When almost our whole journalism class raised our hands to say our decision to come to Aquinas was based on financial aid, I started thinking about how this might affect campus culture. If AQ wasn't your first choice, but you're here because it's the easiest to afford, how long can you stay here wondering if you've sold out?
When I worked in ResLife last year, retention was a buzz word. It still jumps out at me, and I've heard a lot about various efforts at AQ aimed to increase retention: the new midterm grades, more funding for student research, etc. Even though the college boasts bigger and bigger incoming classes each year, the number shrinks significantly with drop-outs and transfers. As a junior, I've passed the pivotal two-year mark, but a lot of people I know didn't. Several of my friends transfered, and more have a move in mind.
I, too, have probed the pros and cons of transferring, although I decided the game of chance wasn't worth the effort (or the risk of being unhappy somewhere else). For the most part, Aquinas lacks the academic rigor I crave. It's not diverse, in terms of ethnicity or worldview--it's filled with preppy white kids (and un-preppy white kids, like me), and even the few international students here try to blend in.
So why did I come here in the first place?
First of all, for a program I didn't end up studying in. High schoolers get so much pressure to decide on their career before they even apply to college. Scholarship applications ask what you will major in. If you're thinking of something obscure, you have to apply to schools that have that option.
I was planning a career in special ed. Now, I'm shooting for a related field, but it's landed me in a psychology department with a total of two (2) full-time profs and no research resources, which may make getting into grad school (the required Next Step if I really want to practice clinical psych) a tricky task.
And what was it that clinched my decision to stay at Aquinas?
The money. Why transfer somewhere else when I can graduate for free?
But for many, the benefits of leaving outweigh the cost. More interesting classes. Better resources. A well-known name. Profs with contacts. More unique program areas. A diverse social climate.
Students who decide on a school because of the money, sacrificing their more important hopes and dreams, are more likely to leave eventually.
So. Is it really great that Aquinas offers so many scholarships, such an abundance of financial aid? In the end, does it help or hurt?