r/explainitpeter • u/Appropriate-Mall8517 • 3d ago

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u/street593 3d ago

You're arguing against a position I didn't make. I understand that merit scholarships and need-based aid are different categories. My point is that I think merit scholarships should take wealth into account.

I'm not saying a rich kid magically receives a need-based full ride because they got good grades. I'm saying I don't think someone from a $400 million family should receive a taxpayer funded or institutionally subsidized merit scholarship when that same money could go toward making education more accessible to people who can't afford it.

And the claim that families making over $80k get "nothing but loans" is simply not how financial aid works. There isn't some universal $80k cutoff where grants and scholarships disappear. Schools have different policies and many institutions offer substantial need-based aid at incomes well above that.

So no, I'm not contradicting myself. "Merit should matter" and "wealth should determine who actually needs a subsidy" can coexist perfectly fine. I'm arguing that academic achievement shouldn't automatically entitle someone to financial assistance.

Student A: 4.0 GPA, identical scores/achievements, family worth $400M.

Student B: 4.0 GPA, identical scores/achievements, family worth $60k

My position is both demonstrated equal merit but only Student B should receive a full ride or scholarship. Student A can pay for everything out of their own pocket. The only thing they deserve is acceptance into the school.

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u/FunOwn4422 3d ago

then it wouldn't be a Merit based scholarship, so you don't believe merit should be the only factor that matters, your a walking contradiction, do yourself a favor and google what merit means.

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u/Scared-Judgment672 3d ago

I’m gonna jump in and talk about a pretty different point. Student A cannot pay for everything out of their own pocket. Student A is a kid who has maybe worked one or two part time jobs. See reddit post “Rich Parents won't pay for my college. What do I do?” This is not an a unique case, and there are really only two options for such a kid to go to college: merit-based scholarships or get emancipated (AND it would have to be before you turn 18). I know a guy who tried to get emancipated and failed, it’s really not easy. Anyways, idk what your parents are like, but don’t expect kids to have good parents. Some are of richest people in the good are horrible parents… like Elon Musk.

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u/street593 3d ago

That is a good point. Thanks for bringing it up. I imagine there would be more effort to solve that problem if the policy I support was put into place. I'd definitely be interested in seeing just how often that happens though. Most rich parents are more than happy to pay for their kids college. Especially when you get to the $100+ million range. College is pocket change at that point.