So who is worse off- the kids you are describing who can’t afford Harvard but who can afford their own state flagship (and are strong enough students to get into those schools- or comparable “merit award” private colleges) or the low income kid who isn’t Harvard/Stanford smart but is absolutely four year college material, who ends up getting an AA for Pharm Tech from their close by Community College instead of a BS in chemistry, because the public U’s close enough to commute to are unaffordable?
I’m sensing folks on this thread believe that low income kids have it so easy because a small number of them will get accepted to one of the mega generous schools. What about the B plus students who aren’t fending off fly-in offers from Amherst and Princeton?
To me, watching the superstar kid from a “we don’t qualify for aid family” end up at U VA or U Michigan or UIUC because the family couldn’t afford the 100K school but COULD afford their flagship doesn’t feel tragic. Or even unfair.
Quick anecdote- a few years ago, our local transit company was on their periodical cost-cutting and one of the proposals was slashing the “night bus” which runs from the community college (which is not on a commuter train line) and goes to the commuter station and makes a few other stops in heavily populated neighborhoods. I know people who were shocked at the public hearing when CC students (and staff!) got up to describe how they got home after their last class ended at 8 pm. The “night bus” (last one until morning) from the CC to the train station, then a half hour ride or so then a mile or two walk. Just made you appreciate how hard it is to be trying to get an education with so few options and so many logistical complications to deal with. I’m guessing the “We make too much money for aid” families could handle a shared Uber one night a week if the transit company cut the night service.