CMU School of Drama


Monday, October 14, 2013

Why College Costs Will Soon Plunge

Reason.com: “My goal,” says the candidate, “is a healthier America. That is why I am setting an ambitious target of sending 1 million more Americans to the hospital in the next five years. To make sure they get there, I am announcing a new, low-interest loan program to help them pay for their treatment. This will ensure that hospital costs stay within reach of the typical American family.”

2 comments:

Unknown said...

The author of this article, Hinkle, makes an extremely good point about college costs and their soon-to-be competition with online courses. However, he ceases to understand that college is more than just the education: it is just as much about the experience. Going to college allows one to have that smooth transition between life as a child into life as an adult. In college, one learns to live more independently, networks with people who may be life-long companions, and allows the student to be in an atmosphere where the student can grow a beneficial relationship with professors. Although, online courses may be a much more financially smart and secure path to a higher education, the entire college experience is absolutely worth the investment.

Unknown said...

This article was not what I expected at all. I certainly see the value in online courses because of their accessibility, but I honestly don't see that they will be an option on par with actually attending a university any time in the near future. Professors will always be needed. Students will always have questions. One of my favorite things about my classes here at CMU is that they involve discourse with the other students in the class, and with the professors. I wouldn't be learning nearly as much if I was being fed course content by a computer. Granted, I understand that a computer is better suited to teach math than theatre, but that doesn't mean that math teachers aren't important and valuable. In the same respect, there are other things that students have at universities that can't be provided by a computer- networking opportunities, social clubs, etc. I am provided with so many potential opportunities simply by being a student here at CMU, regardless of what area of study I am in. There is value in attending a university with real professors and real opportunities, and there always will be. Do I think the price tag on my education is reasonable? No. Would I love to see it go down? Yes. However, I really don't see it happening the way that the author of this article sees it.