The Magic Income Line
By C.J. Curtis
Published on Thursday, January 24, 2008
To the Editor:
I'd like to address an inconsistency in the new financial aid initiative. The decision to not scale aid for those above an arbitrary income line has created a state of "under $75,000 or bust." An income difference of a few dollars could mean a difference of $20,000 in aid. This plan punishes achievement while rewarding stagnancy. The new plan has setup a situation where it's actually beneficial for parents to avoid a raise or even to work less in order to keep the family income under the magic $75,000 line.
Yesterday's headline was eye-catching and I commend the school for rethinking financial aid. However, I question whether they chose the best plan for the student body or simply one that was the most newsworthy.