The Growing College Gap

“The Growing College Gap”
At first glance, Tamara Draut’s article seems to state a fact that most individuals already
know: it’s hard to get into college. Looking further into her claim, Draut reveals the struggles
that low-income high school students applying to a four-year college or university face.
Specifically, the article talks about enrollment gaps between class and race due to financial
issues and the increase of high school students applying to colleges and universities across the
nation.
In addition, Draut begins her article by explaining the different outcomes that occur from
specific levels of education. First, she shows the lifetime economic gains that different degree,
ranging from high school to PhD, will make. Second, she explains the different “qualities of life”
that each education level will face. Specifically, Draut explains that those who cannot get into a
higher education program will not have the opportunity to have a higher paying job. I especially
agree with one aspect of Draut’s argument in which she states that not enough college worthy
students are getting to attend the schools that they want to and should be attending.
I agree with another part of Draut’s argument should make all college degree seeking
Americans fight against the injustice of government aid programs; providing aid on merit based
performance only. This is not to say that I disagree with money being granted to students who
study hard and make sacrifices in order to obtain their secondary education, I disagree with more
money given to merit based programs instead of students who come from low income
backgrounds. Aid programs do not take into consideration that many low income students come
from inner cities, where secondary education is at the bottom of hierarchical education scale and
these students lack the crucial knowledge that being taught at the more prestige’s high schools of
the suburbs where middle and upper class... [continues]

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