Introduction
[1] This isn’t a “universal guide”. This is from my experiences in the college application process. That being said, there may be some bias. But honestly, I just don’t see much information about this large cohort of students online.
[2] Regardless, I hope there are some things that may have answered your questions if you’re DACA/Undocumented or have provided you with helpful information. I’ve done some research on colleges myself, so if you need help, feel free to message me.
[3] For all DACA and/or Undocumented individuals (regardless of how you got into the US), you will be considered an international with the exception of a few private universities (Brown, Pomona, and Northwestern come to mind). You’re pitted against extremely talented, probably 4.0/36 ACT/1600 SAT numbers individuals with international awards from all over the world, and remember, there are only a few spots for these individuals.
[4] Money is very important. This guide is mostly for lower-income students.
Being Cautious
[2] “At University X, we practice need-blind applications for all students (or for DACA/Undocumented students)”. This does not translate to you being considered a domestic as some may believe it does. It merely means that the amount of money you need will not (or won’t it?) be a factor in determining your decision.
[3] Being too poor is negative. I had an EFC of 0 (my family income was 0).As a non-US Citizen or Permanent Resident, you are not eligible for FAFSA. This means the less money you have, the more money the university will have to match through private funding/grants. This means for any college that isn’t need-blind, your lack of money will make you less favorable. This is due to the fact that there is limited funding (especially with the current administration) for international students. Just 5-10 years ago, the international scene was pretty big for many private universities.
Do Your Research
[1] When a school says they are “need-blind”, make sure that they are need-blind for all applicants and not just for domestic students. Examples from my experiences include UChicago and Case Western.
[2] Do not think that your DACA or Undocumented status is a “hook” (a trait or characteristic of an application that might give them an edge in admissions i.e Race, Athletic Recruitment, Legacy, Donor, and etc). It is not a hook. No matter what you see. I applied to 20 colleges and got rejected from even those my high school counselor advocated and was “certain” that I should’ve gotten into if it weren’t for my DACA and EFC 0 situation.
Message to Juniors and Rising Seniors
Like many of you probably are right now, I came in going confident. I had high marks, a rigorous curriculum, “excellent” EC (Medical publication, Lab research, volunteering, tutoring, leadership positions, and state and national awards for academics and music).
However, there is one very important thing to note. Colleges are not arbiters of education equality and social mobility; they (private) are a business at its core. Although this may just be from my and other similar shoed peoples’ experiences, when colleges say “Look at how much diversity we’ve added to the class of 2023!” it feels as if they’ve adopted a few poor folks or folks from diverse backgrounds just for their colorful pamphlets.
Insights
[1] Be realistic. After reading the above section, you might get the sense that I’m being too pessimistic, but I’ll tell you this: as much as I am trying to be straight-forward and not sugar coating anything, I want you to know that applying to college can be wild and unexpected, whether for the better or for the worse. After speaking to some low-income DACA/Undocumented applicants, many have had similar outcomes, some worse, and very few better. The reality is, you probably won’t get into a T10 university or even a T20 university, even the best of us don’t; especially if you’re poor and need a full ride. If you’re financially capable, this section changes dramatically! This is just the nature of the US Higher Education System - it doesn’t seem as meritocratic as it should be.
[2] Ask your high school counselor for a fee waiver and how much your school can help with transcripts and test scores. I was fortunate enough to have my school waive most of the fees. This will help tremendously and will allow you to cast a wider net. You should NOT be applying to only 4-5 schools unless your circumstances allow it (say applying to an auto-admit or state school). You will need to apply to a LOT more. I applied to 20 (actually, 22 including my state schools). This also doesn’t mean applying to 100+ colleges to be on the news for winning a couple of million dollars in scholarship money.
Applying to College
[1] If you have a very low income (or have no income like me), apply through Questbridge. I want to bang my head on the floor for not doing this because I was deadset on the University of Chicago through ED1 so I applied through the Common App. Questbridge will give you a FULL ride to any school that you get matched with. With this, you are able to essentially have MULTIPLE Early Action submissions (even to universities that are REA or even Restrictive ED).
Disclaimer: Only rising seniors/seniors may apply through Questbridge. If you already graduated or are taking a gap year like me, sorry.
[2] Work through this with your college counselor. Depending on where you live, telling your counselor that you’re undocumented or DACAmented may be an excellent idea - it was in my case. Do this early and get to know your counselor. They may write your circumstances and adversity on your behalf to the college.
Recap and What You’re (in)Eligible For
[1] The Student Aid Report. This is essentially the file that FAFSA uses to calculate your aid. Although you are not eligible for Federal Aid (FedAid, Pell Grants, and etc), you are eligible to fill our the SAR. This may come in handy.
[2] CSS. This is important as some college require you (Citizen/PR or not) to fill this out in order to receive university aid/grants. Remember: Some colleges like UChicago, Princeton, and UPenn have their own separate financial aid forms along with the CSS.
[3] FAFSA: Unfortunately, undocumented, DACAmented, and international students are barred from applying for FAFSA, and at many state schools (with the exception of the University of California system i.e Berkley, Los Angeles, and etc) you will not be given any aid (since public state schools only provide public aid and merit scholarships which are either: 1. competitive, or 2. not enough).
[4] Fee Waivers: You are eligible for fee waivers to apply through the Common App and etc. Ask your high school counselor regarding this.
[5] Questbridge: As described above, you are eligible for this program regardless of your citizenship. However, note that you must be a first-year applicant a senior who is applying for college the coming fall (as in direct-from-high school-to-college).
[6] In-State Tuition: Some states (i.e Illinois, California, Colorado, Connecticut, New York, Florida, Kansa, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island) allow DACA students, Undocumented Students, or both, to receive in-state tuition. Although the requirements may vary, generally they are 1. Graduate from x state high school and must have attended it for at least two years, 2. Obtain a GED from x state,
3. Fill out this affidavit stating that you are currently trying to get legal status in the US.