Test prep agencies charge biased rates

During a time when acceptance rates for prestigious colleges such as Stanford have fallen to as low as five percent, students across the nation are looking for ways to boost their chances of getting into their dream schools. An important factor that universities consider in a college application is high standardized test scores. To prepare for these tests, many students enroll in test prep classes. However, a study by the non-profit organization ProPublica, which investigates matters of public interest, found that prices offered from companies like Princeton Review differ among zip codes. According to The Atlantic, citizens living in areas with high Asian populations were being charged almost twice as much as areas with a lesser concentration of Asian people, regardless of the mean household income. It does not seem fair that some people should have to pay more than others, let alone twice as much, for the exact same product or service.
Most Asian-Americans come from families that strongly emphasize education. In some Asian countries, students not only attend their primary school, but also attend either early-morning or late-night cram schools, where they supplement their course load.
“[College-prep courses] help students who have potential to achieve academic success,” senior Colin Xiang said. “I think SAT and essay tutoring have brought out the best in me.”
Due to cultural beliefs, Asians value tutoring services greater than other races. Parents of Asian students at Peninsula echo their cultural sentiments.
“Asian parents believe [in] and value education and are willing to pay for the costs to get the education for their children,” former Peninsula mother Cindy Seo said.
Despite this, tutoring services should not charge more in predominantly Asian areas than in other communities. According to one company, residents of Westminster, California, where Asians make up half of the population and the median income is $52,633, have to pay $7,200 for a premier test prep course. In Rancho Santa Fe, California, where 90 percent of the population is white and the median income is $172,697, the cost for the same course is $6,600. It seems discriminatory for tutoring companies to charge people in areas with a lower median income a higher price for the same course.
Whatever the economic rationale for charging more in some communities, the practice should be avoided if it creates real or perceived discrimination.
“Culturally, [Asians] are willing to spend more than most other groups on education because it is still valued very highly as a means to success,” Sang Kim, father of sophomore Nathan Kim said.
Customers should not spend more for the same services, no matter the circumstances.