Letter: We need to make college affordable

Robert Wagner

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007 | 7:08 a.m.

The annual cost of $30,000 to $40,000 for tuition and living expenses at prestigious universities denies numerous qualified students the opportunity to attend. At age 17, in 1940, I was on active duty in the Army as a high school dropout. In the service, it was my good fortune to receive a GED certificate. Upon my discharge in 1945, I applied to Georgetown University for admission as a freshman.

The registrar stated, "Mr. Wagner, you are not qualified for admission. However, I'll permit you to attend for one year as a probationary student, and if you receive passing grades you will be considered a full registered student." In May 1948 I received a bachelor's degree in foreign service from Georgetown. Thanks to the U.S. taxpayers, the GI Bill paid for my tuition.

Many American colleges and universities are not affordable for freshman students, so they enroll in community colleges.

Most European countries do not charge tuition for higher education; admission is free. Education is the key to knowledge and opens the door to happiness and success. Why don't the elite schools set aside seats and give potential students the same opportunity that Georgetown gave me? Those with military service, Peace Corps volunteers and inner-city volunteers should be given the opportunity to be educated.

Robert Wagner, Las Vegas