You are Free to Work Hard

"Successful people are not gifted; they just work hard and succeed on purpose."

Public university in the name suggest that it is open to the public. As tuition has continued to rise, there has been a cry that the cost of going to college is too expensive and is therefore no longer public as only the financially privileged can attend.

So should it be free? Well public doesn't mean free. Public transportation cost money. Many public parks have entry costs. Some public roads have tolls. There are public stores that have membership fees. A university being public does not imply that it must be free. But what is too expensive?

Well that is for the consumer to decide. Goods and services are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them. With over 16 million students enrolled in college, it is clearly not too expensive. As consumers, they have decided it is worth the cost.

But what about those who actually cannot afford college, but want to attend. Student loans. Scholarships. Grants. Work-studies. Assistantships. Jobs. Federal student aid exists for those who cannot afford the cost of public universities, but want a higher education. Most of these programs and scholarships are need based with one catch: academic performance.

So with all this federal aid available, what actually keeps students out of universities? Studies show it is low test scores. The financial aid is available for students who have the financial need and have proven they are striving for academic success.

Of course there is the argument that students are performing poorly in school because of the culture of low income schools and communities. Typically schools in low income areas do perform significantly lower on standardized tests. There is definitely a need for improvement in our free K-12 public schools. However, starting at the top will not fix these issues. Making universities free will bring the issues up into our higher education system. The education issue in this country needs a ground up plan.

College is an equal opportunity endeavor. There is copious amounts of aid available for those who need financial assistance. The rest is up to the student. When the college administration is reviewing your GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and essay, they are not looking at your financial situation. Much like a job interview, they are looking at your qualifications. Have you shown academic vigor that will be an asset to the university? Will you work hard?