Yet, tuition, continues to go UP just about like clockwork....at exponentially higher rates than inflation.

Kinda makes you go Hmmm....Again, the best money can buy,....

Don't taze me bro.... ;D



they learn so much,.... ::)





Title: Re: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: Timothy on January 30, 2011, 06:41:23 AM
This is like giving tax refunds to people that don't pay taxes.

Stupid.....

I say skip college, get into a trade and if your company offers tuition reimbursement, take advantage of it.  You're older, more vested in learning something and there's generally a handsome bonus or salary increase at the end.  It takes longer, granted, but you will get more out of the education because it's not just about beer bongs and getting laid...
Title: Re: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: r_w on January 31, 2011, 10:06:40 AM
This is like giving tax refunds to people that don't pay taxes.

Stupid.....

I say skip college, get into a trade and if your company offers tuition reimbursement, take advantage of it.  You're older, more vested in learning something and there's generally a handsome bonus or salary increase at the end.  It takes longer, granted, but you will get more out of the education because it's not just about beer bongs and getting laid...

But, but, but....

Where will you get your brainwashing indoctrination?
Title: Re: Ok this is what pisses me off about financial aid
Post by: philw on February 03, 2011, 01:31:56 AM
this one will piss you off then
Quote
PROFESSIONAL university students are racking up massive debts of almost $400,000 for "lifetime" tuition paid for by the taxpayer.

As the total cost of the university loans scheme balloons to more than $20 billion, scores of students avoid repaying their debts by staying out of the workforce.

Australia's most expensive university student has racked up a $384,957 debt - enough to buy an inner-city apartment or fund more than six undergraduate degrees in Medicine or Dentistry.

Do you have a big HECS debt or know someone who does? Tell us below

Confidential documents released under Freedom of Information reveal other students have accrued debts of between $177,332 and $264,677.

According to the Australian Taxation Office, the average debt is $13,288 with male students averaging $14,316 and females $12,597.

Twenty students have racked up loan debts of $161,162 or more and education experts want the Gillard Government to continue a cap on the size of university loans.

Some students are believed to have been at university for 15 years.

Australia's student loans scheme was introduced in 1989, allowing students to defer paying for tuition.

In 2005, former prime minister John Howard tightened the scheme, introducing a seven-year "cap" on how long an student could study through the Higher Education Loan Program, or HELP - which allows students to defer paying for study until they are earning $45,000 a year.

The Gillard Government - which is undertaking an inquiry into the costs of university study - plans to scrap the cap from next year.

Education experts last night called on the Government to continue the cap.

But some blame the high cost of university study for their massive debts.

Law student Danielle Vieria faces a massive debt when she finishes her studies this year. After finishing an arts degree she was offered only an expensive juris doctor program which costs $63,300. She then faces a $8000 bill to qualify as a lawyer.

At the age of 24, she will have a debt of $93,000.

 - with Jenny Dillon
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/students-a-20b-hex-on-taxpayers/story-e6frf7l6-1225989086997