Revoking The Right To Higher Education
It’s understandable to be rejected from college because of your grades, your SATs, or even your extracurriculars – but is it valid to be rejected because you need financial aid?
According to this NY Times article, Reed College in Portland, Oregon is doing just that. As a result of the recession, revenue is dropping at the school, which can’t financially commit to as much financial aid. Long story short, they’ve started rejecting students because they lack full ability to pay.
Let’s go into crippling student loan debt after the jump!
All colleges seem to follow the model that they will admit students on a need-blind basis, which means that if you are a suitable candidate, they will admit you regardless of your financial situation. If you are in dire straights, they will help you find a way to pay your bill.
However, Reed seems like the pioneer of a disturbing trend – the small liberal arts school in Oregon rejected “100 needy students before sending out acceptances, and [substituted] those who could pay full” tuition. Check out how the president of the college defended his decision:
“Like everybody, we are trying to start by trying to cut the stuff that is least likely to inflict real pain on the program,” said Colin Diver, Reed’s president.
“I keep trying to say, we are in the education business,” Mr. Diver said, describing the pressure to keep up with wealthier colleges and expressing a frustration rarely voiced publicly by college presidents. “The whole principle behind higher education is, we know something that you don’t. Therefore, we shouldn’t cater to them.”
(99P Editor’s Note: For you grammaristas out there, this is an actual quote from an actual president of an actually well regarded college. That bolding is mine.)
One can only wonder how many more private colleges – and maybe even state-funded schools – will fall by the wayside as a result of the economy. I mean, things have to get worse before they get better, but this is freaking ridiculous.
This is so depressing.