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I fell into exactly one of those traps because financial aid was predicated on a parental contribution that was not really possible (because my mother had to sp

I fell into exactly one of those traps because financial aid was predicated on a parental contribution that was not really possible (because my mother had to spend that money on her own uncovered medical expenses). I know many others who have also been denied the aid they needed, and no few who received aid they didn't need. Basically every system in the US - not just education and health care but also housing, transportation, 90% of the legal system, etc. - is set up to create an interlocking set of burdens and traps for those who don't already have the means to rise above them.

999900000999 5y ago
Same here, I ended up dropping out of college at 22 and by the time I came back to finish I was making six figures. I don't really think a lot of these systems are intentionally malicious, But they assume a very specific type of family structure. If you don't have stable parents, even just tracking them down to ask him to fill out a FAFSA can be impossible. We have the money as a society, if you do something stupid, they'll find $70,000 a year to lock you up.