Should the government ban application fees?

Question

Here's a question: should the government outright ban college application fees? Yes, if you're poor enough, you can receive a fee waiver. Yes, if you're rich, you can pay for them. But if you're middle class like I am, you've got to pay application fees left and right, and usually without the ability to do so! I ended up not even being able to apply to 3 colleges that I wanted to because I simply couldn't afford it. Should the government step in on this one? What are the advantages of application fees?

Answer 1

No, because then the cost is just pushed onto tuition.  

Why should students who get accepted carry the financial burden of those who got denied?

Answer 2

I am an advocate for potential college students and have never had a college say no when requesting an admission fee waiver for a potential student.  (I learned from the best and apparently have the "tone and attitude" to be trusted.)

If you truly want to apply and don't have the money, ask your school counselor to write a letter for your requesting the fee be waived on your schools letterhead.  The worst thing that will happen is they will tell you no.  

PS : Don't do this if you or your folks are paying for a cell phone, cable, internet, or they are making payments on a car for you.  (These are lifestyle choices you will likely be faced with them while you are in college as well).  Do this if they have high medical bills, putting other kids through college, or dad got laid off bc the job was outsourced to Mexico.

Answer 3

No. The application fees help you truly decide on where to go. When you have to pay $50 for every school you're not going to be wasting people's times and making joke applications.