[HN Gopher] Colleges are facing an enrollment nightmare
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       Colleges are facing an enrollment nightmare
        
       Author : paulpauper
       Score  : 8 points
       Date   : 2024-04-03 21:25 UTC (1 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (www.theatlantic.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (www.theatlantic.com)
        
       | easel wrote:
       | https://archive.is/Qt0tJ
        
       | Javalicious wrote:
       | As a middle-class Gen X-er, the FAFSA gives me PTSD already. ALL
       | the hurdles, knowing that my kid won't get any financial aid
       | anyway. I mean, what's the point? There should be an opt-out
       | button at the beginning: "I know I'm not getting any help. Just
       | finish the wizard and leave me alone."
        
         | dlachausse wrote:
         | You have to make a lot of money not to at least qualify for a
         | loan.
         | 
         | The issue is that this should be a very simple process. They
         | could import most of the information they actually need from
         | the IRS to make a determination based on financial needs.
        
           | dv_dt wrote:
           | The form already does import most of the info from the IRS...
        
           | tekla wrote:
           | It IS a simple process. It uses a ton of pre-filled IRS docs.
           | 
           | Its designed so that a 16/17 yo can do it.
           | 
           | You have to make a TON of money to not benefit from the
           | FAFSA.
        
             | dlachausse wrote:
             | That's great news. It sounds much better than I remember it
             | being.
        
       | dv_dt wrote:
       | Colleges are a major purchases where in the negotiation of the
       | transaction, the seller gets to gets detailed financial data of
       | the buyer before offering a price.
        
       | paulpauper wrote:
       | This is a good filter for those who either lack the aptitude or
       | effort to complete it. The fact that the college graduation rate
       | is still low suggests that too many people are being admitted who
       | lack the qualifications to finish, which means the money and time
       | is wasted.
        
         | clipsy wrote:
         | > This is a good filter for those who either lack the aptitude
         | or effort to complete it
         | 
         | No, it's a filter for who has parents who are familiar and
         | comfortable with bureaucratic nonsense.
        
         | tetris11 wrote:
         | Just in case you're serious: not everyone has the same
         | opportunities from the get go, and people who might seem
         | lacking in aptitude in the present can become quite proficient
         | in a few years if merely given the chance (not everyone
         | obviously). Proficiency doesn't just drop from the sky.
        
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       (page generated 2024-04-03 23:02 UTC)