I'll premise my response with the fact that I am an assistant researching physicist at a top California University laboratory.
Firstly, one of the physicists that works in my building, a Nobel Laurette, focuses in the highly competitive research field of solar power. He and his group have been struggling to hire undergraduates, graduates and post-docs due to lack of available grant money. These people are essential to the speedy development of new technologies. After the National Science Foundation received $3 billion from the stimulus, grants began to flow. After his group received a stimulus grant, he was "able to do two-three years of work in five months" as he put it. Now his polymer based solar panels are in production and already in use within the military. Expect to see houses and cars coated with his groups revolutionary work in the coming years. That two (possibly more) years saved is a crucial relief to the energy stress our country and the world faces.
Secondly,
I happened to start my college carrier at a community college. $2500 extra might not sound like a lot, but when you are a student taking anywhere from 14-20 units a semester (especially science units), your time is extremely limited. If I would have had that extra $2500, I would have been able to work less and I would not have needed to stay for an extra semester due to more available time to schedule classes. That, in turn, would have lead to even more money saved because I had to transfer right after my last semester (mid year), throwing off my schedule and essentially making me take one or two useless quarters at university, which as we know is much more expensive.
So, in conclusion:
I know this is the internet, but fuck, don't be ignant.
