Is college a right or a privilege?

Answer 1

privilege.
college is not for everybody. I'm not saying that there are people who are too "dumb" for college (since I have met many swift people who never attended a college course) but the expectations and rigour of college life is not for everyone, especially if a person is too free-spirited.
And as much as I hate to admit it (egalitarian that I am), it really should be a privilege. If anyone can go to college, the credentials of a four year degree will eventually be downgraded and become less valueble.
I attended a two-year college which at the time had open admissions; it was one of the worse decisions of my life. Yes, I earned my associates, but it wasn't very respected. And since anybody was admitted, a huge number of the students were losers (examples - coming late to class, disrespectful towards the professors, accusing the faculty of discrimination at any opportunity, and some students would even occasionally bring their young children to class!!!)
Open admissions does not work. Which is why I think it's important for high schools to invest more in vocational programs, because, I'm going to say it again: college is not for everybody.

Answer 2

To put a student through four years of the best colleges in the USA costs about $240,000. The student may pay as much as $180,000 of that at some schools, while the rest is paid by earnings from endowments, athletics, gifts from alumni, government research grants, etc.

So, what are you asking? Should every single person who manages to live to age 18 be given a free $250,000 ticket to college?

If you take the top 20 colleges in the USA, they are all rather small. Their entering classes would only total about 20,000 kids all together. But 2,000,000 kids will start college next year. Only 1% will be in these wonderful but exclusive elite schools. So it's evident that there are some pretty gigantic inequities and there are big problems with the idea that everyone should get the best college education free. It simply can't happen.

Maybe everyone is entitled to SOME kind of college? That's why we have state universities with extremely low fees, and community colleges. Anyone who has a job can afford to go to community college. It is available as a legal right to those who complete some very minimal prerequisites.

Answer 3

Privelege.

In an ideal world, everybody would have the potential to be the next Einstein. I wish that were the case. However, the reality is, not all people are of equal intelligence. Even with unlimited hours of training and instruction, some people simply do not have the capacity to learn complicated material. These people should not be in college.

That is not to say they have no role in society. Not everybody needs to be a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist. But if people cannot handle the workload, then they need to be excluded from the university so they don't inhibit other students' progress. Is there any reason that remedial reading and arithmetic should be offered in college? Should that not have been the material covered during high school or grade school?

Selectivity is key. Universities need to be able to choose students who demonstrate the necessary aptitude to perform well. Broadening the admissions pool in the name of democratizing education -- though a noble goal -- only serves to water down the curriculum. If you have never noticed it, a classroom is only as strong as its weakest student.

Answer 4

I don't know about it being a privilege, but I can't see any way how you can say it's a right. If it were a right, it wouldn't mean much cuz any idiot would get in. Even at the community college level, you have to put in some effort to get in and pass a class.

Answer 5

Privilege. It needs to be earned. But economic means should not be a criteria, rather entrance should be based on merit.

You don't need permission to write essays or read books or attend lectures (there are free talks given to the general public all the time). You don't need to be in University to learn.

Too many "students" are getting into University without being able to read and write. It looks bad when these people are given diplomas, it makes the rest of our degrees worth less.

For a degree to mean anything, one must work to get it. Otherwise, all it means is that you spent four years goofing off after you got out of school.

As far as cost goes, you can take CLEPS, go to community college, get a needs based grant, and do other things even in the US to cover costs.

I don't think people who are unable to attain a certain mental level should be in university though. Unless there's a para university like the para-Olympics somewhere.

Answer 6

Privilege. There is more demand for available slots than schools can supply. Therefore, there must be some way to screen applicants, based on a variety of factors. Nobody has a "right" to attend college just because they breathe.

Answer 7

Privilege, you need to earn a spot in college. If you goof off all through high school and then just think you are entitled to a spot at any college you want, you have another thing coming to you. College is for people who are serious about themselves, their education, and their future.

Answer 8

College is unfortunately a privilege that should be a right!!

Sorry folks but getting a high school education isn't enough to make in the world today!! so are you telling me that its fair for students that can not afford a college education to just not go, simply because they don't have the financial means to attend??? Or are you saying that its unfair for the government to pay for me to attend college, because it would be taking money away from...WHO?? YOU?? THE WAR??? Please...so who do we blame when schools are overcrowded, have unqualified teachers, or in equipped to prepare students for a college education?? who do we blame??? it is my fault because i couldn't afford college, or because my school didn't have enough AP classes? or because i could afford to pay for SAT prep??? should i not be given the "Privilege" of a college education??? should i not have the opportunity to better my life and the lives of my family?? to have a chance for the future??? NO, because college is a privilege, and it shouldn't be right, right??

Answer 9

It's not a right; it can be a privilege.

Answer 10

I think it should be a right. Everyone should have the right to help themselves and become a better person if they want to!