FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 10, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 39
oped letters & comments
Is college aff ordable?
BY ROBERT A. SCOTT
Th e news about college costs, the availability of student
loans, employee layoff s, declining home equity and housing
prices, and a looming recession paint a bleak picture for
those whose children, or whose own aspirations, seek a college
education in the near term.
As bleak as this picture may seem, I urge you to ask questions
before you arrive at a conclusion which may be incorrect.
I worry that families will decide, before asking advice, that
college is not aff ordable, and will choose an alternative that
does not help either their child or themselves reach maximum
potential. Such choices include not going to college or
making a choice based on price rather than on merit.
Is college aff ordable? Th e answer is yes! Consider the ways.
Ask about the “net” price. Th e higher priced institution in
your set of choices may charge higher tuition but off er more
fi nancial aid. Th e college which seems to charge less may
off er less fi nancial aid. It is essential to examine both the
“sticker price” and the “net price” before deciding.
Consider what benefi ts your child or you will receive for
the tuition and fees paid. What level of quality of educational
experience do you want? Colleges vary greatly in terms of
the breadth and depth of their course and campus off erings,
the level of preparation for graduate school, the networks of
alumni available for jobs and careers, and the opportunities
for students to grow as individuals and citizens as well as in
specialized subjects. Th ink of tuition as an investment with
great potential for positive returns.
If the tuition still seems out of reach, ask the fi nancial aid
offi cer for help. Th ese staff s are expert in assisting families,
and know about grants, loans, and campus jobs beyond
those available through state and federal programs.
Look into 529 College Savings Plans. Ask your employer if
there are any college aid programs for dependents.
Ask about the college’s loan default rate. A low rate means
that loans will still be available through the college.
Ask if any of the courses taken while in high school can
count toward college requirements, and help reduce the
number of courses required for graduation. Some students
save a semester or a year this way. In addition, if you plan
to pursue an advanced degree such as a masters program
required for teaching or an M.B.A., look for fi ve-year programs
that can save you a year of graduate level tuition.
Ask about fi nancial assistance available in winter or summer
sessions, or for study abroad, and other opportunities
for students to supplement and accelerate their degree credit
work.
Ask about “room” scholarships. Colleges which have
opened new dormitories and have less demand than expected
may be willing to off er the rooms at reduced rates or for
free. Consider having your child live at home for two of
the four years, and then live on campus for the full collegiate
experience.
Ask if the college will review the fi nancial aid package at
a future date if family circumstances change for the worse.
Ask about likely tuition increases in the future and the availability
of aid to help families meet those increases.
Ask about the types of scholarships and fi nancial aid available,
including those designed to help families with lower
incomes, those designed to recruit students of particular
talents, those off ered as a reward for academic merit, those
awarded for extraordinary community service, and other
assistance, including institutional, state, and federal programs.
Review jobs available at colleges and universities. Many
colleges off er generous tuition packages for employees and
always look for the best and brightest to work on campus.
Th is is a particularly good choice for recent college graduates
who are considering graduate school.
Is college aff ordable? Yes, and we want to continue to
make it so. College is too important for the future of the
country for us to reduce opportunities. So my advice is, ask.
Robert A. Scott is the president of Adelphi University
OCTOBER IS BREAST
CANCER AWARENESS
MONTH
October is Breast Cancer
Awareness Month and it is a
reminder for all of us to do something.
Th roughout the month of
October, women are encouraged
to make mammography appointments.
Also, remember that in rare cases
men can also come down with
breast cancer. Some may wonder
why a man is writing a letter about
breast cancer which is more common
in women, but it aff ects us all
— the ones we love, including our
mothers, sisters, aunts, wives, or
life companions may be aff ected by
this insidious disease.
We are their caregivers and try to
care for the ones we love.
Eva, my wife of 32 years, goes
oft en for the test and it scares her
because breast cancer runs in her
family and she has had friends who
have had this disease — some of
whom have passed away because
of it. Yet each time she goes for the
test, I’m afraid to hear the worst
and maybe lose the most important
person in my life.
But we must remember that early
detection is extremely important. I
know that for a fact because I had
come down with prostate cancer,
but due to early detection and an
aggressive surgery, I am in remission
four years later.
Now, with new treatment
options, mammography screenings
do improve a woman’s chance of
survival. Many years ago I had an
aunt who had breast cancer in the
1960’s and had passed away at age
62. But more can be done today
and the cure rate is much better
today.
We all need to get involved and
do what we can to fi ght this insidious
disease, like donating to the
American Cancer Society, which
helps women cope with this disease.
A lot of organizations are out
there that can also help and there
are also various runs, walks and
other fundraisers that help. So
please volunteer and help end this
disease that has aff ected so many
women and their families.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.,
Glen Oaks Village
METS’ LOSS IS NEWS
LISTENERS’ GAIN
Th e Mets fi red manager Mickey
Callaway aft er two seasons because
his team failed to win a wild card
spot in the playoff s.
As a Mets fan since 1964, I was
thrilled when they won the 1969
& 1986 World Series. I’m delighted
that rookie Pete Alonso set a new
MLB home run record this season.
But I’m glad that the Mets didn’t
make it to 2019’s postseason
because my favorite radio station,
WCBS-AM, can now return to its
regular all-news format.
Under new ownership by
Entercom, 880 this year began airing
play-play broadcasts of all Mets
games, including spring training
contests. Th is annoyed many listeners
like me, who want the latest
news when we tune in.
Why air games on radio when
Mets fans can see them on TV,
computers or phones. Radio playby
play broadcasts are as outdated
as rotary dial phones and black
& white TV.
Richard Reif, Kew Gardens Hills
QUESTIONS SURROUND
BELMONT’S NEW
LIRR STATION
On Sept. 25, funding to pay for
the new $105 million Long Island
Rail Road Elmont Station for the
Islanders Belmont Park Arena was
offi cially amended into the existing
Metropolitan Transportation
Authority’s ongoing $33 billion
2015 - 2019 Five Year Capital Plan.
Th e source of funding comes
from the Empire State Development
Corporation transferring $105 million
from their budget to the MTA,
which will pay for the new Elmont
LIRR Station.
Board members rubber stamped
this action by voting in favor with
no discussion. Th ey were unaware
and couldn’t care about two ongoing
lawsuits against the Islanders
Belmont Arena
It is interesting that Gov. Andrew
Cuomo has manipulated the MTA
funding process using one state
agency budget to help another fund
a project — he is robbing Peter to
pay Paul.
At the end of the day, it is all the
taxpayers’ money. Th e developers
are putting in $30 million up
front and the state $75 million.
Th e developers will then make payments,
without interest, to reimburse
the state over the next 30
years. Th e developer ends up with
an interest free loan.
Could a small business person
get the same sweetheart deal? Th ey
would have to go to a bank and pay
interest charges for a similar loan.
Th e next step would be for the
Albany based MTA four person
MTA Capital Program Review
Board to also adopt this amendment.
Completion of these actions
will legally allow the LIRR to proceed
with construction of the new
Elmont LIRR Station now rather
than wait for the adoption of
the new $51 billion 2020 - 2024
Five Year Capital Plan by end of
December.
With 25 months left before the
scheduled opening of the new
arena, it will remain a challenge for
the LIRR to complete various capital
improvements — including the
eastbound platform (serving the
Hempstead branch) for the new
Elmont Station — in time to coincide
with the promised fall 2021
opening.
It will also be interesting if we
can learn about the internal LIRR
schedule on behalf of the ESDC
for advancement of design and
engineering, procurement process,
award of construction contract,
followed by a notice to proceed
and a detailed project construction
schedule with interim progress
milestones to validate the promised
completion of the new Elmont
Station and other related transportation
improvements.
Larry Penner, Great Neck
MYRTLE/WYCKOFF STATION PLATFORM VIEWS // PHOTO SUBMITTED BY MARYPARENT90
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