<p>Long story short, i have a friend who is an undocumented person.
he had like a 4.3 in high school 2000 sat did extra curriculars and all. he got accepted to the uc's and cal poly pomona and all for chem engineering. however because of the cost vs what his family can pay, he's going to a local csu.
he thought he would be able to transfer to cal poly pomona and do 2 years to graduate but because it's a polytechnic, it's impossible to graduate in 2 years after transferring (that's what the lady on the phone told him)</p>
<p>knowing how smart this guy is, i think it would be a shame if he had to change majors to something else because his school is starting it's engineering department so there's really nothing there.</p>
<p>so now he's looking at the ivies to see which offer the best aid.
which is why i'm posting here to find more information to help him.</p>
<p>i would like to know which private schools (not necessarily ivy) would offer a lot of aid to an undocumented student.</p>
<p>I know this is not a politically correct opinion, but maybe the “undocumented student” should return to their country of legal residence and attend college there. It irks me to hear an undocumented person is looking for aid, when the last post I read was a US citizen having difficulty getting enough aid to attend college in their own country…</p>
<p>We have a friend who is undocumented and got a scholarship and degree from Claremont McKenna and now she works waiting tables because she is still undocumented … Something to think about</p>
<p>that seems like a fine idea. the thing is that with a chemical engineering degree, he could easily find a job in canada or the uk or australia or some place like that. @keter, he would love to stay here (all his friends and family are here) but eventually if nothing happens, he’ll be forced to move somewhere else</p>
<p>so you mean the mckenna gives a full ride or enough money to substantially reduce the cost?</p>
<p>Do schools like the big 6 who are need blind and meets full need without the use of loans for all students including international students also meet full needs for undocumented students without the use of loans and are need blind in admissions to them?</p>
<p>@rajaeman
thanks so much, i’ll tell him to take a look at it. i took a quick look at their website and though they don’t have an engineering program, they have a 3-2 program with harvey mudd and columbia. not sure how that’s gonna work for him but at the moment, anything looks like heaven.
and yes, i’ve seen him. i know how disheartening it is. to see him work so hard and me chill and then for me to still have it easier than him</p>
<p>Several states offer in-state tuition rates at the flagship university for undocumented illegals. UMASS-amherst is one, plus it’s likely the parents are working under the table somewhere so have no reported income. Then the student can get plenty of need-based financial aid. Meanwhile the legal US kid can go to community college because his legal working parents have too much reported income for financial aid but not enough to pay their EFC.</p>
<p>Foo I agree with you. States that allow undocumented students in-state tuition are doing a disservice to legal residents. These kids will not be able to get jobs when they get out (other than waitressing, babysitting, etc). The states need to change their policies. When there are not enough seats for the legal kids, this is outragesous.</p>
<p>Thanks- that helps. How are they able to attend school in the district they are in? We have to provide our SSN for our children’s school district?</p>
<p>Mom2424, A Supreme Court decision requires that states provide 1-12 for illegals. If your state requires SSNs, imho, they are likely violating the law. The Federal Govt has a law that says no federal aid to colleges that give in-state tuition to illegals. Many states get around it by providing in-state to kids who graduated HS in that state. NY is now facing a lawsuit from a legal kid who grew up in NJ, but when to HS in NY and wants In-state tuition.</p>
<p>Colleges can give their private money to anyone, any way they feel like doing so. Your friend cannot get any money from FAFSA determined sources. S/he is, in most cases, an international student educated in the US. Never mind the undocumented part. Some states will allow in state tuition rates if the student can prove s/he was in state for at least a certain number of years.</p>
<p>actually, the UCs and any college in california will give in state tuition to illegal immigrants. the thing is, there really isn’t a point for your friend to go to college considering that he/she won’t be able to get a job after graduation. also, instead of using the money to go to college which will be useless, use it to start a business.</p>
<p>Your friend should consider himself fortunate that he has already received years of free education from the American taxpayers and will received reduced tuition at a CSU. He has known he was undocumented and should have started the process to become a legal resident, rather than wondering how he could continue to finagle more money from U. S. citizens.</p>
<p>TatinG, why do you assume that the poster’s friend has not started the process to become a legal resident?</p>
<p>Although I was born here, my parents are still undocumented. They have filed their immigration papers in the early 90s but because of retrogression and backlogs in their home country, it has taken decades to be processed. I know a lot of people who have been patiently waiting for years for their green cards to be processed. No one wants to be undocumented, trust me.</p>
<p>a lot of you are speculating so let me set a lot of misconceptions right.</p>
<p>people who are not legal residents or citizens cannot get any aid from the government. however, if a school has money that it wants to give out on the basis of academic/merit, it’s fair game for anyone including international students.
my friend’s parents pay taxes (that they never see a bit of) and so contribute to society. they cannot reclaim any of this money in social security or financial aid or any other such program.</p>
<p>you say there’s no point in going to school because you don’t see a way to become legal. that’s like saying that nothing should be tried if the odds are against you. 90% of all small businesses fail within the first year. would you rather no one tried to start any businesses?</p>
<p>and believe me, he would love to be a citizen but he cannot mow lawns and pick berries forever. with his degree, he could move anywhere: canada, uk, new zealand, etc, etc. and if the us still feels that he and his family is a burden, he could move and take his skills and income tax to wherever he moves</p>