THIS IS WHY PEOPLE SAY COLLEGE IS A SCAM

When I first heard that colleges charge a fee for new student orientation, I couldn’t believe it. Orientation is supposed to help students transition smoothly, yet the $200 nonrefundable fee feels more like an unnecessary financial burden rather than a valuable service. This cost applies to both freshmen and transfer students, regardless of attending in-person or virtual sessions, which makes it even more frustrating. From my experience and conversations with peers, many of us felt pressured to pay these fees without much transparency about what exactly we were receiving in return. Some colleges justify the fee by citing the costs of organizing events, resources, and staff time, but it leaves students questioning whether orientation should be separately charged or included in tuition. This orientation fee is just one example in a long list of hidden and often unexpected expenses associated with higher education. Between tuition hikes, expensive textbooks, technology fees, and now orientation charges, it's easy to see why people are skeptical about the true value of college. Moreover, orientation traditionally should be seen as an essential part of academic and social integration; charging extra contributes to the perception that colleges prioritize profit over student support. This added cost can deter low-income students or create more financial strain, which contradicts the ideal of accessible education. Reflecting on this, I believe colleges need to be more transparent about all fees and consider absorbing costs like orientation into general tuition. Students deserve clearer communication about what fees cover and why they exist. Otherwise, the perception of college as a financial scam will continue to grow, especially when such fees are mandatory and nonrefundable, even if a student chooses not to or is unable to participate.