A need-aware system: a choice between diversity and selling your soul for money

By Joshua (Age 15)

Due to the current financial situation in the United States, many universities cannot afford to use the former need-blind system, and are switching to a need-aware system for accepting students. A need-aware system means that universities will unjustly look at your financial condition as well as your results, therefore unjustly affecting the chances of students who require financial aid getting accepted.

It seems like the odds are stacked against students who require financial aid, but there are a few things that they can do to remain competitive. Many universities offer obscure scholarships. These students can spend a day or two looking at the conditions for these scholarships and might find that they qualify. The option that would be the easiest is to take up a part-time job, but that would put a great burden on the student. Another option would be to go to community college, as community colleges offer basically the same education as many universities, and the only difference is in the prestige of the school.

Money shouldn't play such an important role in education but there isn't anything we can do about it. Universities are just like companies. They cannot operate for free or they would go bankrupt and cease to exist. Although it is unfortunate that money plays a huge part in education, that's just how the world works; nothing is free.

The need-aware system that the universities are adopting isn't fair but it is necessary. Universities cannot afford to support all of its students. The former need-blind system was fair, but only the top Ivy-League schools that are well funded can afford to use that system. Many qualified but poor students may not be able to go to the university of their choice due to the new system, whereas not as qualified but more wealthy students will get accepted. The need-aware system is a short-term solution at best. In the long term it is detrimental to society as it will further the boundaries of rich and the poor.

Hopefully in the near future the economy will take a turn for the better, and universities will take up the previous need-blind system for admission, but for now students must accept the unfair need-aware system and the reality of the importance of wealth in today's world.