(I’m not sure if this is the right place to put this question)
This might get depressing but I really don’t know what to do or who to turn to for help.
Apparently my parent’s business has taken a turn for the worst, and my parents just informed me that they don’t think they can afford to send me to community college… As stupid as it may sound, what am I suppose to do now?
Ever since I was a freshmen, going to college with my goal so that I can achieve my dream profession. But now that this option is out I don’t know what to do anymore.
I can’t even work to pay for my education since I’m an international student (I don’t know when my green card is coming out) and I don’t think my parents can pay to send me go back to my “original” country (Which I haven’t been to for nearly 10 years and I can barely speak the language… We also barely have any relatives over there)
What am I suppose to do now? I feel so depressed… I can’t work and I can’t even study… What the heck am I suppose to do?
A lot will depend on what state you are in and if that state has programs for undocumented students. There might not be anything you can do until you get a green card to work.
I have a legal visa, but I have yet to receive my permanent residency…
Then you can do what your visa allows. If it allows you to go to school you can, but you need to pay for it. If you live in a state that assists undocumentedor foreign students, great. If not, you can’t afford it.
@twoinanddone, OP is not undocumented.
OP, some states will give you instate status if you’ve graduated from a state high school and lived there for a certain period of time. Depending on your visa, you may qualify for financial aid which, with a part-time job, may make community college affordable.
Talk to your high school counselor right away, and/or contact your nearest community college to see what your status is and your educational options. Don’t despair - it might work out. Good luck!
Thank you so much for your response.
I apologize for not mentioning this, but I was already informed that I am to receive instate tuition, but my family is still unable to afford any of it… My parent’s business has gone completely downhill, and my parents are barely making any income… I don’t know what to do anymore… I can’t help but feel scared and upset at this turn of events…
There is also the option to start part-time at a community college and just take one class/3 to 4 credit hours. Depending on your state, you might be able to make those $200 - $300 by informal babysitting or yard work during the summer.
Did you take AP classes?
And you could always self-study your favorite HS subject areas in the community college library and then do a CLEP exam.
Have your parents already applied for your permanent residency?
Other than that, follow @katliamom 's advice and talk to your guidance counselor.
If you’re instate – great! That’s the first step in making your college dreams a reality.
Now make an appointment with your school counselor . He/she may advise you on available financial aid and/or grants at your nearby community college or state college. He/she may also help you/your parents with the paperwork.
Just don’t give up. There are resources for those in need, and you may qualify for more aid than you suspect.
I said if undocumented OR international. His problem is he can’t work and he cant get federal financial aid, bUT might be eligible for state aid… I would not recommendworking under the table as that might compromise his green card.
It may be a situation where the eis nothing to do but wait.
If there is a chance you would be interested in the military they will pay for your education and they fast track soldier’s applications for citizenship and waive the fees. Look into it. If you speak and write your native language somewhat that might be an asset to the military. There are a ton of question-answer forums about various branches of the military if you google.
Do you live in the US? If so, did you attend high school in the US? If so, do you live in a state where int’ls can pay instate rates if they went to high school in that state?
The good news is that you are documented, and are in the US legally. You don’t have to pack up and leave. It is important that you remember that you are not obligated to begin college this fall. Plan now for a gap year. During that time, find out more about ways to pay for your education both here and in your home country.
If your grades are good, re-take the SAT and/or ACT and pull your scores up into the range that will get you money at the places on these lists that award scholarships to international students:
http://competitivefulltuition.yolasite.com/
http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/
Find out if there are any merit scholarships that you are eligible for at your in-state community colleges and public universities.
If your grades aren’t good enough to make any merit aid possible, then do whatever it takes to help your parents get their business back up to a functional state. When it is functioning and there is money to pay for college, you can study at an affordable in-state community college or 4-year institution. How can you help your parents do this? Maybe you can run the house for them so that they can concentrate on their business. Maybe there are some tasks directly related to their business that you can take on. Talk with your parents and find out how you can best help them.
If your green card is in process, hang tight until you get it. That will make it possible for you to apply for federally determined need-based aid. If no green card is in the offing because of the type of visa your family has, then your situation is much more difficult, and you should contact your own consulate and start thinking about your eventual return to your home country.
This is the program that @OspreyCV22 is thinking about: http://www.defense.gov/news/mavni-fact-sheet.pdf If you have specific language skills, military service could be an option for you. However that document does not give a clear indication of the level of language skills that would be needed. You would need to get more information about that.
^^^ I researched enlistment a couple of months ago for an English only speaking immigrant we know. He has a green card in limbo. I suspect his parents don’t have money for the fees. Meanwhile he is graduating with no plan. He can still get citizenship fees waived and expedited if he enlists. You do not need any specific foreign language skills to be considered for enlistment. I was merely suggesting it could be an advantage if he did.
I once knew someone who dropped out of college due to lack of funds, enlisted and was sent to language school by the Army. She completed college in the military and went to law school afterward.
I know here in california there’s the dream act which provides funds to undocumented students if you graduated HS in CA with gpa verification. don’t know about other req. believe texas and new mexico have a similar fund. there’s nothing bad about taking a gap year. meanwhile you should focus getting your U.S. permanent resident card. fasfa requires one "with a Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C (Permanent Resident Card, Resident Alien Card, or Alien Registration Receipt Card), also known as a “green card.” to receive aid. assuming you going graduate HS and turn 18, you should get it done rather than depending on your parents. with that, and with low income you’ll be eligible to free community college by BOG waiver if you live in CA. again you have to research your state since no one knows or haven’t mentioned what state you’re in.
Is your green card in process? If so, the best thing that you can do is self-study for CLEP and AP exams while you wait for your green card. The exams are not that expensive and you can start earning college credit. Take CC courses when you can afford them. The internet has many learning opportunities. Learn to program.
Until you have a means of earning money, I don’t think there is much you can legally do but study and dream.
What are your test scores and GPA? Have you taken any AP?
If you have a good GPA and good test scores, take a gap year and apply to colleges that will give you a full ride.
DO NOT take any community college class after your graduate since it’d make you ineligible
What state do you live in? (because laws are different depending on states and solution are different depending on where you live).
Can a lawyer confirm your visa prevents from working or are you allowed to have a part-time job?
What about volunteering - have you checked CityYear (which, added bonus, will provide you with a scholarship for college).
How far along is your green card?
@onechilldude
I live in New Jersey, and they do have a special program called the STARS Program (For students who have a good GPA and are financially unstable). I am eligible for it but due to the fact that I am not a U.S Citizen or Permanent resident, I can not be let into the program… 
@happymomof1 @MYOS1634 @onechilldude
Is it okay to take a gap year as an international student (I don’t know when my green card will come out)?
I know that a lot of people who take a GAP year do so to work and save up, but unfortunately I can’t do the same thing as them and work to save up for college.
Due to my visa, I can’t go anywhere to volunteer or intern during my gap year as well because of how I can’t get a drivers license (My town is very small, so there is only has one main area to volunteer and its a senior center so I go outside town to volunteer). My parents are too busy nowadays (due to how badly their business is going) to drive me to my volunteer areas so my friends have been driving me there (I don’t know anyone else that can drive me once they leave for college…)
I know that I can raise my ACT score over the gap year (Because I know my GPA is pretty good enough), but I don’t know what else to do…
(Sorry if it seems like I’m shutting down your suggestion … this is really not my intention… I’m just confused as to what I should do… Everything just seems so hopeless for me and it feels as if I’m being blocked at every turn…)
There doesn’t seem much you can do except wait. If you have been accepted to some schools, you can ask them for a deferral of your start date until you get the green card.
I am in NJ also. NJ Stars program is
“Students must be legal New Jersey residents at the time of high school graduation and upon county
college enrollment. A dependent student’s residency is presumed to be that of his or her parent(s).
Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and legal New Jersey residents for a minimum of
twelve consecutive months prior to high school graduation.”
Are you an eligible non-citizen? You need to contact your guidance counselor and get her help. If you are in the top 15% of your class (at the end of either your jr or senior years) you are in the running, assuming you meet the eligible non-citizen criteria (NJ Stars is not income based at all)
I would also explore mass transit in your area. I am in a rural area of NJ and we still have buses 
Best of luck!
I also found this “NJ Dream Act”
“The law will allow undocumented immigrants to be eligible for in-state tuition after they attend school for at least three years in the state’s high schools and then graduate.”
Have you been here three years?