Essay on Financial Aid The Problem with Merit-Aid

There was a time in the United States when moving north was a decision that could profoundly change one’s way of life. Specifically, this choice would impact southern dwelling African-Americans. The socioeconomic and cultural effects were great. The decision was made by many who were seeking a better life and new opportunities: two million African American migrants. Today, for many young African-Americans, pursuing the move from secondary education to collegiate education has those same benefits and more. Like the people of the Great Migration, today’s population of Black college seekers are finding that gaining access to these opportunities is difficult. The move into these new regions for the past’s migrants and today’s students was/is†¦show more content†¦There is no denial of merit based aid due to estimated family contribution, or family income; families are eligible for merit awards regardless of which income bracket they belong. As a supple ment to need-based aid, merit- aid can dramatically lessen the financial bludgeoning that college costs can incur. Furthermore, the implementation of aid based on student achievement has been a tool of encouragement. Students can receive aid for their excellence in athletics, academics, the arts, and for high scores on college entrance exams. High school students work hard to receive financial aid of this kind, many of them taking on the most rigorous coursework offered such as AP classes. Bright, high achieving students are desirable to colleges because they are seen as less likely to be a part of the retention population: students who leave college before completing a degree. The amount of offered merit based aid is a motivator that often attracts students to certain colleges and universities. Why wouldn’t we want to offer the brightest and the best the money that they desire; they reciprocate, they are a benefit to society when they graduate and become successful lawyers, doctors and educators. The problem however, is that the above benefits of merit-aid disproportionately favor middle and upper classes. Many families don’t have the money to pay for necessary utilities from month to month, and certainly not enough to even think of saving for college tuition. WhenShow MoreRelatedFinancial Aid: Need or Merit?890 Words   |  4 Pagesacquiring aid to help with the cost can be hard to come by. Due to the recent drop in the economy, it is almost necessary to have a college degree to get a job. The rising cost and necessity of a college education has raised a debate on the eligibility of financial aid and who exactly should obtain the aid. The main focus in the financial aid debate is whether or not aid should be based on merit or need. A simple way to put this is should the student from lower income families receive aid because moneyRead MoreStudent Financial Aid For Students950 Words   |  4 Pages1940s, Student financial aid began to play a si gnificant role in prompting student access, persistence and completion rate of American Higher Education. Since students can be regarded as the output of the education, student financial aid also contributes to the social mobility and the improvement of economics. Federal government, state governments and institutions jointly provide the funding to certain groups of students. Among all types of financial aid, need-based aid and merit-based aid are most importantRead MoreGovernment Financial Aid For Students Should Not Be Based Solely on Merit1589 Words   |  7 Pages Scholarship money is a type of financial aid, awarded to students for their academic merit based on a mix of GPA, SAT scores, and class rank (How to get a scholarship 2011). 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A consequence ofRead MoreSolving The Student Debt Crisis Essay1609 Words   |  7 Pagesthe immense amount of student debt lenders should be required to forgive student loans in cases where students are unable to repay their debts,decrease cost of attendance,and increase scholarship opportunities from universities and implement more merit based sholarships.Doing so would benefit the growth of the economy by increasing the job market,housing market and would help businesses grow. Read MoreThe rising costs of college1169 Words   |  5 Pagesof these kids to community college)† (Mark. Para.4). Everyone knows how important it is to go to college and get a bachelor’s degree for the better life. However, there has been a really big problem in education: college tuition has gradually been going up year after year. This is one of the latest problems the government must deal with right now. To make matters worse, college tuition in the US is much higher than that of other countries. 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