Ash

Want to attend college for free? It can happen if you learn German.

All German universities are now free to Americans and all other international students. The last German state to charge tuition at its universities struck down the fees this week.

Even before Germany abolished college tuition for all students, the price was a steal. Typically semester fees were around $630. What’s more, German students receive many perks including discounts for food, clothing and events, as well as inexpensive or even free transportation.

In explaining why Germany made this move, Dorothee Stapelfeldt, a Hamburg senator, called tuition fees “unjust” and added that “they discourage young people who do not have a traditional academic family background from taking up study. It is a core task of politics to ensure that young women and men can study with a high quality standard free of charge in Germany.”

Actually, German universities were free up until 2006 when they started charging tuition. That triggered such a crush of criticism that German states began phasing out this policy. Lower Saxony was the last holdout.

It’s too bad that politicians in the U.S. don’t feel that a college education is worth supporting appropriately. State aid to the nation’s public universities took a nosedive during the 2008 recession and education funding remains well below those levels. The average state is spending 23 percent less per student than before the recession, according to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Actually, state support has been declining for public universities for a quarter of a century. Using an interactive tool from The Chronicle of Higher Education, you can see how state government subsidies have cratered at individual institutions.

With the average undergrad borrower now leaving school with more than $29,000 in debt, the free ride in Germany can look awfully tempting.

How to handle the language barrier

German is not an easy language to learn. Fortunately, however, there are international language programs in Germany, which have become very popular with international students before they tackle obtaining a degree in a different language.

What’s more, an increasing number of German universities are offering degrees in English. These are often called international studies programs or in some other way have the word international in their title.

I swear on everything that this isn’t just some stupid contest to gain followers. I’ve been wanting a new camera for ages so now I have two. I was thinking about returning/selling my old one, but I wouldn’t be getting the same amount or more than what it was originally priced. I’ve already talked to my mum about me giving it away, and she doesn’t mind. Anyway, who doesn’t like free stuff?

Here’s how this will work:

You do not have to follow me. I don’t want any followers that don’t actually like my blog. I do ask of you to kindly check out my blog though. If you like it cool, if not, then your loss.

Likes do not count for anything, only reblogs will count. You can reblog this as many times as you’d like.

Do not create any extra blogs or whatever, I will be looking on your archives.

Winner will be chosen like as if it were a raffle drawing.

Winner will be contacted via ask, so make sure that you have that on/open.

This will be over on August 21st 2014, and the winner will be announced on the 22nd.

I am doing this basically to make someone else happy and also because I accidentally deleted the other contest I was doing. Please don’t participate if you already own a Canon, but you can if you’d like I guess. I really don’t care if you live in Hogwarts, anyone is allowed to enter.

Here’s what the winner will get:

Canon EOS 1100D

Camera Cover R-F-3

Battery Charger LC-E10E

EUR AC Cable 1m

Battery pack LP-E10

Battery cover

Interface cable IFC-130U

All the disks needed.

The camera is basically brand new.

If you think this is “stupid” of me to do or anything of that sort, than just ignore it. It’s that simple.

Q. “Why would you just giveaway an expensive camera to a stranger?”

A. TO MAKE THEM HAPPY!

Q. “How do we know you aren’t bullshitting us?”

A. To make a fake contest just for followers is stupid, plus, I have a picture of me holding both the cameras :)