Hellow Armor Gamers I bring to you a question: Is it worthwhile to pursue post secondary education? As a 19 year old Canadian male one would expect me to be off and about on a University or College campus, however, this is not the case. How can I, or anyone, attend post secondary institutes without money? It seems to me that the only way to attend university is to bring myself into debt. A debt that even with some of my own financial backing will take me roughly 15-20 years to pay off. I also ask you this: Should it be easier to attain scholarships? And should the government supply prospecting students with SOME financial backing that does not have to be repaid. Let us deal with scholarships first. I qualify for none. There is an Ontario scholarship that grants me 1000 dollars should I be in need of money. I do not qualify because I only completed my minimum community service hours. I do not qualify for any accademic schollarships despite achieving high marks in my areas of interest. My low math grades drop my average to about 78. And even my high English and History grades 86 and 85 (my areas of interest) are simply not not high enough. And lastly while I play sports I do not possess enough skill to merit a schollarship for soccer. Now, should the government lend students aid without having the students worry about repaying the government? I meet the government expectations in terms of graduating average. In fact I slightly surpass this average. Yet, depsite all this I must saccrifice an entire year to save up for my education, and even then I will have to ask for loans. And this is merely for ONE year. I plan on attaining a Masters degree in History. That takes SEVERAL years. So, should the goverment supply students with money? Not anything elaborate, but let us say...1500-5000 dollars depending on their average. I believe that such a program would encourage students to continue education and reduce drop out rates. It would also further increase the the education of the population.
So I ask you to discuss the following:
1. Is it worthwhile to pursure post secondary education at the cost of extreme debt and knowing that attending may not even result in what you wish to achieve?
2. Should scholarships be easier to attain. Furthermore should academic scholarships give higher yields? (Sport scholarships pay for almost everything)
3. Should the government provide students with money based on their geaduation average in order to assist them?
If we lived in a perfect world then sure let's let the govenment give us money for education but since we don't I am going to say no deal.
So your arguement is "Well the world isn't perfect therefore you fail." What I propose is not impossible nor is nor rediculous. I am not asking for things handed on a silver platter merely some assistance.
So your arguement is "Well the world isn't perfect therefore you fail."
Well thats not exctly what I am saying.I bieleve that we shouldn't rely on the government for very much at all because it leads to corruption that is very hard to reverse. If you want something then work for it yourself.
I think the problem is the American or Canadian school system. I live in Switzerland and we pay about 700 CHF (also about 700 US dollars) per semester. I heard that you have to pay several thousand dollars in the USA. And if you want to go to the best universities, it's better if you're rich cause your parents can contribute something to the univerity... I'm not sure if this is true but I heard so...
I think the problem is the American or Canadian school system. I live in Switzerland and we pay about 700 CHF (also about 700 US dollars) per semester. I heard that you have to pay several thousand dollars in the USA. And if you want to go to the best universities, it's better if you're rich cause your parents can contribute something to the univerity... I'm not sure if this is true but I heard so...
This is true. And this isn't just for the top universities. Tuition to Carelton University in Ottawa Ontario is about 6000-8000 dollars depending on the program. This does not include food, text books, transportaion or housing. Housing itself costs in the neighbourhood of 3000 dollars. Carelton University is only a middle of the pack university.
Agreed Halo but there are some things that take it to far.
In what way have I taken this too far? I ask for more access to education, is this a crime? I ask for SOME money depending on averages, most end with a 70-75 average in highschool which is the government standard. Is it so much to ask for financial aid when most students would be 35-40 years old when they have paid of their debts? I am a hard worker yet I gain nothing for my hard work. I am not asking for things on a silver platter, I am asking for my efforts to be rewarded.
1. Is it worthwhile to pursure post secondary education at the cost of extreme debt and knowing that attending may not even result in what you wish to achieve?
This is a very good question. I have just finished my A levels and have decided to have a year off and weigh up my options. Here in Berlin I've run into loads of American architecture students, a 5 year course (6 for a masters which you need to even be considered for a decent job apparently) but where graduates have a 40% unemployment rate. Now 6 years of university at American rates, and there is only a 60% chance you'll even be employed when you finish? That doesn't sound good to me.
2. Should scholarships be easier to attain. Furthermore should academic scholarships give higher yields? (Sport scholarships pay for almost everything)
I atually don't think so. Too many of the wrong people are going to university for the sorts of degrees which are essentiially useless. University should be available to all who are deserving, but I see no reason why say, a media studies degree should be valued as highly as say, an engineering one. For those that do prove they are of high academic/vocational calibre, then university should be made to be much more accessible, but a big part of the problem is that the government is loaning out too much to people who are only going to university because they want to/feel like they have to, instead of focusing on those who would really benefit from higher education.
3. Should the government provide students with money based on their geaduation average in order to assist them?
It should depend on the course they want to do, and the content of it, however the main thing they should look for is not the flat grade, but the grade in relation to other people from that school/area. Poor kids growing up in crappy areas with crappy schools, staff and facilities, have a much lower chance of getting As and A*s than anyone else. So a C or B is actually just as big an achievement. I can't remember the name of the index I'm talking about, but thankfully more and more universities in the UK are starting to use it, and I think it's a much better way of picking out people who are above average and have great potential.
it depends on where ur from... here in mississippi there are several ways in which the government helps.
mtag - mississippi tuition and assistance grant $500 for both the fresh and soph year.
pell grants - i don't know what it stands for but basically if you qualify based off of financial need then you'll receive anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand each year.
my advice to you would be to go to school over here in the states at a NCAA Division III (three) school. Even tho they're usually private schools and a little pricey there are also usually lots of scholarship opportunities there. A DIII school's athletic program is based off of participation and not actual performance.
as you may know... you can't get "athletic scholarships" at a DIII school but you can get "Leadership" scholarships for participating on their soccer team. You may or may not actually get to play based off of how good you actually are, but in the end if you're just looking for a way to help pay some of your college off then that would help you alot. I mean you'll be in shape and have a chunk of money that you don't have to get a loan for.
left some things out... mtag also gives $1000 for both junior and senior year (2000)
ur questions... "is it worth it?"
you wouldn't be the first person to go into debt for an education. A history degree? sounds like you want to be a teacher... you won't make a killing teaching but i don't think the pay is as bad as it once was. yeah you'd have to pay it off over time but if its what you want and you don't have the means by which to do it any other way then u may just have to suck it up and take out a loan.
question 2.... well.... like i said it depends on where ur from. some states like georgia have lotteries that are used to help pay for college... so if ur from georgia and go to a georgia school and did half decent in high school then ur college is pretty much paid for as long as u keep a certain gpa.
question 3
i don't think the govt should pay for the entirety of the cost of college but it would be nice if they would make it more bearable by giving some money
1. Is it worthwhile to pursure post secondary education at the cost of extreme debt and knowing that attending may not even result in what you wish to achieve?
It's necessary, our generation has the honor of being the first generation in which a college education is needed to succeed. It's worthwhile, if for nothing else, to become a functioning member of society with a decent paycheck.
2. Should scholarships be easier to attain. Furthermore should academic scholarships give higher yields? (Sport scholarships pay for almost everything)
Whether or not I like it sport scholarships should logically give you more help than an academic scholarship because it's almost guaranteed to bring the school more money. Should they be easier? I think so simply because more intelligent people cannot be a negative.
3. Should the government provide students with money based on their geaduation average in order to assist them?
Yes, or as Paradox said a smarter system could be used but either way I think that your grades in secondary school should relate directly to scholarship money. Top ranks should get a full ride anywhere, one step lower a full ride to public university or a certain amount a year and so on.
University should be available to all who are deserving, but I see no reason why say, a media studies degree should be valued as highly as say, an engineering one.
I disagree, intelligence in all areas helps society more than in just areas deemed "ractical".
I think the problem is the American or Canadian school system. I live in Switzerland and we pay about 700 CHF (also about 700 US dollars) per semester. I heard that you have to pay several thousand dollars in the USA. And if you want to go to the best universities
Dam, that's pretty high. I think it's a shame that some universities ask that much, I mean, knowledge shouldn't become something for elitary people. It should be more accessible/affordable.
Dam, that's pretty high. I think it's a shame that some universities ask that much, I mean, knowledge shouldn't become something for elitary people. It should be more accessible/affordable.
Trust me I'm not elite in any sense of the word but I should be able to secure at least half in scholarships and if I continue my current plan of getting my medical degree the loans wont be awful to pay back. It's still sad though but at the same time the educational experience is higher and it keeps away those who don't want a degree for any other purpose than to have one.
