Read on Twitter
1/ Can you afford to be a marine scientist? A thread on the costs and inaccessibility in science.
2/ Could you afford to go to that "right" school on the "right side of town", the private school, the speciality school, or the magnet school?
3/ "There are clear advantages to attending a top-tier high school as is evidenced in a study of college admissions data..."
4/ "...in Harvard’s Class of 2017, 6% of admitted students came from only 10 high schools. 11% of high schools with students admitted to Harvard sent 36% of students, while 74% of schools sent only one student." https://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/sports/college-sports/harvard-crimson-ORSPT000660-topic.html
5/ For Christmas, your birthday, or because, did you get your own computer?
6/ "In every country, students reporting “rare” or “no use” of computers at home score lower than their counterparts who report frequent use…gains in educational performance are correlated with the frequency of computer use at home." https://www.oecd.org/education/school/programmeforinternationalstudentassessmentpisa/35995145.pdf
7/ Could you afford for to participate in all those afterschool STEM activities with their fees and expenses?
8/ "Afterschool programs can have an impact on academic achievement. Improved test scores are reported in evaluations of The After-School Corporation (TASC) programs in New York City and in Foundations, Inc. elementary school programs..."
9/ "...A more recent longitudinal study showed significant gains in math test scores for elementary and middle-school students who participated in high-quality afterschool programs." https://sedl.org/pubs/sedl-letter/v20n02/afterschool_findings.html
10/n "Those who are admitted to UC are likely to participate in more precollege activities. The study also shows that there is a positive correlation between student precollege participation in these activities and their college experience, academic and civic engagement…"
11/n “...The results also reveal that the participation in extracurricular activities and volunteer and community services is a significant predictor on first-year GPA and persistence…"
12/n "The more activities students participate in, the higher their first-year GPA is and the more likely they persist with their current college programs.” https://cshe.berkeley.edu/publications/effect-pre-college-extracurricular-participation-first-year-college-engagement-and
13/n "However, we found that a substantial portion of students, particularly those in lower-income groups, are not fully engaged in a well-rounded school experience that includes activities — and too often, it’s because of cost.” https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/childrens-health/pay-to-play-may-keep-some-kids-out-of-school-activities
14/n Could you afford to go that cool summer camp?
15/n "Steven Infanti, associate vice president for admissions at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, said a STEM camp experience is something that makes him take a closer look at a student’s application…"
16/n "“When I look at an applicant who has a 2.5 [GPA], which would be kind of a borderline admit for us, but I see on his application, I participate in this camp…that shows a lot of initiative and someone who has a passion,” he said.” https://www.cnbc.com/2014/04/25/summer-camp-may-improve-college-admissions-odds.html
17/n Did you get to travel to the ocean on vacation? Could you afford to travel abroad?
18/n “study abroad programs, and even international vacations, are fantastic opportunities for cross-cultural understanding, learning, and personal growth. For that reason, they can certainly be helpful experiences to draw on when applying for colleges.” https://www.asuprepdigital.org/can-summer-trip-abroad-boost-chance-get-college/
19/n Did you learn to scuba dive?
Being a scuba certified is not at all recquired for being a marine biologist. Although I do scuba dive and am a divemaster, I rarely if ever use it for my research. However, many “career advice” websites online definitely recommend it.
21/n "There are no certification requirements for marine biology. However, because diving is a large part of marine biology, many schools recommend that students become open water certified and take a course in scientific diving.” https://careertrend.com/certifications-marine-biologists-need-20312.html
22/n Did you get to participate in all kinds of wonderful experiences because you had free time? Were you blessed and did not have to work a full- or part-time job?
23/n "Data was collected from a very large sample of students when they were in 8th, 10th and 12th grades, and again two years after they graduated. The researchers compared groups by controlling for economic background, ethnicity, gender, and prior educational experiences."
24/n "They measured outcomes including standardized test scores, school grades, courses taken, attendance, staying out of trouble, educational and occupational aspirations, post-secondary employment and college enrollment."
25/n "results showed a pattern of negative effects for students who worked during high school. In particular, working in the final year of high school had a significantly negative effect. These negative effects occurred even from working a small number of hours per week"
26/n "… working during high school undermines students’ commitment to and identification with school and subverts traditional academic goals” https://www.ernweb.com/educational-research-articles/negative-effects-of-working-during-high-school/
27/n Could you even afford to stay in high school?
28/n " a third of the 563,000 teenage dropouts left school to work. These 16- to 18-year-olds were disproportionately male and Hispanic... Roughly 75% of them are native-born Americans” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/04/16/an-alarming-number-of-teenagers-are-quitting-school-to-work-heres-how-to-help-them/
29/n Could you afford to go to the best college and university?
30/n "Of the 113 Supreme Court Justices, 40% of them attended an Ivy League university. Currently, all of the nine Justices went to an Ivy League. In CNN’s top 100 startups list, 34 of the CEOs went to Harvard"
31/n "…at the very least you’ll receive on average $19,200 USD more than the standard US college graduate [by attending an Ivy Leage University]” https://www.crimsoneducation.org/sg/blog/
32/n "Even when there isn’t a policy of exclusion, students at elite universities join networks of professors and alumni whose members offer each other information, support, and advice that isn’t available to outsiders.” https://www.mindingthecampus.org/2015/02/22/whats-an-ivy-league-education-worth/
33/n "In a corporate environment that still largely favors white men, an Ivy League college degree opens doors that would otherwise remain closed for most."
34/n " In recent years, I’ve interviewed successful [minorities] in a variety of industries…Ivy League education afforded them pivotal opportunities for their careers today...the Ivy “stamp of approval” became the first in a long list of achievements.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/ruchikatulshyan/2014/07/30/why-you-should-apply-to-ivy-league-colleges/?sh=36ce0e65257f
35/n "Tech founders with Ivy League degrees also tended to start companies that produced higher revenue and employed more workers than the average, the report added.” https://www.cnbc.com/id/49465579
36/n And while Princeton and some other Ivy League schools have generous financial aid programs, this is not the case among all universities. It is near impossible to get an accurate view of what a typical amount of loans a student is burdened with after four years.
37/n Take Duke University, several reports suggest the average student loan debt is $25,000. However, take note of the term average. https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/duke-university/paying-for-college/student-loan-debt/
38/n Only 37% of the student body is receiving Federal Student Loans. This begs the question, how is this average actually calculated? https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?198419-Duke-University
39/n Just keep in mind that low-income students cannot afford 95% of colleges. https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/11623/Report_Low-Income_Students_Cannot_Afford_95_Percent_of_Colleges
40/n Did they tell you that they would meet 100% of your financial aid only for you to realize that meant pile you up with school loans and work study?
Yeah me too.
Yeah me too.
41/n Could you afford to leave your home and not financially help your elderly, sick, or young family members while you pursue your dreams? Could you afford not financially support your spouse and children?
42/n "Roughly half of independent college students, or 4.8 million students, are parents of dependent children. 7/10 student parents are women, with women of color in college are especially likely to be student parents."
43/n "Twice as likely to be living in poverty: 42% of independent students live at or below the federal poverty line, compared with 17% of dependent students. In fact, nearly 2/3 college students living in poverty (72%) are independent.” https://iwpr.org/independent-students-new-college-majority-press-release/
44/n Could you afford to move to college? What about all those hidden fees and costs? Parking? Transportation?
45/n "Almost 74% said extra activities like study abroad programs and unpaid internships are important to reaching professional goals. But the same percentage (74%) had to turn down such activities due to a lack of money."
46/n "Expenses beyond tuition were higher than they thought, too. The top 5 expenses students said were “much more than expected” include: Textbooks: 63% Housing: 56% Food: 46% Exam prep classes: 45% Moving: 41%” https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/74-of-students-cant-afford-the-extras-associated-with-college-and-almost-half-dont-feel-prepared-to-manage-their-finances-while-in-college-300533873.html
47/n Could you afford your books?
48/n "the average cost of college textbooks has risen 4 times faster than the rate of inflation over the past 10 years. That has caused 65% of students to skip buying required texts at some point in their college career because of a lack of affordability.” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-behind-the-soaring-cost-of-college-textbooks/
49/n Could you afford a computer in college?
50/n "The problem with not having a laptop comes with online assignments. It may be even more for me as a cs major, but even in gen ed courses we often had to submit assignments online or do readings online which is easier with a laptop."
51/n "You can survive without one as you can use the library computers at your college or if you have a desktop you can do all your online things there- but it would be easier to just whip out your laptop wherever you are to work on assignment.” https://www.reddit.com/r/college/comments/5mkd80/how_hard_is_it_going_to_college_without_a_laptop/
52/n Could you afford the time for extracurricular activities, lectures, clubs, student events? Did you need to work a full- or part-time job while attending college?
53/n "More than two-thirds of independent students work on top of going to school, and the majority work at least 20 hours per week…39 percent of dependent students work at least 20 hours per week)” https://iwpr.org/independent-students-new-college-majority-press-release/
54/n Did you not participate in that marine biology volunteer opportunity because you needed to work?
55/n "Volunteer research that prevents a student from making money. Remember that most financial aid packages REQUIRE a student to make a certain amount of money over the summer."
56/n “If they aren’t getting paid to do research, then they are either adding to their debt or working two jobs, neither of which is setting them up for scientific success.” http://www.deepseanews.com/2013/01/a-field-guide-to-privilege-in-marine-science-some-reasons-why-we-lack-diversity/
57/n Did you not do that great educational experience at sea because you could not afford the hefty fees?
58/n While again I don’t agree, the Semester at Sea Program is often promoted for the aspiring marine biologist. That is at least $25,074.
59/n Keep in mind that both the University of Pittsburg and Virginia pulled out of the program for “safety concerns and complaints that its suggestions for program improvement were being ignored."
60/n Did you not take those field summer courses because you couldn’t afford it? Did you not participate in a summer research opportunity because you could not afford to not work for a summer?
61/n I am obviously biased serving as the Executive Director of a marine laboratory. As an undergraduate, I took summer marine biology courses for credit…at the marine lab I currently serve as the director.
62/n These courses were invaluable for round out my education and kick-starting my career in marine science by offering experiential learning. Likewise, a paid Research Experience for Undergraduate one summer launched my career in deep-sea biology. These experiences are vital.
63/n “[student] participation in research is a more effective way to socialize novices into the scientific research community by helping them to develop the mastery, knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to become a scientist” https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00221546.2011.11777209?journalCode=uhej20
64/n Did you purchase all those extra study guides for the GRE? Did you take the GRE training course? Could you afford to take the GRE multiple times? Could you afford to send it to numerous graduate program?
65/n You can read all about my views on the GRE here. http://www.deepseanews.com/2018/11/lets-kill-the-gre/
66/n Did you apply to multiple graduate programs and pay all those additional application fees? Did you pay to travel to the visit those prospective graduate schools?
67/n Given that most acceptance rates are less than 20%, applying to several programs is advised. The application fees typically range from $50 to $100 per graduate program.
68/n If you don’t think all of this matters, consider that..
The percentage of students enrolling in graduate school increases with family income.
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/86981/who_goes_to_graduate_school_and_who_succeeds_1.pdf
The percentage of students enrolling in graduate school increases with family income.
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/86981/who_goes_to_graduate_school_and_who_succeeds_1.pdf
