The Government and Financial Aid

It would seem to me, that there must be something seriously wrong with our government when I hear people tell me, "I just can't afford college". This excuse has been used many times over, by many people. The truth of the matter is most people can not afford college all on their own. Federal assistance is essential to obtaining a higher education, and just blatantly stated, the process for which to obtain federal financial aid is very much flawed. Expected family contributions may not be quite as contributed to. The fact that you are finally considered "independent" when you turn 25. The fact that money, previously used for Federal Pell Grants, has now been allocated to fund a war. These are all reasons why the system is flawed and must find renewal.

When you submit your FAFSA, the government at liberty calculates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), to determine your eligibility for financial aid. The EFC is, in itself, a flawed system. When calculating how much the government feels your family should contribute, they leave out the fact that, although your parents may make good money, you [the child] may not see any of it. The government as well does not take in account the amount of debt the parents are in at that certain time, they simply look at their income, and make their decision. Basically stating that, because your parents work hard, and are successful, you will not get any funds for college. Where does all of this make sense? I feel it would make more sense if, before calculating the EFC, if there was a simple questionnaire for parents to fill out, pertaining to their debt to income ratio, as well as what they [the parents] plan to help with college financially. This new system would make it easier for a motivated young person to pursue further education, without the worries of having to be able to afford it. Making education open to more and more people.

Once again, when applying for the FAFSA, there is another problem area I can see. Despite the fact of how you are making to on your own, you are still considering a dependant, in the eyes of the government, until you are 25, married, or active duty military. Until those parameters are met, you still must provide your parents information to obtain federal aid. This is, once again, another terrible system. Most adults, do not have financial affiliation with their parents, and that starts much younger than 25. Especially for those returning students which spent some time working, and then are returning to school. They become financially independent during their hiatus, yet are still having to use their parents on their application for aid. It is an unnecessary thing to do, and I feel that the government does this because they [the government] know that in most cases, the parents are going to make far more of an income than a student. Taking information from the parent's income would, in essence, keep the federal government from having to pay out near as many funds as they would if they used the child's income. This is an unfair system. Students that are fully financially independent, and can provide proof, should be able to submit that proof, and simply claim that they are independent for financial aid. This system must be fixed.

The last thing I feel about federal financial aid, is the allocation of federal educational funds. Recently the federal financial aid budget in this country was decreased by $12.7 billion. That was $12.7 billion to fund higher education, and an overall better life for all, which was taken away from us. Although $12.7 billion dollars has been cut from the federal financial aid system, a war rages today which costs nearly $100 billion dollars a year to fund, not to mention tax cuts for top income brackets. This is such a bad way of looking at the future. The federal government takes money away from education, from the futures of young adults. Those which will be running this country in one more generation. The money is has been allocated in tax cuts for the rich, and to fund a war that is not very well supported, or wanted. There is no sense in this "here and now" mentality. By limiting the education of Americans, you limit America as a whole on its future abilities. What I purpose in this is an education tax for top bracket earners. A small tax simply to supplement the amount spent for this war of their financial gain. This small tax could replace the education cuts made, and in would make college more accessible for young adults, and returning adults.

I feel that education is the most important thing for a successful country. If a country is to thrive, it must educate her people. The more education dispersed, the less complications we may have in the future. With such a flawed system for federal financial aid, it baffles me how hard working American citizens are ever able to send their kids to college. From inaccurate Expected Family Contributions, to decreasing the money in education to fund wars around the world, there are too many ways of the government dodging the responsibility of educating its people. If it were up to me, the entire financial aid system would be reformed overnight. This reform would open the doors to many new students, by taking away the excuse "I just can't afford it". By opening the doors to more college students, you open the future of America.