“Super” seniors denied HOPE for extra semester. Is it fair?
Morning folks,
I am running this op-ed on the Monday education page in the AJC. It is by a UGA “super” senior.
While I don’t think we are going to see any expansion of the HOPE Scholarship this year or in the near future, I think she makes good points. Enjoy the piece and let’s discuss. I think this is a big issue at Georgia Tech where kids often go longer than four years.
(Monday morning 8:22: By the way, Amanda has come onto the blog to respond to some of the critical comments to her piece. Thanks, Amanda, for taking on the critics.
And to the critics, let’s keep this discussion civil. I know that most of us are used to the wild west nature of the online world, but this may well be Amanda’s first foray. She may never come back again. Maureen.)
Please read her entry.
By Amanda Hammons
I am a “super-senior” at the University of Georgia.
The HOPE Scholarship has provided the resources necessary to maximize my college experience and allowed me to soak in the five-star education here in Athens until now.
Before entering college, I listened to the sage advice offered to me to get involved. I am a prime example of putting into college what I wanted to get out of it.I will graduate this month with honors and a dual-degree in marketing and sport management. At the same time, I served as president of the Sports Business Club and raised more than a thousand dollars for campus philanthropies.
Having made the most of these last 4 ½ years at UGA, you can imagine the disappointment and dismay I felt when I learned that my HOPE Scholarship had expired for my last semester because I took too many courses.
Utilizing HOPE to further my education, I am now stricken of the resources needed to accomplish as much as I could in a short amount of time because I was too ambitious.
I place no judgment on students in Georgia receiving HOPE Scholarship who do just enough to sneak by each credit checkpoint. HOPE seeks to provide underprivileged students access to higher education.
What I don’t comprehend is why students with the highest level of pride in their studies, students who dedicate time and energy to rising above the norm, are not given the chance to continue or even finish their goals. I think these students merit another look by the HOPE Scholarship committee.
My proposition allows students with a 3.5 grade point average or better to be granted the chance to appeal scholarship revocation due to exceeding the 127-credit hour limit.
Of course, this extension would be conditional on maintaining the strong grade point average.
This extension opportunity not only encourages the HOPE student to maximize their college experience, but also explore the chance to grow by pursuing multiple majors/minors.In my opinion, the HOPE Scholarship is the only business that not only takes away the benefits of success in school, but, in some capacity, inhibits them.
I felt compelled to bring this injustice to the public’s attention. Yes, I could have earned one degree and graduated last May, but my resume would have been void of a much-needed internship, and I would have had to sacrifice the presidential role of a club I have invested my heart into at UGA.
This involvement led to a scholarship that contributed to two tuitions over the summer, one for calculus, one for internship credit.
Many would argue that one degree is “just fine,” but I chose to persist because my family sacrificed to support my dreams when HOPE would not.
There are many families and students who cannot shoulder the burden of educational costs, even for a single semester. Even though ambition may spur a student to continue in college, it can’t pay bills.
Limiting college education for bright young adults is a slippery slope that begins with discouragement to continue learning.
I believe that granting a HOPE appeal to successful, driven students to further their pursuit of a higher education is not only a positive educational reinforcement, but also a powerful reflection on the importance of reaching your highest potential.
Super-seniors should be given the chance to continue hoping, dreaming, and earning without fear of financial burdens.
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136 comments Add your comment
lou
December 13th, 2009
6:07 pm
It’s nice you’ve had time for those extra activities. I worked my way through undergrad and grad school This was before HOPE. With working there was no time for extras and grades suffered a little but I got through.
motherjanegoose
December 13th, 2009
6:07 pm
@willie, honey our kids cannot qualify for any of the free money because we SAVED our money and did not spend it, thus the government wants us to use our money and give money to the kids whose parents did not save. The same way they want to tax us on the money we are earning to share it with those who are not working…..HUH?
Yes, it may look like we have money ( in our house) but that is because both parents have been working since before the kids were born. We use coupons, drive older cars that are paid for and are not into bling. We do not have the most up to date cell phones, a big screen TV nor even a Wii ( is that spelled correctly?)
HOPE rewards any kid who is willing to keep his/her grades up. To me, this is fair. Our son used it and now our daughter will too. I am grateful for any money the kids can get as the loans they take out will be paid back by them. We can help out some but will not refinance our home to get them through school.
@ Red, what is up with UGA being a second rate school? It is getting more difficult to get in every year.
@ ROBERT….I think Super Senior is not talking about the character of Amanda but that she is now more than a senior as far as length of attendance. …kind of like Senior PLUS.
Dave
December 13th, 2009
6:10 pm
I have relatives in a nearby state who have put three children through college with NO HOPE SCHOLARSHIP. Be grateful for what we have in Georgia.
Sarah
December 13th, 2009
6:34 pm
Like somebody previously said, the HOPE must have limits. I’m a junior in college, and due to a change in major, will have to pay for my last semester of school. I am beyond thankful that HOPE has gotten me this far.
If Amanda has such a stellar academic record, perhaps she should have applied for a merit-based scholarship.
No one is entitled to a college education. It must be worked for as well as paid for.
jconservative
December 13th, 2009
6:42 pm
I agree with Lee.
I worked 4 summers, 14 hours a day, seven days a week for 3 months & paid my way through college.
If HOPE runs out, get a job.
another dual major student
December 13th, 2009
7:00 pm
Just to clear something up, a “super senior”does not refer to someone who has gone above and beyond, it refers to a 5th year senior. Also, graduating in 4 years with two majors is not a matter of budgeting your time correctly. For business majors at UGA, you must first take all your core classes (60 hours, which is 4 semesters) before you can apply for Terry. Only once you’ve been accepted for the major can you begin to take classes for the major. Since graduating with one major is 120 hours, graduating with two majors can easily put students over the 127 hour cap.
And to those saying students now are getting such a great deal, remember that in 1990 tuition and fees at UGA was roughly $2000. It is now over $4600, with only around $3000 a semester being covered by HOPE. Factor in the increase in textbook costs (roughly $400-$500 per semester and increasing on average at twice the cost of inflation) and the cost is relatively the same as pre-HOPE (and yes, that factors in inflation). Don’t get me wrong, I love HOPE and am thankful for it (especially given that I have 2 other siblings currently in college), but people sure do think that this generation has it so much easier than they did.
For those that love sources: Tuition increases: http://www.uga.edu/oir/reports/sugtuitcomp9106.pdf
Textbook increases: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-05-806
BlondeHoney
December 13th, 2009
7:05 pm
I agree with the poster who said HOPE funds should be available to older students returning to school to deal with the adverse job market and economic conditions. I have taken out student loans to pay for the continuation of my education and remain marketable but I’m not whining about it. My son graduated in May with a chemical engineering degree from FSU on a Florida Bright Futures scholarship (Florida Scholar, the highest scholarship awarded) and even HE had to take out student loans to cover the shortfall. Like the others, I congratulate Ms. Hammonds on her achievments but she needs to be grateful for what she gootem throiugh HOPE.
another dual major student
December 13th, 2009
7:11 pm
oops, meant to add that the $4600 figure is as of 2005-2006. That was before the last two $100/semester fee increases from the board of regents.
Thank God for the HOPE
December 13th, 2009
7:32 pm
Dear Amanda,
I have to concur with the others that have pointed out that the rules of the HOPE are well known to students, especially ones as bright as you appear to be.
I am the parent of 2 HOPE recipients, both at Ga Tech, and I thank God every day for the help they have received. One graduated early and working on a PHD and one who is a Junior. Both were very aware of the limitations of the HOPE and kept to the guidelines to ensure graduating on time. In this day and age to really is more important to get an advanced degree in my opinion. Perhaps your dual degree may be just as important. If I have to assist them in paying for their Masters that is fine by me. I feel blessed to have had the benefit of their under graduate degrees paid mostly by the Hope.
I also would like to point out to Philosopher that the HOPE is funded by the lottery proceeds, not the taxpayers.
another dual major student
December 13th, 2009
7:34 pm
comment didn’t post first time, let me try this again.
The term “Super Senior” refers to a 5th year senior, not someone who has gone above and beyond. Also, budgeting of time is not the reason most people with dual majors go over the “limit” and don’t graduate in 4 years. To graduate with one major, 120 hours are required and only some of those can satisfy both majors (mainly the first 60 hours of core classes and a few of the non-major required electives). Simply put, usually the extra year is necessary for the extra major.
And to the people who think that students have it so much cheaper today, remember that tuition and fees at UGA in 1990 was $2000. In 2005 it was $4600, with only $3500 being covered by HOPE. Since then, an additional $200 per semester fee has been added in the past year by the board of regents. At the same time, textbook costs have increased at twice that of inflation. Textbooks are now around $400-$500 per semester. When you adjust for inflation, students on HOPE are still paying nearly the same as those 20 years ago. Don’t get me wrong, I love HOPE and am thankful for it (especially with two other siblings in college), but it’s not like we’re going to school for free.
Sources: Tuition increases- http://www.uga.edu/oir/reports/sugtuitcomp9106.pdf
Textbook increases- http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-05-806
Get a job!
December 13th, 2009
7:39 pm
You can’t stay in college forever, you need to become a productive member of society!
It’s kind of sad to cry about not getting $11 when you were given $10.
catlady
December 13th, 2009
7:48 pm
Ms. Hammond: you made the choices you did. Surely you, as a super senior, can live with the results of your voluntary choices. Best wishes for a successful career. And, should you be confused, HOPE does not pay for grad school, either. Reap the benefit of your hard work, and be glad of the opportunity you have had–one that in many other states would not have been afforded to you.
oldtimer
December 13th, 2009
7:59 pm
Here in my adopted, state community colleges offer FREE classes to any HS grad. Many of my students take some of the basics there and some in summer, even above joint enrollment, and they do not count toward HOPE hours.
My youngest had a five year major at a GA college and HOPE payed for it. We were told upfront her payments would be different due to the major and required internship…which they only counted as one hour, even though it was six months full time. This kept the HOPE stuff straight, but messed up insurance for a year.
catlady
December 13th, 2009
8:10 pm
P.S. My younger daughter graduated from a $34000 per year private college here in Georgia in 8 semesters with dual degrees in astrophysics and math, 3.4 GPA. As you are probably aware, Hope pays only a pittance of that cost (as is right), being a private college. So, ya’ know, I really don’t want to hear the super senior schtick. (A super senior does it in 4 years) Better drop the entitlement ‘tude before you make a negative impression on employers!
Cry Baby
December 13th, 2009
8:11 pm
I’ve made a note, Ms. Amanda Hammons, to ensure you are never hired at my company. You are a college student crying because you chose to take on extra degrees. HOPE is already running out of money without paying for students like you who can’t decide what they want to do with their lives. If you had planned ahead (something that is a must if you hope to ever hold a job long term!) you would have known 4.5 years ago that you would be unable to have HOPE pay for another semester once you had exceeded 127 hours.
Now, think about this: a dual degree could potentially require as few as 135 hours (should you not waste away electives). If you really are as smart as you claim to be, you could have ended your 8th semester at 115 hours, allowing a full additonal semester (12 hours) to be paid by HOPE. During that semester, you could instead take 20 hours and graduate.
catlady
December 13th, 2009
8:20 pm
Oh, yeah, and back in the day (1970) there was very little financial aid. NSF grants were gearing up. Graduating second in my high school class of 250, I got a 100$ “award”. There were also no AP classes then, athough you could try to CLEP out. I graduated with a 3.8 in 3 years by taking massive overloads (6, 7, or 8 classes per term).
To quote Monty Python: And you tell kids of today that, and they won’t believe you.
To quote Brother Dave Gardner: Gratitude is riches and complaint is poverty.
Yawn...
December 13th, 2009
8:25 pm
…and you walked to school uphill both ways in the driving snow while carrying your little brother on your back. We got it.
BlondeHoney
December 13th, 2009
8:26 pm
Amen, catlady
notimpressed
December 13th, 2009
8:48 pm
The state of Georgia offered to foot your bill for *one* degree, not for two and not for your extracurriculars. I worked my way through three degrees, with a little help from student loans *which I must repay*, all while the overindulged, socially-promoted Georgia HOPE “scholars” get a free ride. I guarantee that few of these kids are actually in need of the help. If their parents quit wasting money on their kids’ SUVs, cell phone bills, etc. etc. etc., then they might be able to cough up a couple of thousand bucks twice a year. Plus, more of the REALLY deserving kids who desperately need this money to attend college would be able to! PRIORITIES, PEOPLE!!! It won’t kill Johnny and Susie to find a summer job or wait tables 20 hours a week!
catlady
December 13th, 2009
8:53 pm
Nope. I was an only child and born in FL My mom was a teacher and my dad a rocket scientist (really). His missile was finally used in the Persian Gulf War. I was richly blessed by having two college grad parents BS in psych and soc, minor in Latin , and BSEE from Duke (in 3 years!) from the early/mid 1940s.
UGAStudent
December 13th, 2009
9:09 pm
As a current senior at the University of Georgia I find it interesting that Ms. Hammons considers herself a “Super Senior”. Being involved and a double major by no means makes you a “Super Senior”. Many students at UGA and many other colleges throughout Georgia are involved on their campus and double majoring and still manage to graduate with four years. Last summer I changed my major giving me only one year to complete all my classes needed and still graduate on time, and yet I still will graduate in May just as I am supposed to. You made a decision to get involved and to double major and you should have made sure that you took the summer courses and took extra hours to graduate on time. It is possible, which is evident by the thousands of students who do it every year. The HOPE Scholarship is a great thing, and you should just be thankful that you had it for as long as you did. Many students aren’t even that lucky. Students forget that we aren’t entitled to HOPE. It takes a lot of hard work to keep, and having it for four years should be enough. By wanting more, because YOU see yourself as a “super senior” is just greedy. Quit complaining.
Darrin "The Vent King"
December 13th, 2009
9:57 pm
I feel for this person and actually agree there should (in a perfect world) be something that could be done, BUT there is only so much Hope money. To give her extra would take away from others. The problem isn’t actually the distribution of the money, but the production of it. I.too, take advantage HOPE and it clearly lays out what it is you can and can NOT do frm the beginning. When I was on HOPE grant, I knew in the beginning it would only pay for a certificate and if I wanted to pursue my AA back then, that I would have to foot the bill for the few remaining classes so I prepared myself back then for that and paid for the other classes I needed in a different way until it was time to apply for the HOPE scholarship that I knew I had a high enough GPA to obtain. Someone of her intelligence should already know that. Plus there are other scholarships that someone with your GPA and accomplishments should have no problem qualifying for IMO. When in college you must leave all options open and consider alternative ways to take care of these issuea as you will have to do in real life. HOPE is not a bottomless well of funds and can not award more than it has to take care of the overachievers AND those who otherwise would not have the fair opportunity to achieve in the first place. Matter of fact, we’re lucky to have such a thing and will be even luckier if its still around years from now.
Darrin "The Vent King"
December 13th, 2009
10:06 pm
There is only so much HOPE money. To give you more would mean to give others who are underprivileged less- can’t have it both ways. I too been receiving HOPE funds for years and it clearly lays out from the beginning what you can and can NOT do. Besides with your GPA and accomplishments you should have no problem receiving a scholarship by other means. Just as in real life, you have to be proactive in finding a way when faced with a challenge like you have during your illustrious collegiate career. The original idea with HOPE was to give those with less opportunity “hope” that they will be able to get one with a chance they otherwise may not get, NOT to pay for multiple degrees for overachievers. I applaud your efforts in school, but what you’re asking isn’t fair to others who need “hope” too.
CC
December 13th, 2009
10:24 pm
While your accomplishments are admirable- I must comment that for such a smart young person, you forgot to read the rules. You are a good student, very involved, and apparently many connections. Therefore, you must be aware of grants, scholarships, and as always- student loans. Stop whining- it is mature, nor worthy of your accomplishments thus far.
CC
December 13th, 2009
10:24 pm
CorrectionL It isn’t mature…
Free Market Educator
December 13th, 2009
10:25 pm
WHAAAAAAAAAA! Ms. Hammons your whine isn’t quite loud enough. You need to take “gimme” lessons from the PROFESSIONALS at Berkeley U. …..
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/12/13/torch-wielding-leftists-at-uc-berkeley-attack-chancellors-home/
Techie
December 13th, 2009
10:26 pm
“Super senior” relates to those who spend over four years on their undergrad; it has nothing to do what you did. At Tech, it’s not uncommon to be a super senior, especially for the hardcore engineers. However, most go to Tech with the understanding that if you stay over four years, be prepared to take out a loan. While HOPE is nice (I’m grateful for it), I understand that to make something of myself, some sacrifices have to be made and taking out a loan is one of them. If this character is as bad-a as she’s says she is, she should have no problem paying back her loans with the money she will make after she graduates. She could be in another state with tens of thousands of dollars of debt. It’s called looking at the bigger picture.
educator
December 13th, 2009
10:48 pm
great observation..”a great society is an educated society” Our legislators would rather spend BILLIONS bailing out greedy mismanaged corporations then putting a little extra in the public education of our youth….
educator
December 13th, 2009
10:56 pm
who are these mean spirited bloggers???? An over achieving student wonders if it could be possible to further INCENTIVIZE the education process….all I hear from these BLOG WHINERS is closed minded personal attacks on someone who genuinely cares about the possibillites of greater education opportunities….oh an by the way this is a lotto funded program..not your tax dollars …so quit the complaining about not enough money in our budget….
educator
December 13th, 2009
11:02 pm
cat lady and free market educator are the reason ideas die prior to incubation….Why change things….why improve and expand the opportunity to educate our youth…In EUROPE college is FREE!!!!!….THE U.S. ranks 15th in the world in education…and yes all European and asian countries rank ahead of us….Get off your “I walked 10 miles to school in the snow” sob story and be thankful we have cars and mass transit….oh and read a book by someone in this millenium…..
educator
December 13th, 2009
11:10 pm
To J conservative ……you obviously miss the point…….its not about a handout …its about offering education to achievers…..Had you been either an academic or athletic over achiver you could have had your education paid for even in the 60’s….truth is, you barely got by then and you are still struggling today…..If you had learned anything from your toturous life it would have been that working hard is one thing..but working SMART and hard is the difference maker….I wouldnt be surprised if this kid did work and go to school…
Sally
December 13th, 2009
11:18 pm
Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth!! I’m glad we have the Hope Scholarship in Georgia. Glad that so many have been able to benefit from it. I hope it will continue for years to come. But, this is the problem when someone is given something. Somehow it becomes something that is due to them and more often then not, they feel they are due even more. To the author of this piece, congratulations on your accomplishments. Life is tough. Get a job and pay for your final semester. It will do you a world of good.
Echo
December 13th, 2009
11:29 pm
My undergrad degree is from out of state (I’m from the midwest), there was no program like HOPE. Got through in 4.5 years with 149 undergrad & 3 graduate credit hours. I was in the military before going to college and that paid for SOME of my education & had a partial athletic scholarship. I attended grad school at UGA…no HOPE & I paid out of state tuition. Even though I graduated almost 15 years ago, I still pay student loans to the tune of almost $350 a month. Be glad that you got HOPE funds!
BTW: lottery proceeds fund HOPE not taxpayer funds…however taxpayers do subsidize a portion of the costs. And those lazy/stupid folks need to pay back the HOPE money if they dont graduate.
HB
December 13th, 2009
11:36 pm
I attended a private school in GA with my tuition paid by a variety of merit scholarships, including HOPE (like catlady said, though, HOPE was merely a drop in the bucket). I double majored and easily graduated in 4 years. If that had not been possible, my second major would have been my minor, as there was no way I was going to pay $15,000 for the extra semester because 1) I didn’t have it as all the scholarships were limited to 4 years and 2) it wasn’t worth the money! Most people I knew in college double majored or at least accompished two divergent lines of coursework, such as completing a long list of prereq courses for med school while also completing a B.A. core and humanities major. We were all involved in extracurriculars, put our hearts into leadership roles, completed internships, and had high GPAs. But we recognized we had timelines, financial limitations, and higher degrees we wanted to get started on and be able to pay for, so we adjusted our student careers accordingly. But you think you should be entitled to extra money just because you chose a longer path to graduation? Please don’t act like you’re being punished for being too ambitious. That’s just obnoxious, and frankly, the resume you listed really isn’t that impressive.
Honestly, when you go to apply for jobs, lacking the second major might not have mattered much if you could make the case that you were still qualified through coursework on your transcript. You may have been just as well off to have the marketing major, complete an internship, and come up a little short of completing the sport management major, but still with a long list of classes you could show that you completed with good grades in preparation for that career. But you weighed your options and felt it was worth the extra money to have the second major listed on your diploma. That’s fine — it’s your decision, and if you are correct that it really matters for your employment options, then one semester’s tuition at a public university is really a small price to pay. The state got you through 4 years leaving you to pay roughly 11% of 4.5 years’ tuition. Sounds like a bargain to me.
educator
December 13th, 2009
11:45 pm
I think Catlady is living on the successes of her parents and daughter…No doubt her husband keeps her well fed and read while she blogs endlessly w/meaningless dribble about her incredible family…I think she would just as soon take away the HOPE rather than improve or expand it….I think this lady doth protest too much….the veil has been lifted on her IQ….People who offer criticism over solution are usually living off the work of others. I am sue this contributes greatly to her cynnical outlook on aspiring youth.
educator
December 13th, 2009
11:48 pm
Oh and anyone who uses the name of an animal to blog is definitely not on my Christmas list.
educator
December 13th, 2009
11:54 pm
Sally…they werent given it…they earned it..and why not EXPLORE the possibilities of allowing all achievers an opportunity to earn more education…why not expand what is a great program ..paid for by the LOTTERY!!!! not you
Jody
December 13th, 2009
11:54 pm
Actually, unless the program has changed recently, there are some additional limits beyond the 127 hour requirement. I changed schools midway through college and lost my HOPE award because I did not do as well as hoped at the first college (should have gone to engineering school instead of liberal arts college in the first place). Fast forward a year and even though I had a 3.75 GPA, I could not get the HOPE award reinstated because at my 90th attempted hour (I dropped one whole class after the drop/add period), I only had a 2.9 GPA. There was no warning for this, just a rude awakening when I started doing research with the financial aid office. In the end, I learned an expensive lesson and am still paying for my education because I did not drum up enough additional scholarship support. My parents were unable to completely support me and I was unable to drum up enough additional scholarship support to offset the lost of the HOPE scholarship. For the record, this wasn’t for lack of trying, but for a naive lack of understanding. And yes, I worked my entire way through college. Sometimes that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
GT grad but back in school
December 14th, 2009
12:18 am
I would like to point out that at Georgia Tech, many of the degrees REQUIRE quite a bit more than 120 credit hours. Anywhere from 132 to 138 is standard, especially for the engineering degrees. Now, if you take 18 credit hours every semester, and if you load all your extras into your final semester, and if your degree only requires 132 hours, then MAYBE you can get HOPE to pay for your entire degree. Except it’s very difficult to create a schedule with 18 credit hours that (1) doesn’t have any overlapping classes or labs and (2) will not destroy your mental sanity. So can we please stop discussing how 127 hours has “extra hours” built in or is more than enough to get a degree in 4 years?
Also, an internship in college is basically a requirement for a job these days, and most companies will NOT offer an internship unless you are a student who will be returning to school after the internship (or can accept college credit for the internship). Thus, the emphasis she placed on staying for her internship was quite correct, IMO. I made the mistake of deciding against a full internship or co-op while I was in school, deciding instead to focus on graduating in the standard 4 years. I didn’t think (or realize) how necessary one of those 2 experiences would later be. I thought that with my extracurricular involvement I would have more than enough experience to pull on when applying for jobs. I went 11 straight semesters (fall, spring, summer every year). When I graduated in 2008, I had trouble finding a job. Every company I talked to told me I didn’t have enough experience (d’oh). A few months later, the economy tanked. I am now back in school for a related 2 year technical degree, and a major reason for that decision is the ability to say “I am a student” when applying for internships and jobs.
However, I will say that her tone in the piece is very whiney. What exactly does she think Tech students have been dealing with since the implementation of the HOPE scholarship limits? And for which school does she think the “spring checkpoint” was made? (It is uncommon for a first year to end their spring semester with 30 credits; many end with 27 and less than a 3.0 GPA . That’s a LOT of students who were getting an extra semester off HOPE that otherwise would have lost it.)
This issue isn’t new, nor has it been considered newsworthy (until now). Suck it up. We Techies all do. Be thankful for the portion payed by HOPE, and look at the rest as a necessary investment in your future career.
Art
December 14th, 2009
12:42 am
Educator is missing the point. The Hope is a limited fund and is used by students across the state. Amanda could have and should have appropriated loans, applied for scholarships, or worked to help pay for school. She is not a lazy student, but she understood the rules when she accepted Hope. I don’t know if educator has googled anything about the university systems in Europe, but here’s a link he should review. It reveals a poor system with many problems, but it is not free. The link is three and a half years old, but I would say it is still relevant today. There were several articles like this on page one of my google search. http://publicuniversities.ssrc.org/commentaries/european_universities/
John Doe
December 14th, 2009
2:38 am
I graduated high school in 2002 and qualified for the hope scholarship, I however at the time decided I should join the Army instead of going to college unprepared. I then enrolled and started school this past fall. I did receive the GI Bill however I found out that I no longer qualified for the hope due to a change in the rules in 2007, even though I had a certificate for earning the Hope. It bothers me that when the law was changed there was no exception made for people who had served in the military. Just throwing that out there, While I was jumping out of planes at Ft. Bragg or deployed in Iraq the state government did not look out for me.
GA Alumni
December 14th, 2009
4:37 am
Funny, the baby boomers get hit with a recession and they throw out the American Dream. Historian and writer James Truslow Adams coined the phrase “American Dream” in his 1931 book Epic of America: “The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”
I guess we can throw that idea out.
ScienceTeacher671
December 14th, 2009
5:58 am
educator, in Europe, most countries don’t expect (or educate) all students to go to college.
Author
December 14th, 2009
7:42 am
I’d like to clarify any misunderstandings that have developed:
The main point is being completely misinterpreted. The reason I wrote the article was NOT to complain. I am completely grateful for my four years of paid tuition. The point of the article is to suggest an Amendment for the existing Scholarship guidelines, similar to the Academic Excellence Grant provided by most high schools in GA. The Amendment would be to grant an appeal process for students completing a degree that have exceeded their allotted HOPE hours, contingent on maintaining a 3.5 GPA. Yes, I knew the rules when I enrolled in college, but I did not know how my college career would develop. I don’t expect to be an exception to the rules, I’m suggesting an appeals process for students who have earned an extension to complete their attempted degree. This is not to encourage “professional students” because ideally the educated students would then move on to begin working and, as always, the appeal would still be at the discretion of the HOPE Scholarship committee.
For those of you who claim I could have worked or “forecasted” better… I ask you to re-think your cynicism. I have worked several jobs tirelessly throughout college to support myself. Achieving two degrees required 4 ½ years and could not have been achieved in 4. I have never taken an elective that was not required and never had a summer off from school or work. My internship was required to graduate from the Marketing department, so no, I could not have pursued post-graduate internship opportunities. Again, I am not complaining about the level of intensity or sacrifice involved on my journey, just trying to communicate that I did approach my decisions with advisement and clarity. I’m excited to enter the job market, as my education has fully prepared me to do so and I will begin my contribution to society without hesitation.
With regards to my achievements meriting some other scholarship funding, you are right. I received the Soule Scholarship in the Spring which funded my Summer Internship credit over the summer. I searched far and wide for scholarships awarded in the Fall, but all of the scholarships that I could apply for were awarded the semester after I would graduate. I also have accumulated significant debt through student loans that I’ll begin paying just like the rest of the December graduates.
Accusations of greed and entitlement are simply ridiculous. My goal for this letter was to fill a perceived hole in the education system, not to re-coup a few thousand dollars. And filling this perceived hole would not come out of the tax payers pockets, as HOPE is funded by the GA State Lottery. I realize limits and moderation are critical to successful implementations of any program, but the HOPE was founded to give students the chance to learn for free. This is merely an extension of that principle.
Hopefully I’ve cleared some things up so that you will understand this letter was to propose opportunities for future students, not to protest my own personal experience.
Author
December 14th, 2009
7:49 am
I’d like to clarify any misunderstandings that have developed:
The main point is being completely misinterpreted. The reason I wrote the article was NOT to complain. I am completely grateful for my four years of paid tuition. The point of the article is to suggest an Amendment for the existing Scholarship guidelines, similar to the Academic Excellence Grant provided by most high schools in GA. The Amendment would be to grant an appeal process for students completing a degree that have exceeded their allotted HOPE hours, contingent on maintaining a 3.5 GPA. Yes, I knew the rules when I enrolled in college, but I did not know how my college career would develop. I don’t expect to be an exception to the rules, I’m suggesting an appeals process for students who have earned an extension to complete their attempted degree. This is not to encourage “professional students” because ideally the educated students would then move on to begin working and, as always, the appeal would still be at the discretion of the HOPE Scholarship committee.
For those of you who claim I could have worked or “forecasted” better… I ask you to re-think your cynicism. I have worked several jobs tirelessly throughout college to support myself. Achieving two degrees required 4 ½ years and could not have been achieved in 4. I have never taken an elective that was not required and never had a summer off from school or work. My internship was required to graduate from the Marketing department, so no, I could not have pursued post-graduate internship opportunities. Again, I am not complaining about the level of intensity or sacrifice involved on my journey, just trying to communicate that I did approach my decisions with advisement and clarity.
With regards to my achievements meriting some other scholarship funding, you are right. I received the Soule Scholarship in the Spring which funded my Summer Internship credit over the summer. I searched far and wide for scholarships awarded in the Fall, but all of the scholarships that I could apply for were awarded the semester after I would graduate. I also have accumulated significant debt through student loans that I’ll begin paying just like the rest of the December graduates.
Accusations of greed and entitlement are simply ridiculous. My goal for this letter was to fill a perceived hole in the education system, not to re-coup a few thousand dollars. And filling this perceived hole would not come out of the tax payers pockets, as HOPE is funded by the GA State Lottery. I realize limits and moderation are critical to successful implementations of any program, but the HOPE was founded to give students the chance to learn for free. This is merely an extension of that principle.
Hopefully I’ve cleared some things up so that you will understand this letter was to propose opportunities for future students, not to protest my own personal experience.
Mitch Copeland
December 14th, 2009
8:05 am
The real disconnect is betweeen the financial aid “satisfactory progress” mechanism and the fact that at most schools the tuition stops going up after you reach a minimum full load. We used to be able to encourage good students to learm more by taking non-required courses above the required ones, thus broadening their education and instilling a sense of intellectual curiosity that benefitted them and society as a whole.
Now we have a generation of students who view college as a hurdle to overcome and think they’ve made a horrible error if they ever took a course that doesn’t directly contribute to their degree program. What a waste.
v racer
December 14th, 2009
8:13 am
Handle each case on merit. Some deserve the extra time and others don’t.
RMH
December 14th, 2009
8:37 am
Wow! Almost everyone is suffering from the bad economy and we have a student who wants us to pay for her college as long as she goes. I understand that she wants more education and is not really wasting the money, but there has to be a limit. Look for other ways to pay for your education.
Philosopher
December 14th, 2009
8:38 am
The meanness in the hearts of so many humans is appalling! Disagree with the young lady if you like, but, WHOA! is the nastiness required? Would you want another adult talking to your college student daughter this way? Really! Express your disagreement with some compassion, could you?!
UGA'65,'67
December 14th, 2009
9:03 am
The prevailing sentiment in response to “Hope Extension” supports the concept of fairness and equitable distribution of resources. The author of this opinion piece, although self described as a highly successful student, seems to more more consumed with her narrow (selfish?) view of the HOPE program: “What more is in it for me”, suggesting a disappointing “entitlement” mentality that we see too often in our culture. Perhaps, after the author has digested the remarks published here, she will rethink her place in a society that has to make tough choices about resources. Otherwise, it would be disappointing for such a seemingly bright person to miss such a critical point.