The State Budget Cuts
By Mayen Fan
Because of the economic crisis, throughout the country, there have been many budget cuts from the educational system to the health field. The budget cuts have been felt by people throughout the country, and specifically in the state of California. Most of the cuts in California have been made by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, who made the University of California systems agree to cut $637 million out of their budget, to make up for California’s $26 billion short fall. Because of these cuts student’s fees have been increased by 32%, which is a lot out of anyone who is planning to go to college, and already in college pockets. The budget cuts are huge, and as a senior who is planning to go to college and eventually end up in medical school, those plans of payment have been changed because of these budget cuts.
When I heard about the big budget cuts, it felt like I had lost all hope about being on a UC campus, riding my bike to go to classes, and having study groups in the library, or out on the grassy parts of the school. Hearing about how the state is out of money made me re-think about solely depending on financial-aid to help with my payments, but because of the budget cuts I have to rely on more ways of paying my way through college.
Before these budget cuts ever happened I was going to rely on finical-aid provided by the government to help me with the expenses that college comes with; dorms, books, and other expenses included. But now since the state is in debt, I really have to focus on trying to find a part-time job while being a full-time student at a UC, or CSU schools. I don’t want to focus on finding a job or internship, I would rather focus on studying and doing well in my classes so I don’t end up dropping out, and graduate late.
The budget cuts changed my plans for college by thinking about the cheapest alternative schools that I can think of. The State schools were my limit, I didn’t want to go any lower, but when I heard that private schools are technically affordable for low income families, I am now even thinking about private schools. Even though they are more expensive than the public universities, and community colleges; private schools will provide scholarships if I need it. I think private schools would be a better option for me instead of going to the public universities, because I will know that I will have scholarships provided, and I know I will definitely be able to meet with the professor, and have the chance to know him/her better as a person, not only as a professor. For now, I am going to hunt down as many scholarships as possible, while keeping up with my school work. I am also going to still apply for finical-aid, just to see if I may have loans to help me pay for the expenses to come. I am also applying to all three different types of universities/colleges out there; UCs, CSUs, and private schools. I have started to apply for CSUs already but I need to start for UCs also because they have timed sessions online, and I know it will take me a while just to fill it out, I need to organize my information soon, or now because the deadlines will come rushing at me before I know it.