The demographics of young people who are able to afford a university education are shifting somewhat, with students from middle-class homes showing a steady decline in attendance.
Not surprisingly, young people from affluent backgrounds continue to pursue higher education with no apparent change. Due to efforts to make a university education available for worthy students from poor backgrounds, the number of young people in this category is also increasing slightly. The real change has to do with young people coming from middle class households.
With no access to the resources of the more well to do students, and without some of the financial aid packages extended to young people with greater financial need, middle-class students find themselves in a distinctly unfavourable situation. Their families make too much money to apply for many grants and other forms of aid, but the decrease in access to grants and scholarships leaves them without enough resources to pay the increasing costs of tuition.
With few options other than taking out loans to finance university costs, many middle-class students are abandoning the idea of higher education and heading straight for the work force. Some are able to take advantage of mentoring programs that equip them with the skills to acquire gainful employment, while others are finding that only low paying positions are open to them.
If you are thinking of attending university in the future, now is the time to begin preparing. Open a savings account and begin to make regular deposits, no matter how small. Look into scholarships that will help defray the costs of education, by using online sources as well as information obtained from local institutions. Taking the time to plan today may allow you to continue your education even when your personal resources are not enough to handle the expense.
Tags: Fees, Grants, Loans, Students, Univeristy
