When I first heard that Bernie Sanders wants to make tuition free at public colleges and universities, I laughed because I thought it was a joke. Then, I realized it was literally one of his campaign’s planks. Suddenly, it wasn’t so funny anymore. College is a privilege, not a right.
College isn’t one of those on-the-fly decisions. A prospective student shouldn’t wake up one morning and think, “Hey, why not try that college thing?” The decision to go to college should be planned in advance so that the student can work toward this goal. Effort in high school needs to be demonstrated in order to earn the privilege to continue one’s education in college.
Universities need to uphold their reputation that gives degrees their value. How many more students would decide to go to college just to have fun? Just to get out of the house? Regardless of the reason, not all students go for the education, and other people shouldn’t have to pay for someone else to party. College candidates need to be people who wanted to attend college, worked hard to get there and are working even harder to stay there. College isn’t for everyone. Making it affordable for everyone will increase the chances of people choosing college simply because they can.
Having grown up in the Northeast, where even all the in-state public schools are more expensive than out-of-state ones, I know all about the struggle to find a college that is affordable. Of course there are plenty of students out there who live in middle- or low-income families who really just can’t afford college. But there are certainly other options to pay one’s way instead of passing a national law. When opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.
That’s where scholarships come in. If a student genuinely desires to attend college, he or she will put in whatever it takes to make it happen. Schools recognize this initiative, for scholarships are earned and not handed out. Many scholarships require students to continually earn their privilege to be granted this money they are being rewarded with. Scholarships can often be retracted if a certain GPA isn’t maintained or other requirements are not fulfilled. If all those students got their money no matter what, it is difficult not to think that they would put in the same amount of effort knowing that no matter how hard or little they studied for finals would affect their wallet. Where is the incentive?
I’ve definitely noticed a familiar pattern among the scholars at NC State whether it be the Parks, the Goodnights, the Caldwell Fellows, etc. These students don’t just excel because they have an intelligent mind but because they also value the opportunity they were presented with. The opportunity they earned and created through their previous successes. The scholarship students whom I’ve encountered in my classes have been the ones asking questions in class by participating and actively engaging themselves in the classroom and working diligently till the early hours of the morning to get all their assignments completed to the best of their abilities.
When students choose to miss a class, they are simultaneously choosing to throw money out the window. You just paid for something (really expensive, I might add) and got nothing for it. It motivates students to get the most out of their education.
Without having to pay the full price or earn the more affordable price, college students will have a greater chance to incorrectly prioritize their future options. Students will put the most effort into an education they have earned or an education they are paying for. I find it difficult to believe, however, that students will apply this same work ethic if they are simply handed this education for free, regardless of their intentions.
