Wow. Free schooling..., Where was this when I started?? Options

[James]

This sucks. I had to pay for my education, so they should have to pay for their education! I certainly don't want to pay for their education.

Anyway, you might as well advise any younger siblings you might have if they qualify.

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Texas Tech University Announces Guaranteed Tuition Program

In an effort to increase access to higher education, Texas Tech University System Chancellor Kent Hance Monday (Feb. 12) announced a plan to offer free tuition and mandatory fees to some Texans.

During testimony Monday (Feb. 12) before the Texas House of Representatives Higher Education Committee, Hance announced a plan that would guarantee 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees for the average course load for all new freshman students from Texas whose family’s adjusted gross income does not exceed $40,000. The plan will go into effect for the fall 2007 semester.

“Texas Tech is committed to providing higher education opportunities for financially disadvantaged Texans,” said Hance. “It is vital that we find ways to make college affordable for as many Texans as possible. The state’s future depends on a well-educated population.”

“We will pay for eight semesters of higher education, the time it typically takes to complete a degree,” said Texas Tech University President Jon Whitmore. “This means that many students who did not think they could afford college now can. A degree from Texas Tech means a brighter economic future for these students and for our state.”

The Red Raider Guarantee program is available to first-time freshman students who are Texas residents and who enroll as full time students each semester. Students must also be eligible for federal financial aid. Eligible students who complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form before May 1, 2007, are guaranteed to receive funds. Any applications received after May 1, 2007 will be awarded based on available funding. Students may qualify for the program for up to eight semesters of full-time enrollment.

Texas Tech students who are enrolled in 15 credit hours per semester currently pay $6,800 in tuition and mandatory fees per year. Under the new program, tuition and mandatory fees will be paid by a combination of federal, state and institutional funds.

Eligible students are encouraged to learn more at www.redraiderguarantee.ttu.edu.

[GOB]

my parents make $80k a year? that's news to me. i guess all those loans i took out were play money and i don't have to pay them back... not that paying them back should be a problem after using them to get a college education and a well-paying job. hmm, maybe that's the point of student loans-- to assist those in need while they need it and to be repaid at a later date.

this proposal is nothing different than welfare, but for people in better financial situations.

on a completely different note, i'm going to give everybody on this board $80,000 spread out over four years, but impala doesn't get anything. in fact, i'm going to take money from his taxes to pay you guys. that's totally not fucking him, just to be clear.

[impala454]

on a completely different note, i'm going to give everybody on this board $80,000 spread out over four years, but impala doesn't get anything. in fact, i'm going to take money from his taxes to pay you guys. that's totally not fucking him, just to be clear.

I'm glad you finally figured it out

honestly you guys are seriously just crying because you're not getting the free tuition.

[Spectatrix]

honestly you guys are seriously just crying because you're not getting the free tuition.

I don't know about the rest of the people here, but that's not the case with me. I often oppose legislation even when it would benefit me.

My view on this is that it should be basically all or nothing. Either pay for everyone's post-secondary education (will all the same old admission requirements, of course) or don't pay for any of it. Fuck this middle ground bullshit.

[Mommy]

IMy view on this is that it should be basically all or nothing. Either pay for everyone's post-secondary education (will all the same old admission requirements, of course) or don't pay for any of it. Fuck this middle ground bullshit.

I absolutely agree with this right here. Just because someone's PARENTS have money, doesnt mean that the parents will give it to them for college. If we want an educated society, it should be free university education for everyone. Maybe if the gov't was footing the bill, the school wouldnt waste money on stupid shit like repainting the cop cars a different color.

We like having relatively low taxes and a military

relatively low taxes? Ummm no

[impala454]

Just because someone's PARENTS have money, doesnt mean that the parents will give it to them for college.

take a closer look, I don't see the word "parents" anywhere. it's your family's AGI as indicated by your latest tax documents. if you're a dependent then yeah the person who listed you as a dependent's income will be included. if you declare yourself independent, it's your income and yours only. I believe you can declare yourself independent at 18, but most parents wouldn't want you to because of the $2000 (i think) hope tax credit they receieve. If you can get free tuition though I think most parents & kids who have half a brain would forego that tax credit. It's your decision whether or not to declare independent though, not your parents.

relatively low taxes? Ummm no

the word "relatively" indicates that he was saying we have low taxes relative to europe, which we do by far. if you don't like taxes here, you sure as hell better not move over there (or praise their tax money funded programs over ours).

[Mommy]

take a closer look, I don't see the word "parents" anywhere. it's your family's AGI as indicated by your latest tax documents. if you're a dependent then yeah the person who listed you as a dependent's income will be included. if you declare yourself independent, it's your income and yours only. I believe you can declare yourself independent at 18, but most parents wouldn't want you to because of the $2000 (i think) hope tax credit they receieve. If you can get free tuition though I think most parents & kids who have half a brain would forego that tax credit. It's your decision whether or not to declare independent though, not your parents.


the word "relatively" indicates that he was saying we have low taxes relative to europe, which we do by far. if you don't like taxes here, you sure as hell better not move over there (or praise their tax money funded programs over ours).

Youre an idiot if you think you can declare yourself as independent at 18. Im 21 and I still cant even though my parents dont give me SHIT. Here is the list of ways you can declare yourself as independent before age 23:
1) join the military
2) get knocked up or have a dependent
3) get married
4) get a signed affidavite claiming that you no longer have ANY CONTACT AT ALL with your parents. Relatives and friends of the family have to submit statements as well.
5) Have at least one dead parent

Believe me, I went round and round on this one with financial aid here at UT. Additionally, I finally decided to do some research regarding FAFSA and found out those are the only ways.

[impala454]

Youre an idiot if you think you can declare yourself as independent at 18. Im 21 and I still cant even though my parents dont give me SHIT. Here is the list of ways you can declare yourself as independent before age 23:
1) join the military
2) get knocked up or have a dependent
3) get married
4) get a signed affidavite claiming that you no longer have ANY CONTACT AT ALL with your parents. Relatives and friends of the family have to submit statements as well.
5) Have at least one dead parent

Believe me, I went round and round on this one with financial aid here at UT. Additionally, I finally decided to do some research regarding FAFSA and found out those are the only ways.

I just didn't recall the correct age, excuse me. so if you want the free tuition under this program, the solution seems pretty simple. go to college when you're 23, or do one of the 5 things in your list (although the military will pay for your school anyhow).

it's still funny to me that you guys are crying about this so much. take the damn loans and leave it at that. we're talking about something that's the price of a nice car, at a 2-3% interest rate, spread over like 20 years.

Jessica, if your parents are so terrible that they never helped you, paid for anything, or whatever, I'm so sorry. From what you've said here it sounds like they booted you out the door after high school graduation without so much as a bus ticket. There's far more to paying for college than just the tuition, and a family income of less than $40,000 leaves little room for those things. Things like having a car, car insurance, medical insurance, living expenses, books, clothes, etc. Not having to worry about tuition means that financial aid can encompass more of those expenses. I haven't seen the numbers lately, but my tuition doubled from my freshman to my senior year, while the loan amounts remained the same. I actually ended up taking extra non-stafford loans to cover living expenses.