Here is an issue I am becoming sadly too familiar with and becoming more cynical as I go along. I can get into any college in the US at this point, and have at a few prestigious ones, but each time they fail to support me adequately financially. Do I assume that A.) They have not set up a proper system for that, and the failures are bureaucratic, through mistakes? B.) Is that the failing of the university for putting wealthy students first? C.) Does the university not care about poorer students? D.) Is it a malicious attempt to drive poorer students away? E.) Have these universities put financial gain ahead of education?

And then repeat for each university. I've been out of school for two years now due to a university doing this to me. I lose hope quite a bit each time something goes wrong. I hate the fact that I'm slowly dissuaded from what I consider a vital education for my well-being and happiness for the entirety of my life because I fear that it will happen no matter where I go. I drop 60 bucks on an application every year, hours to fill out all the proper paperwork, hours more to write the proper prompts thoughtfully, easily become accepted, and then go through heartbreak when the university fails to support me in any way.

Are we poor not supposed to get educated? I feel I missed a cosmic joke where it's laughable that I'm even attempting to go to a good school since I'm poor, as if it's my fault for expecting universities to provide for me. I feel selfish for believing it. I feel foolish for believing I could remove myself from poverty with a degree and gain a salaried career to build on.