Poverty and social background remain huge barriers in scientific careers
From the article:
&gt; Last year, Christina Quasney was close to giving up. A biochemistry major at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Quasney&#x27;s background was anything but privileged.<p>People with little family money get free grants and low-interest government backed loans to attend college.  She is attending a public university.  In NYC, there are many students that are attending City University of New York and I meet some.  They are studying biology, engineering, and other sciences.  They generally but not always live at home.<p>The annual tuition and fees are less than $7000 and for transportation, the MTA subway&#x2F;bus is $115 per month, unlimited rides.<p>Students like those mentioned in the article get Pell Grants and Stafford government backed low-interest loans.
Pell Grants are $5,800 per year.
Stafford Loans are 5,500 the first year, 6,500 the second year, and $7,500 for the remaining years.<p>In my particular case, I paid for 90% of tuition&#x2F;housing&#x2F;living expenses by programming computers beginning in high school.  I was not eligible for Pell Grants nor any form of loans including Stafford Loans.<p>So, I really don&#x27;t understand these arguments.  Public universities provide a first class low-cost undergraduate education and of course have PhD programs and so on.<p>Once one has an undergraduate degree with good grades, in the sciences and engineering, if they are admitted to a PhD program so they are fully funded for both tuition and housing.<p>CUNY Tuition and Fees:
<a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www2.cuny.edu&#x2F;financial-aid&#x2F;tuition-and-college-costs&#x2F;tuition-fees&#x2F;#1452179204200-d27abe14-99f4" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www2.cuny.edu&#x2F;financial-aid&#x2F;tuition-and-college-costs...</a><p>Pell Grants:
<a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;studentaid.ed.gov&#x2F;sa&#x2F;about&#x2F;announcements&#x2F;pell-2016-17" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;studentaid.ed.gov&#x2F;sa&#x2F;about&#x2F;announcements&#x2F;pell-2016-1...</a><p>Stafford Loans:
<a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.scholarships.com&#x2F;financial-aid&#x2F;student-loans&#x2F;stafford-loans&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.scholarships.com&#x2F;financial-aid&#x2F;student-loans&#x2F;sta...</a>