Higher Education is a Privilege by Dylin

Higher Education is a Privilege by Dylin - January 2021 Scholarship Essay

A college education is a privilege. I was recently given the opportunity to compare the cost of a four-year college degree to the worthiness of the education itself. This brought me to the conclusion that many families and students cannot afford the staggering cost of a college education. Obtaining a degree not only requires immense financial availability, but also hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.
Many students that graduate from a college or university with a four year degree rely on student loans to pay for their education. Students and families who completely pay for their education up front, without financial aid or loans, are the minority. For this reason, a college education is considered a privilege because many students are not only unable to afford college, but they are also unable to deal with the financial burden that follows them upon graduation.
Hard work, motivation, and sacrifice are also key factors in obtaining a college degree. Academic students have an advantage over other students because education comes naturally to them; they do not need to work as hard for their grades as other students might need to. Therefore, it is a privilege that these academic students have an easier time getting accepted into a college university. On the other hand, students that do not naturally excel in academics still have the ability to get accepted into college, but their acceptance will not just be given to them. In order to obtain acceptance, they will need to study harder and have dedication to keep their grades up. They will also need to give up certain social activities to make their college acceptance a priority. Acceptance requires more than just a high GPA or stellar grades. Because of these “requirements” to obtain a college degree, a college education is a privilege.
Overall, not all students have the financial means to attend college; they need to work hard and put forth an effort to achieve their educational goals. Similarly, not all students have the natural determination and academic skills to get accepted into college. Therefore, a college education is not given to all citizens like basic human rights. It is not only a privilege to be able to afford a degree and handle the financial responsibilities, but it is also a privilege to get accepted into a college or university.