I am glad that in addition to the tuition some advocates are lobbying for additional financial support for low income students. Several basic needs can be addressed with some allowances.
“Birds of a feather flock together together”. Many students in those schools tend to gather together according to their level of comfort (Income, race, origin, country club etc). Clearly most people at those schools have the fortune of coming from very capable financial means.
As a results they can afford many luxuries and connections for jobs. For many of those people is the natural way, However for those low income students is a struggle to even purchase the insulated jacket for the winter.
I know a student struggling at USC which is perhaps more diverse than any Ivy. The struggles of said students are all socially related as the student struggles to develop a network. The IVY schools and private elite schools should make a point of accepting more students who realize that we live in a world with huge inequalities and that they could be sympathetic and engaging with other low income peers. Some students who have seen a world different than their lucky one may learn empathy and the ability to relate and be less judgemental.
What I see on elite school campuses is segregation based on low income and race. It is a learned behavior that has been instilled in those who have had a privileage life.
The Greek System is perhaps the most segregated system and it breeds and promotes division among income lines on campuses. Greek Systems should be mandated to accept a percentage of people on a CONFIDENTIAL waive fees fashion.
In short, the allowances can allow low income people to blend in and not stand out at first sight.
Please remember that these top colleges include first gen, Pell, and families whose income goes to 75k, when middle class is 56k. So, lots of middle class kids will be able to attend these colleges which 50 years ago mainly recruited from a prep school pipeline.
^good opinion piece. Thanks for sharing.
Seems that many forum posters think that “middle class” means not getting any financial aid… ($255,000+ at Harvard)
Correct. Heavy, quite obvious segregation and mutual discomfort. The discomfort is not in one direction; just be very clear about that.
So you think those low income students are going to be hanging out with George Bush’s kids or Chelsea Clinton’s kids? I doubt it, they’ll still mostly be left out from those in power, even with an ivy league education.
That’s not surprising when the top 2-3% of income correlates highly with the top 2-3% of students. So I would not call them overrepresented.
@jototo I’m sorry but I have to respectfully disagree with mandating the social greek system to be mandated to accept members in a “no dues basis”. Greek organizations are private and are able to accept whoever they want. The events they do and maintaining the houses cost a lot of money and it is unfair to be forced by universities to accept people who don’t pay their share and the burden falls upon members who do. There is a ton of clubs and other groups students can join that are free. No need to go messing with a system that is just fine the way it is.
:))