According to an article in The New York Times, low-income students are frowned upon to not attend well-known institutions because they come from low-income families. A handful of institutions are coming up with a plan to help students get through the SAT and hire 130 full-time counselors and advisors to reach out to low-income students and guide them in the process of applying for colleges. Even thought these students are middle to low class, that does not mean that should not be able to attend prestigious colleges especially if they have the grades for it.
They have come up with a plan called the Bloomberg plan, which includes officials from the college board are sending low-income students brochures and applications to 8 colleges that they could afford and come out with a manageably debt. Although it is too early to calculate results and see if the program is working, the results they have now is that out of the 1,800 students they sent information packages too, 98% of them are already enrolled or in the process of it. This is then proving a very impressive result.
I think the plan has a very good concept. I believe students in high-school are not prepared enough for the college lifestyle. It is a very smart idea to contact these students who think they are not qualified for certain colleges because of a lack of income. When you have someone that is constantly on your case and being supportive about doing anything, your odds are pretty good to happening. My question is, if all these counselors and advisors keep advising students to the same universities that are affordable for low-income students, what happens to all the other universities that are trying recruit students, especially if the majority of students in this country or middle to low class? What do you think of this idea?
-Mel Webster
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