<p>Hi, so im an illegal alien in the u.s.
however i did not commit any crime except for being illegal...
My parents brought me to america saying that we are on a "trip" however, i realized that we never left... i was 5 back then... and im 16 now..
now that i have to get ready to apply for college, i dont know what to do...
do i have to apply as an international student? or what?
and can i get financial aid from colleges?
i have good grades, i got straight A's for junior year and i have 2000+ sat score...
i was wondering what i would have to do to apply to these colleges and if i will get any money? if its a private university, would i get financial aids?
my college list is: boston college, cal state fullerton, carengie mellon, claremont mckenna, emory, georgetown, pepperdine, sandiegostate, ucirvine, university of notredame, upenn, university of san diego, USC, and washington university in st. louis...
i currently live in California...
please help me... :(</p>
<p>You can not me a college list the same way Americans can. Yes, you are an international, and that makes aid tough to find. You need to carefully formulate a list of colleges that are known to be generous to intnls.</p>
<p>The good news is that CA public colleges will treat you as an in state applicant if you’ve gone to high school for 3 years there. So you’d pay the in state price. However, they won’t give you aid.</p>
<p>In general, to get aid as an intnl, you need to apply to schools where your stats are very high for their admits. We’d need to know your GPA, SAT score with breakdown, what kind of courses you took and ECs to give any advice. Also, how much can your family pay?</p>
<p>You won’t qualify for any federal aid. You can’t use FAFSA in the same way that legal residents can. </p>
<p>You need to be very careful with your apps. The privates that give full aid to int’ls are the hardest to get into. Some/all of them won’t care that you’re illegal. The state schools outside of Calif will care that you’re illegal. </p>
<p>Aid will be very hard to get if you need a good amount. </p>
<p>Can you attend college in your home country?</p>
<p>The richer schools are more generous with financial aid for students in your situation. </p>
<p>The list on this site describes need-blind admissions and schools that are need blind to varying degrees
[Need-blind</a> admission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission]Need-blind”>Need-blind admission - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>I should point out that schools that are need-blind for US Applicants, are generally quite wealthy and often do provide financial aid to internationals. They just can’t guarantee it. </p>
<p>You may find this site very helpful. </p>
<p>[DREAM</a> Act Portal Forum - Powered by vBulletin](<a href=“http://dreamact.info/forum/]DREAM”>DREAM Act Portal Forum - Powered by vBulletin)</p>
<p>It describes different techniques people have tried to legalize themselves in some manner. These techniques range from marriage, to studying something in high demand like engineering and emigrating to Canada or Australia, which are countries that actively seek out skilled professionals. Once naturalized in one of those countries, it’s much easier to eventually come back if you want to. </p>
<p>It’s also possible to find good schools that are not that expensive. How much can your family afford to pay straight up with no aid? </p>
<p>There are also some scholarships for students available in your situation that you can also find on that site. </p>
<p>From what country did you overstay your visa?</p>
<p>Hey,</p>
<p>I was in the same situation as you are in a year ago, although I prefer to use the term undocumented.
And you did not commit a crime of being illegal. I came on a trip, too, and learned we had overstayed our tourist visa 11 years laterwhen I was a junior in high school. I am now a rising Sophomore in college. </p>
<p>I applied as an international student but left out that I needed an international student visa because you do not need that, as you are in the U.S already. You will have to apply to private schools as an international studenthowever, contact the colleges and ask about their policies on undocumented students. Whatever their reply, dont let it hold you back from applying. Private colleges are more generous in terms of financial aid, and they are also harder to be admitted to as an international student. However, receiving financial aid is not a guarantee. </p>
<p>I believe California recently passed their own version of the DREAM Act- which, according to Wikipedia (dig deeper into this), allow children who were brought into the US under the age of 16 without proper visas/immigration documentation who have attended school on a regular basis and otherwise meet in-state tuition and GPA requirements to apply for student financial aid benefits</p>
<p>So Id say you have a greater chance at California schools. Try some more UCs and Cali State schools.
Also, apply for some scholarships ([DreamActivist</a> | Scholarships for Undocumented Students](<a href=“http://www.dreamactivist.org/faq/education/scholarships/]DreamActivist”>http://www.dreamactivist.org/faq/education/scholarships/))</p>
<p>Continue doing well in school and pick up some ecs if you havent already. </p>
<p>If you need any more advice or even motivation on applying to college as an undocumented student, dont hesitate to talk to me. </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Goodboy7:</p>
<p>There is a new resource on CollegeBoard that can give you a lot of information. <a href=“http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/diversity/Repository-Resources-Undocumented-Students_2012.pdf[/url]”>http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/diversity/Repository-Resources-Undocumented-Students_2012.pdf</a></p>
<p>Second California now has a Dream Act that can help you. I am not very familiar with this legislation but the way I understand it California has AB540 which was earlier legislation. Based on certain criteria it allowed undocumented students in California to be considered in-state residents for tuition purposes thereby paying the cheaper rate at UC’s and Cal-States. California Dream Act of 2011 is AB130 and AB131-here is a link with more information. [California</a> Dream Act 2011](<a href=“http://www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp]California”>undocumented-dreamer-students - California Student Aid Commission) This legislation now gives undocumented students living in California and having attended California high schools for 3 years the ability to be awarded financial aid including grants and tuition waivers. This legislation gives students greater access to an education in California. Be sure to look at the FAQ and the instructions for completing an application.</p>
<p>I stress it is really important you get assistance in filling out your paperwork since there are certain steps you must follow. The College Board document lists organizations who can help you. </p>
<p>Here are also some websites directed at Hispanic Students that may have more helpful information. </p>
<p>Center For Student Opportunity: [Center</a> for Student Opportunity](<a href=“http://www.csopportunity.org/]Center”>http://www.csopportunity.org/) I would contact them and really review this website for information.</p>
<p>Getmetocollege.org is another helpful organization. </p>
<p>Follow the advice of kerriray. Know that you are not alone. 60K undocumented high school students graduate every year from high school and many go to college. It takes a bit more effort and you must be active in the process but it can be accomplished. Good luck.</p>
<p>Hi i have a question, if im an ab540 student and my parents make very little money a year(14k for 5 people), will i be able to get my tuition and living expenses paid for with cal grants?</p>
<p>UC Berkeley has a special fund for about 200 undocumented immigrants each year.</p>
<p>If you’re very low income and have a stellar record, you can apply to Questbridge. There’s a special program for undocumented children of immigrants. The schools that work with them offer financial aid to undocumented students.</p>
<p>I think that Cal Grant A provides for tuition only. </p>
<p>Can ab540 students get Cal Grants? I know that you get instate rates, but do you get Cal Grants? </p>
<p>If you do qualify for Cal Grants, you’ll need another source for room and board. You may need to apply to UCs that you can commute to.</p>
<p>There’s a school somewhere for you. But more importantly, you should be researching how to acquire the proper docs.</p>