Imagine being a student in a class and then realizing that if you want credit for a class for college, unfortunately, you have to pay for a one-time exam. Then, you realize that you won’t be able to afford it! This is the reality of many students in our community. The option to take the AP exams should be equitable, and no one should ever have to face this situation. You may think that I’m just one high schooler facing this situation, but I have talked to many of my peers and I have heard their financial struggles and stories. Many people who are smart, motivated, and want to pursue their academic goals cannot because they face financial constraints that are preventative. AP exams should be free for all students, and although AP exam costs …show more content…
According to The Washington Post, taking the AP Exams boosts college entry and graduation rates, and even leads people to earn higher wages (“APs”). Wow! That is a great idea! These are some amazing benefits, don’t you think? Imagine that burst of happiness and relief when you get an amazing end-of-semester GPA, or when you earn higher on your paycheck because you took AP exams! Shouldn’t everyone have the chance to feel this way? I know I would and this could be the reality for everyone if we make AP exams free! Although this may be a good reason, others may have a different idea of where the money can go instead of AP exams. While the idea of AP exams being free and the amazing benefits sound wonderful, some people think that “money is much better spent on setting up students to succeed in advanced classes than on fees for tests they’re unprepared to take” (“APs”). While this may be a good way to spend the money, there are already “Programs in place in some states to educate schools on preparing students to handle rigorous classes, both in the years leading up to enrollment and during the day-to-day of courses.”(“APs”). So while this may be a better way to spend the money, it is already in place in many schools. This is another reason why AP exams should be free. Equity is a very important part of our society, am I right? Mr. Oberdorfer, a Whitman high school teacher, says “I think [free AP exams] will enable more students …show more content…
Catherine Gerwetz from Education Week says that “Subsidies and waivers from four sources—the federal government, states, schools, and the College Board—typically slash the price of AP exams—$93 each this year—to between $5 and $15 for low-income students, according to an analysis by the Education Commission of the States”(Gewertz). While this may be a reason for not making AP exams free as it wouldn’t be equitable because they are making the prices suitable for low-income students, this is the price that is made for only one AP exam and if a kid were to be taking many AP exams in a year as most kids do, how would they be able to afford even this?! Making AP exams free would create a more inclusive academic environment by removing financial barriers and increasing access for all students. The current system of subsidies for low-income students is not enough, and the cost of multiple exams can add up quickly. By eliminating the cost of exams, we can reduce stress and increase motivation for all students, while also providing greater opportunities for academic success. Let's prioritize the education and future of our students by making AP exams free for all. Furthermore, Dana Goldstein from The New York Times says “For the past two decades, the College Board has moved aggressively to expand the number of high school students taking Advanced Placement courses and tests — in part by pitching the
While most people want college to be free, the U.S. should not make tuition free for all citizens. There are a number of reasons like taxing families who already have it hard, quality in education, rationing, and if people see that they do not have to pay it may lower the value in which they won 't take school seriously. Tuition free college is impossible because at the end of the day someone will have to pay for all those students attending. For example, “In college I was invested, I was paying,” The former student said, “Once it entails a cost, it’s not easy to just say, Oh, let’s not go to class today. You’re just hurting yourself” (qtd, in Make College Affordable, but Not Free). Student who barely made it
Free college tuition, or even a completely free college education, might sound great, but on whose shoulders does the burden fall? A lot of people want free college tuition because of the constantly rising costs of going to a university, junior college, or community college. A lot of the argument advocates use is that the student debt in this country amounts to $1.2 trillion. While that is a lot of money owed, it is the price you have to pay for an invaluable privilege in the U.S. College tuition shouldn’t be free because taxpayers will need to pay more, students will take their classes less seriously, and states will need to pull money from other departments in order to make up for the lost money. The first reason for being against this “If a college education has value, why give it away?”
According to Trade Schools, Colleges and Universities “Many of America's top-performing high school students never apply to the most challenging colleges and universities even though they have the ability to succeed at them. They often come from minority and low-income households and end up pursuing more affordable, less-selective schools instead.” College can be a burden to many students in a variety of different ways, but the most common reason is due to funds. Making college free for students will help this problem by increasing jobs in the work industry that require degrees, they should be affordable to all people at all cost, as well as the funds should be completely cut off because it would increase jobs and help America's economy grow.
High school students everywhere in the United States make very selective class choices based on careers they may want to pursue in the future. One decision that the students may make is to take an AP class. Among students, when they hear the name AP they automatically think stress, and homework, and tests; however it also means college credit, and advanced placement and promises a future. What if the College Board changed the benefits and decided that if the school board had a problem with the crew framework and felt the need to change it, then this AP class wouldn't be worth anything in college? The promises of college credit and advanced classes would be ripped from the students' hands, and the choices they made in order to take this
When hearing the words “free” and “college” in the same sentence, that is exciting to anyone who is interested in not paying those thousands of dollars for their pursued education. However, when it comes to Obama’s free community college idea, for the first two years, many people skip over the many factors that go into this issue. Some may agree with President Obama’s plan fighting for a fair chance for all student to get a degree and not go into debt receiving an education, and others argue that community college already being inexpensive will only make the system difficult to work with. While making community college free for everyone is considerate, the students with low incomes already get the aid they need without this program and the
The idea of freedom and equal opportunity that America was built on has sadly been lost and replaced with a system of quality education only being accessible by the wealthy. In-state college tuition should be free for all students meeting admission requirements, allowing students from the full spectrum of economic backgrounds to have the same opportunity to receive the same education. The incidence of poverty in the U.S. is directly linked to educational level. When a college degree is earned, income levels rise (College Board). The best use of federal government anti-poverty funds is not another welfare or assistance program; it is to make college education affordable for everyone.
Michael J. Sandel, the author of What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets, says, “...the Advanced Placement incentive programs in Texas and elsewhere have had a positive effect... many [students] are passing the standardized exams that qualify them for college credit” (Sandel 54). This benefit of earning college credit in high school saves the students from taking these college level courses in college when they could be focusing on more in-depth classes. According to expert Jay Mathews, “Every English, Math or Science AP test...with a passing grade from independent College Board readers meant a $100 check for the student and another for the teacher. Checks totaling $90,800 went to the students and $145,370 to the teachers” (Mathews 1).
However, a college education is one of the most valuable things a student could have, so why should it be free? Paying for a college education is like investing in the future. One cannot make earnings in the stock market without first contributing some of their own money. Therefore, students should not be entitled to the benefits of a college education without paying the price. Paying for college also teaches students a valuable lesson. Students learn how to manage and budget their money which will set them up for success in the future when they have to finance a car, house, bills,
There are preparation classes to take that help students practice for the SAT and ACT but it cost over $200 per session. To some people it $200 may not seem like much, but to others, including myself is pricey. Just to register for the test costs around $50. Students can retake the test as many times as possible but, again, every registration cost money. It has been proven that students who have a higher economic status score higher on test because they are able to afford more expensive test preps and retake the test to score higher. (Westlund). "President Obama noted in January, 'Standardized tests are not standardized.'Using the example of his own two daughters who have been receiving advice on the SAT since 7th grade, the President recognized that the 'degree of advance preparation' that many kids get 'tilts the playing field'"(Westlund). President Obama said it himself, the more a parent pays the better the score. Not only are these tests costly but also don't represent a person's ability to succeed in college.
The price of colleges in America; whether it is a four-year school or community college, has been viewed as a major issue to millions of citizens. Numerous people have argued that an education should not cost thousands of dollars. Some have even stated that college in general should be free. Although this may seem like an amazing idea, it could actually have negative effects that people may not have thoroughly considered. As simple as an education may seem, students and parents in America must pay their way through college; for nothing is free in life. In order to keep this country functioning in a proper way, community colleges in America should not be free.
While the idea of free college is often seen as beneficial only to the wealthy, college should be free for everyone because going to college could once again be seen as a choice instead of a financial problem for many households, people could also better understand others that come from different backgrounds, and there are more
For most young Americans, college has always been preached to them as being a vital part to their success in the adult world; but as they reach this educative rite of passage many find they must take out inflated loans, work part time jobs, or even become dissuaded entirely due to the exorbitant costs of higher education. We must forsake this current antiquated system in favor of government subsidized tuition. Therefore, college education must be free because of its benefit to the economy, creation of equal opportunity, and the resolution of the student loan crisis.
Riley Whitman 11/11/15 Editorial Free College Many Americans today still debate whether or not out government and country should fully implement free college. Those who are opposed to this idea are concerned with quality and accountability of education for all. For those in favor of the expansion of education, free college represents one of the great hopes for a better world. Even in the poorest nations, people believe and support in the funding of the expansion of universities and other higher learning opportunities are wise investments. Being a college student, I disagree with the idea that the U.S. should implement free college for all U.S. citizens.
Imagine a student you know from your neighbor, who has a poor financial background and spends $1200 dollars on text books a year, or even a student from a middle class family who spends such amounts on textbooks, which won’t be used in the future. When I was a freshman at the university, I wasn’t aware of the expenses of the textbooks; I was literally broke as I spent 600 dollars on books for my classes. Even some students try to get through classes without buying the books, which has affected their grades badly. A 2014 study conducted by the Student Public Interest Research Group found 65 percent of students skipped purchasing a textbook because of cost (Senack11).
Independent.Leadership.Equality. All of these are three characteristics as to what free university education can provide to citizens.Higher education should be free of charge for the citizens of the United States.In the US the average cost for colleges per year is $8,893. Many middle class and under class people cannot afford such costs. It is true that the government will give you grants but most of the time students never get funding from them (Emmons 3). Most people of today can hardly afford a car let alone the fees and tuition of college. Also, it could provide equality to all people. Allowing everyone an equal opportunity to go to college and make something of themselves. It provides a way for poorer families to break free from their social strata that they have been put into (“This House Believes University Education Should Be Free” 4). This is why it is important to make university education free.In the end citizens of the US would benefit from university free education.