<p>I recognize that cost of living varies in geographical regions, as well as taxes. I’m just saying that some people, not necessarily you, have been living a life of full enjoyment without thinking of the future for many years (we have neighbors like that) and then one day they wake up and realize they are in trouble and expect colleges to foot the bill. As a society we are all too fat, dumb and happy, so to speak. </p>
<p>The point I was making, sandkmom, is that merit aid and financial aid are not nearly as objectively fair as may appear and a lot of decisions are “uneven” when you compare the facts of families sending kids to school. I am just glad we aren’t like Providence College (yet!) who raised tuition and room/board 19% this year! OH MY GOD! Who is minding THAT store? Bloated professors salaries, and huge basketball coaching salaries and full athletic scholarships to kids who probably wouldnt be admitted because of hideously low scores…don’t even get me started! Fordham’s athletic budget is reputed to be around 22 million a year. We are in the bottom of the barrel in athletic performance and its a losing proposition with ZERO income from television or bowl games. Its scandalous what some coaches make around the country. Not to say I don’t support athletics, because I do. I am just saying the national trend is way out of whack and they just pass the buck onto parents/students coming in the door. </p>
<p>Again, I think we should all be like the Ivy League. No merit aid, and just more financial aid for those truly in need. And for colleges to be better stewards of the money they do bring in. (I am not suggesting they go to hiring a bunch of adjunct professors, either. I want tenure track scholars…especially at this pricetag…but there has to be a way to curtail costs. Maybe its the health care increases that is killing their budget, I don’t know.)</p>
<p>We really risk as a society becoming very divided between the haves and have nots. And we ALL know what happens to societies that have been too fractured like that don’t we? Its not good.</p>
<p>And I am a capitalist and conservative. Not a socialist.</p>