While in university umpteen years ago, I knew a number of students who were on scholarship with the understanding that they would serve their countries in various capacities from military to medical. My own scholarships and grants all through Grad School carried a requirement to study certain subjects while overseas and interview with the funding engineering firm upon graduation; and a few of my colleagues went to work for them (which was fine, since they were male and returning to the Middle East). Some of the students I knew were to serve at least 2 years in the military as "pay back."
Who pays the bill is the benefactor hoping for a return on their investment. My university had some of the most illustrious persons in domestic and global affairs as guest professors, paid for by private industry and foundations. There are billions of dollars available to students willing and able to search out the possibilities, and, as a former investment banker, I used to invest some of those billions for foundations and universities. "Free tuition" is not a new concept; it's a matter of better money management and attracting more qualified students into high cost programs they would otherwise not be able to afford. It's not just professor's pay to be concerned about, or the cost of books - how about the mega-million-dollar medical facilities and equipment, research laboratories, etc.
Tuition won't be free for all, I'm sure the awarded students will have fulfilled some requirements and standards, maybe even equal opportunity requirements (the Univ. of TX is well-versed in that controversial student admissions program). If a promising and qualified student can enter med school on such a ticket, why not! I'd rather be treated by a doctor who actually had a commitment to that degree than someone who was going into medicine simply for the money (there are plenty of those).
Finally, when there are strings attached, the tuition really isn't so "free." Better to have the commitment to pay back and produce a better doctor, in my humble opinion.
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While in university umpteen years ago, I knew a number of students who were on scholarship with the understanding that they would serve their countries in various capacities from military to medical. My own scholarships and grants all through Grad School carried a requirement to study certain subjects while overseas and interview with the funding engineering firm upon graduation; and a few of my colleagues went to work for them (which was fine, since they were male and returning to the Middle East). Some of the students I knew were to serve at least 2 years in the military as "pay back."
Who pays the bill is the benefactor hoping for a return on their investment. My university had some of the most illustrious persons in domestic and global affairs as guest professors, paid for by private industry and foundations. There are billions of dollars available to students willing and able to search out the possibilities, and, as a former investment banker, I used to invest some of those billions for foundations and universities. "Free tuition" is not a new concept; it's a matter of better money management and attracting more qualified students into high cost programs they would otherwise not be able to afford. It's not just professor's pay to be concerned about, or the cost of books - how about the mega-million-dollar medical facilities and equipment, research laboratories, etc.
Tuition won't be free for all, I'm sure the awarded students will have fulfilled some requirements and standards, maybe even equal opportunity requirements (the Univ. of TX is well-versed in that controversial student admissions program). If a promising and qualified student can enter med school on such a ticket, why not! I'd rather be treated by a doctor who actually had a commitment to that degree than someone who was going into medicine simply for the money (there are plenty of those).
Finally, when there are strings attached, the tuition really isn't so "free." Better to have the commitment to pay back and produce a better doctor, in my humble opinion.
May 15, 2008 - 5:31pmThis Comment
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