How many are paying sticker price?

Happytimes2001
Sat, 21 Apr 2018 21:33:54 +0000

@oldfort Thanks for bringing up the donut hole equation.
In addition, if you are a person who favors equal opportunity and access for all regardless of income, than by default you should also support the notion that the middle class/donut hole/family with variable income and all the rest need to have the means to gain access to the best universities. That is without taking on so much debt that is isn’t feasible. The conversation on CC always seems to come around to the best schools. Everyone realizes there are hundreds of good schools but they all want to go to the top 50 ( really top 25) . And many, though not all, think they deserve to go ( if they have done the work to get in).

Right now the equation just doesn’t work. There are tons of middle class kids who make economic decisions to forgo the best school in favor of the most affordable school. While the Pell grant recipients and top income folks have no worries. I was a Pell grant recipient and know well that someone from an underprivileged background is going to win the $ hands down each time. They will clean up and have very little debt if they are a high stat student. That is just not the case for a kid in the donut hole. There is very little merit money out there and that isn’t a good thing.

Yes, there are lots of opportunities from any school. And yet, coming from the best schools is an easier road. Parents know this, kids know this and recruiters know this and that is why everyone is crushed when Plan A ( getting into their top choice) doesn’t work.