That's fine if they don't care for it. But I don't care for the attitude that stuff should be free. I say if you want something from the government, you have to make a value proposition to get it.
Want a "free" education? What are you offering the taxpayers who will ultimately pay for that education?
Military or other service is one such possibility!
A college degree shouldn't be free, either pay for it (and meet the standards of the University, I could cite my anecdotes about students who came from troubled areas who were granted admittance to W.U. based primarily on race, not performance, who flunked out because they were not ready for the challenges at a top 25 university.) or provide some sort of value proposition to those who you would have pay for your education.
College is, and should be an academically competitive endeavor. I agree, one shouldn't be able to buy their way in. But one should have to have their skin in the game and not expect others to just pay their way with no direct benefit to the benefactors who are paying the tab.
Originally Posted By: Anies
Originally Posted By: javacontour
ROTC paid most of my tab. I had to pay for my 9th semester, and all of my living expenses. But I had a job, I double majored (Software Engineering AND Electrical Engineering) and had little debt when I left school and was commissioned active duty Army.
I graduated from Washington University in STL, and even in the 1980's it was pretty pricey.
It can be done, but folks might want to look at military service. ROTC, the GI bill. My neighbor got his BA and MA while in the Air Force and went from enlisted to officer all while serving active duty.
He'll probably pin on Captain when he gets back from his deployment, so he gets the O3-E paygrade, plus the military benefits.
If you don't have the cash, military service is a great way to earn money if not your entire education.
The problem here is that Military Service is not the answer. Many people do not want to be part of it, or believe in it or care for it(as opinion always is).
The flip side to this is if you have everyone join the military then the benefits will be lessened as the payout is greater. Look at the two biggest majors in education today.
Nursing and Business. Both of these Majors have lulls and peaks in job pay/needs. In the mid 2000 craze business was on the boom because it was "in". Now its a lull and its worth squat. Nursing is on the rise because of health care and reform etc and everyone is flocking to that.
Job satisfaction means nothing as greed has driven everything, even the choices we make for education and majors. School is and always has been a business and they will fine ways to make you think its necessary.
