Out of many, One

Video showcasing the PRSSA and its members across the nation.

PRSSA
www.StatehoodPR.org

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• prssa
• puerto
• rico
• statehood
• students
• association
• usa
• out
• of
• many
• one
• united
• states
• universities
• estadidad

[Betokid]

Finally, a slight drop in the % of people who can go to college in the US seems like a small price to pay for INDEPENDENCE. I will never understand how Americans (and PRican statehooders), who revere the document, the holiday and the heroes associated with that word could have such little respect or desire for it when it comes to Puerto Rico. They will praise freedom as the greatest of values when they're standing in New York and deride it as a stupid dream when they're standing in San Juan.

[Betokid]

Also, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if a few less Puerto Rican students could go to college in the U.S. Many times, students would be better served getting an education at the UPR rather than spending tens of thousands for an education of similar quality at some American university. They do it because they (likemany Puerto Ricans) have been raised to believe that anything American, including a diploma, is inherently superior to something Puerto Rican. It's not true.

[Betokid]

As for visa issues, I think you exaggerate the problem. 10% of my university's undergraduate population was internatinal students -- many of them from Latin America. Yes, some people have trouble getting a visa, but that is largely a problem for people from countries with whom the U.S. has less than amiable political relations. That would not be the case with an independent Puerto Rico that would nevertheless maintain strong ties with the U.S.

[Betokid]

I can't deny that there's some truth to that. The ability to become state residents does offer an economic advantage (one that I didn't enjoy, myself), but I believe that financial aid would, at least somewhat, be able to compensate for the increased cost of having to pay out-of-state tuition. Many universities offer very generous merit-based or need-based financial aid packages which, for the most part, ensure that deserving students who could not otherwise afford to attend a school can do so.

[prstate]

And, just to clarify. By saying "the majority of the Puerto Rican student population won't be able to study in the U.S.", I imply that the majority of those students that want to study in the U.S. will simply not be able to. (Below are some of the reasons why.)

[prstate]

Again, in summary, the majority of the Puerto Rican student population won't be able to educate themselves in the U.S.

This is a paradox. You studied in the U.S. but do not want others to have the same privilege.

[prstate]

More importantly, the biggest reason why your fellow Puerto Ricans won't be able to study at a college/university in the US if Puerto Rico becomes independent will be its HIGH cost. As U.S. Citizens we DO have the privilege of becoming residents of the state in which our college/university is located and pay resident tuition (which most of the time is less than half of the out-of-state tuition).

[prstate]

So, if you spent four years of your life studying at a college/university in the United States I must suspect that you liked it. Do you know that if Puerto Rico is independent most Puerto Ricans will lose the privilege of educating themselves in the US? Do you know the struggles that our Latin American neighbors must go trough to get a student visa/permit to study in the US?

[Betokid]

The first sentence should read "I did attend", not "I did attended".

Though I should correct that little mistake.

[Betokid]

You're wrong. I have lived most of my life in Puerto Rico. I did attended college in the United States and, therefore, "lived" there for the better part of four years. But I was born, raised, and, since I finished school, currently reside in Puerto Rico