3 ms·

Tuition isn't really the issue. Most top schools have needs-blind admissions, so conditional on getting in, you will get funding if you need it. Inequality st

Tuition isn't really the issue. Most top schools have needs-blind admissions, so conditional on getting in, you will get funding if you need it. Inequality stems from the fact that by the time they reach college admissions, students from richer families are already more qualified (at least in the eyes of admissions committees). Addressing this would require either changing the admissions process, or helping students from poorer families to become better qualified prior to the admissions process.

ef4 13y ago
Quite true. Real improvements to educational opportunity need to start much, much earlier.
Crake 13y ago
It's totally an issue. If you're a transfer student, you'll find that the few universities that go on about how proud they are to be need-blind and offer a great education to everyone!...now all consider need in admissions, or don't offer to meet your need even if you do get in. Considering many low-income students start out at a community college, taking even one credit at one effectively locks you out from virtually all prestigious universities. It used to be the case that you COULD go from community college to a fancy private, but it's all but impossible these days. Combine this with what you mentioned in the second part of your comment, and low-income kids are screwed both pre and post high school. It also screws over kids of all income ranges with highly dysfunctional/abusive families (who won't help with college, didn't support your pre-college academics/extracurriculars, won't sign your FAFSA, etc), since the only thing you can afford is a community college in those cases as well.
- yetanotherphd 13y ago
  The stats at http://transferweb.com/stats/transfer-acceptance-rates http://transferweb.com/stats/transfer-acceptance-rates suggest that top schools accept very few transfer students, and so I don't think it is an important part of the issue.

ef4 13y ago

Quite true. Real improvements to educational opportunity need to start much, much earlier.

Crake 13y ago

It's totally an issue. If you're a transfer student, you'll find that the few universities that go on about how proud they are to be need-blind and offer a great education to everyone!...now all consider need in admissions, or don't offer to meet your need even if you do get in. Considering many low-income students start out at a community college, taking even one credit at one effectively locks you out from virtually all prestigious universities. It used to be the case that you COULD go from community college to a fancy private, but it's all but impossible these days. Combine this with what you mentioned in the second part of your comment, and low-income kids are screwed both pre and post high school. It also screws over kids of all income ranges with highly dysfunctional/abusive families (who won't help with college, didn't support your pre-college academics/extracurriculars, won't sign your FAFSA, etc), since the only thing you can afford is a community college in those cases as well.

yetanotherphd 13y ago
The stats at http://transferweb.com/stats/transfer-acceptance-rates http://transferweb.com/stats/transfer-acceptance-rates suggest that top schools accept very few transfer students, and so I don't think it is an important part of the issue.