STUDENTS PROTEST OVER TUITION HIKES AND CLASS REDUCTION AT CALIFORNIA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

As many states have had to re-evaluate their budgets, so has California taking one of the hardest hits in the country.  Over the past decade, tuition in the state overall has seen an increase of 300 %, with tuition doubling over the past five years, to $13,000 for resident undergraduates at UC schools (and private school rates for those out of state); $6,400 at California State University schools, and Community College fees are to $46 per unit by this summer, up from $20 per unit in 2007.  (Keep in mind that these numbers do not include room and board, books, fees, etc).

As the world already knows, California Universities are excellent with all 9 undergraduate campuses at the University of California, Stanford, USC, The Claremont Colleges, and others scoring  in the top 100 every year by US News. Demand to come to one of these schools each year is world wide; with a 1 in 13 chance of getting into a UC.

Subsequently, high school students today in the state of California are looking to colleges and universities across the country in fear of not being able to get into their own state schools. This thought is now putting pressure on students in other states to elevate their standards because of the shear number of California Students looking to attend college.  In addition, all admissions recruiters know what the state of affairs in California is, and they want part of the action. For the past few years California has been large target on their radar, and subsequently, they are visiting the state intensely each year to recruit for their school. Most schools will tell you they have had an increase of 15%- 20% in applications.

Looking at school choices is now putting a greater demand on all students across the country now. Those who thought they had an easier chance of getting into their own state's colleges and universities are now finding the demand is going global with New York and California students pushing to other states.

In addition, many schools are trying to recruit international students.  In some cases, while some students think that the reasons they did not get accepted to a certain school is due to racial profiling or other socio-economic reasons;  the true reason for them  not getting into the schools of their #1 choice is that the admissions officers had their work cut out for them in carving out a new incoming class and that some students assumed that just because they have high graders or strong SAT/ACT scores that it is enough to get accepted,  failing to understand that they had to do a lot of creative thought to stand out from the rest of the country or world.

Since January 2012, everything has gone up -- Cable, Phone, Utilities, Food, Gas, etc--- now, so is tuition in California.  These tuition hikes are forcing all the public colleges and universities across the board in California to raise not only tuition, but to reduce class size and dismiss classes once needed by some students. 

It is easy to see why California Students in colleges and universities today have to worry. In the UCs, a 4-year long education is now taking up to 6 years to now complete, and many students hope they can cope with the luxury of staying in school that long.  As I tour the UC campuses periodically I hear this comment often. 

Today, tuition hikes in California are raised on average at least once a year with the public College and University levels sometimes being increased as much as twice in just a year.

The protest you see today is because students worried on how they are going to cope, and so their fight to get an education has begun.  At the University of California, Santa Cruz, last week, the campus had been shut down by students in protest.   Students who have part time jobs to make ends meet face salaries being cut and cost of going to school going up is creating a major gap between the two and they are frustrated.

For those in High School or Community Colleges looking to transfer, note that this is where a good college admissions consultant comes into play, they have the resources to point students toward success being able to help them with financial aid.

Here at The College Admissions Consultant, we are able to work with families to assist them not only in getting in, but staying in. 

Minutes ago, World News has just released this article which for those who will be applying to colleges and universities in Fall 2012 should note.

California School Protest on Tuition Hikes and Reduced Classes