This is a well-thought out article, and indeed, university is a hurdle. 3 comments:

1) You speak of the "poor" as though they are the most disadvantaged. However, the way Federal Aid works, many of the "poorest" - meaning those from the lowest-income families - have a large number of grants available to them.

I say this because I want anyone reading this who is quite low on the income ladder to know that there are actually a fair number of resources. This assumption that "the poorer you are, the worse it is" blocks many people from talking to Financial Aid Offices and learning what is available for them. I've seen it happen over and over.

The most disadvantaged in terms of aid are either a) those who aren't quite poor enough for lots of free aid, but whose parents really can't help out; b) those whose parents won't contribute and don't support university in general (no inherited knowledge, etc.)

If you're super poor, GO TALK TO A FINANCIAL AID OFFICER, you'd be surprised what is available.

2) Your writing makes it sound like college is the only path - and that's what everyone thinks. That may be true for you with your background, and if you don't have a diverse set of friends, for their backgrounds as well.

However, university is NOT the only path, and depending on your major, may NOT be a good investment. There ARE people talking about this. There are MANY well-off people who chose paths other than college (including billionaires). Look for the alternatives - they are everywhere.

3) You talk a lot about race and socioeconomic status. Another minority group are immigrants, many of whom struggle to understand the whole FAFSA, applications, early decision - the whole structure is...well, literally foreign.