Reply to APS to offer direct path to college at GMU at 3 high schools

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Wakefield, W-K, and the career center will now offer a direct admission to college for any students with a GPA Of 3.25 or above. [b]It is only offered at those schools because it is designed to target schools with a higher rate of free and reduced lunch.[/b] This is going to be good for a lot of kids. [/quote]

The exact population who can't afford the instate tuition at GMU and other VA state schools. Yes, they get in, and yes, some will get aid - not much bc in state you don't get much aid - than take out loans. And after a semester, or maybe even a whole year, realize it is unaffordable to continue.  Or they will get a full time job and limp along getting grades just enough to keep them in school if they are lucky.

I no longer think these kind of programs should be hailed as an achievement but instead look at these equity efforts as window dressing and a bit exploitative of students who need more support than just getting their foot in the door.[/quote]

You are giving this program way more impact and purpose than it has. It's just admission. They still need to meet the qualifications. It's not intended to address affordability - it is intended to increase applications from minority students, rich or poor.

And it can still make college attainable for some of the students you are focusing on by granting them admission (when they may not otherwise be accepted through the regular application process) and offering an opportunity for them to save half the cost of a 4 year degree by living at home and commuting if necessary.[/quote]

“It’s just admission.” Have you known anyone applying to college in the last 15 years? [/quote]

Yes, many, including my own kids. Knowing you are already accepted at a school greatly reduces the anxiety, stress, and chaos of researching and visiting and applying to more schools. Particularly for the targeted population of this program, it can greatly simplify a complex process for students who are English as second language students/whose parents do not speak English, and more notably for first generation college students whose parents are entirely unfamiliar with the college application process. Also, if you're a local student who looks at the costs for college and believe there's no way you can make it work, having an admissions offer from a nearby college (1) encourages you to look into it (2) makes it far easier to just work with that one college to see how/if you can afford it and (3) slashes the cost you're looking to cover if you can commute there rather than pay for room and board in addition to tuition and fees.

People are complaining because the program only applies to students attending certain schools instead of being offered to all schools, or just to low income students. That's why I said it's just admission. It's not offering a free ride or even any financial assistance at all. Just an expedited admission acceptance for qualifying (GPA with college tract coursework, certain school). [/quote]

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