Which High School Students...

[high_castle]

...Are Most Likely to Graduate College?

I just read an article in US News and World Report that really rather irked me:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20090910/ts_usnews/whichhighschoolstudentsaremostlikelytograduatefromcollege

See, there's nothing new about the information it provides. Do well in high school, take APs, don't fret the SATs. We've heard this all before. But then exclaiming that people who go to community or lower ranked colleges are more likely to drop out, so everyone should attend a reach school...well that's just ignoring the real heart of the problem, isn't it? I was accepted to Ivy League schools. You think I can afford to go? Nope. I'm estranged from my father, working full time, and supporting myself. But I can't declare myself financially independent, so that means no tuition assistance for me. I've been attending community classes while I've been working, but apparently according to this article I might as well just give up.

The real problem here is that the cost of an education in this country is astronomical. Sure it would be great if we could all attend top colleges, but in reality, many of us don't have 60K a year to blow. I know I didn't. And even with scholarships I couldn't make up the difference. Hell, I couldn't even qualify for the amount I would have needed in loans.

So tell me, fellow Escapists. How much importance do you place on going to a top school versus just graduating, period? And if you do believe in getting a degree from the "right" school versus any school, how can we make education more affordable and accessible? If 44% of college undergrads are dropping out, surely something has to change, right?

 

[DalekJaas]

In Australia the cost is very high as well.

I will graduate in a few years, but I would like to go to a better uni. But $14000 a year just for accommodation on campus? No thanks.

 

[Stalk3rchief]

What's a community college?

And BTW probably for the first time I'm really glad I live in Poland and can afford the best med school in my country (and this part of Europe). To do that in US (according to what I've learned form Harvard's website) I would have to be a wealthy, black, female genius, who spends her whole time on helping the poor.

You got it.
Only the rich even get the chance to be smart, or at least that's how they make it seem.
Oh well.
That's why I've decided to devote my life to worthwhile experiences and not working until I day yo pay for things I don't need.

 

[Cowabungaa]

High school grades are key: High school grades are the single best gauge of how well a student will do in college, no matter how "easy" or "tough" the high school's grading system is. "High school grades measure a student's ability to 'get it done' in a more powerful way than do SAT scores. . . . They reveal qualities of motivation and perseverance--as well as the presence of good study habits and time management skills--that tell us a great deal about the chances that a student will complete a college program," Bowen writes.

I beg to differ. My high school grades were pretty good, but I dropped out of 2 colleges already. Why? Because I didn't do jack shit for those grades, I just got them, thus they didn't show any of the abilities mentioned in the quoted text. And I doubt that I'm the only one. There are plenty of people out there who simply aren't pushed forward, who don't need to be motivated to get good grades, under-achievers.

And those people, including me, never learned those time management skills and good study habits because they never had to learn them, which means that they'll be in serious trouble when they enter college, because you need such skills there. And it doesn't matter if you go to a top college then, if you're someone like that, you'll be in serious trouble everywhere.

 

[Zacharine]

I am damn glad education in my country is free to the students.

I pay annually 100? for the right to study at the university I'm in. And that money goes to the student's association, not to the actual university or the faculty.

 

[Abedeus]

What's a community college?

And BTW probably for the first time I'm really glad I live in Poland and can afford the best med school in my country (and this part of Europe). To do that in US (according to what I've learned form Harvard's website) I would have to be a wealthy, black, female genius, who spends her whole time on helping the poor.

Yeah, Poland has it pretty awesome.

Do average in high school, pass the final test good, get into a free/cheap uni and you'll be okay.

 

[high_castle]

What's a community college?

Sometimes they're called junior colleges. They offer 2 year Associates degrees instead of a bachelor's, or else you can replace your first 2 years of "normal" university with them. They're also very affordable, as you don't live on campus, you commute to the school closest to your community. And financial aid's easier to score. I don't pay for anything but books.

 

[AWC Viper]

GET A TRADE!

 

[R4di4ti0n.]

I think the real heart of the issue is that most of the people who are dropping out shouldn't have been in school in the first place. That isn't to say they don't deserve a good education, it is just that some people are not mentally designed to handle the structure. They would be more suited for one of the many alternatives, such as tech school, apprenticeship, military service and so forth.

The only problem with this is that it is believed, incorrectly, that in order to succeed in anything you do you need to have a degree. It is because of this belief that people are wasting their time and money going to school for something that can be taught on the job or through more appropriate channels, and ultimately make decent money and live comfortably in the middle class.

 

[R4di4ti0n.]

What's a community college?

Sometimes they're called junior colleges. They offer 2 year Associates degrees instead of a bachelor's, or else you can replace your first 2 years of "normal" university with them. They're also very affordable, as you don't live on campus, you commute to the school closest to your community. And financial aid's easier to score. I don't pay for anything but books.

I actually get paid to go here, with my financial aid type stuff. It gives me enough to put about 2000 a year in the bank for emergency.

 

[Spaceman_Spiff]

For 4 years and a Bachelor of Arts in college it'll cost me ?6000.

 

[Seanchaidh]

High school grades are key: High school grades are the single best gauge of how well a student will do in college, no matter how "easy" or "tough" the high school's grading system is. "High school grades measure a student's ability to 'get it done' in a more powerful way than do SAT scores. . . . They reveal qualities of motivation and perseverance--as well as the presence of good study habits and time management skills--that tell us a great deal about the chances that a student will complete a college program," Bowen writes.

I beg to differ. My high school grades were pretty good, but I dropped out of 2 colleges already. Why? Because I didn't do jack shit for those grades, I just got them, thus they didn't show any of the abilities mentioned in the quoted text. And I doubt that I'm the only one. There are plenty of people out there who simply aren't pushed forward, who don't need to be motivated to get good grades, under-achievers.

And those people, including me, never learned those time management skills and good study habits because they never had to learn them, which means that they'll be in serious trouble when they enter college, because you need such skills there. And it doesn't matter if you go to a top college then, if you're someone like that, you'll be in serious trouble everywhere.

I was very much the opposite; my high school grades were awful, but I graduated college with quite the respectable GPA. I'd wager the relationship between grades in high school and success in college isn't a terrifically strong one. There are quite a number of different variables...

 

[Flying-Emu]

Fuckin' hell, I've got a 3.6 GPA and I'm not getting accepted anywhere in the States because I'm a middle-class Caucasian male whose parents have both graduated from college. If things keep going at this rate, I'm going to have to rely on my portfolio to have any chance at getting into even a low-class art school once I get my Associates.

It's absolutely ridiculous how I'm getting all this trouble because I'm not a poor black man from Indiana with daddy issues.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Whoa?

$60K?

Mine costs £3K in tuition, and a £4K living costs loan, plus whatever I can scrounge up.

Is America so damned stupidly expensive?

 

[Froobyx]

I'm going to one of the most recognised unis for Game Design (I think the other one is Huddersfeild because of Cpt Picard works there)

Accommodation can rang from £1700 - £2300ish depending on what halls you decide to live in. And the accommodation is one of the cheapest in the country... I think it's because the uni is in a shit hole.

Tuition costs £3225 for the whole year... times by 3 and thats £9670... Srsly, when I finish uni I'm gonna be in so much debt :|

But in england we get loans to live off, and grants if our parents don't earn enough money.

Example, my boyfriend gets £600 for his grant.. My grant is £1600 I think.

 

[LockHeart]

I'm going to one of the most recognised unis for Game Design (I think the other one is Huddersfeild because of Cpt Picard works there)

Accommodation can rang from £1700 - £2300ish depending on what halls you decide to live in. And the accommodation is one of the cheapest in the country... I think it's because the uni is in a shit hole.

Tuition costs £3225 for the whole year... times by 3 and thats £9670... Srsly, when I finish uni I'm gonna be in so much debt :|

But in england we get loans to live off, and grants if our parents don't earn enough money.

Example, my boyfriend gets £600 for his grant.. My grant is £1600 I think.

I think you get better value the further North you go - I'm about to start my second year in York soon and for my accomodation last year I paid around £2200 for an en suite in the best block on campus, with all bills paid Compare this to my friend who's starting at Imperial this year - around £5000 for a single room in crappy acomodation.

I think my tuition's roughly the same as yours as well, but I guess that's more a standard thing. I should be able to pay mine off fairly soon after finishing my third year though, so it's not too bad.