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11 months ago
Juniors
Discussion
12th-grade
2028CollegeAdmissions
FAFSA
highschoolsenior

Just found out I can't apply for FAFSA because of my immigration status

Not really a question, just need to rant. I'm so heartbroken I was relying on FAFSA for the majority of how my college would be paid just to find out asylees/refugees aren't eligible to do so. This is so frustrating, does anyone else know any other student aid or something like this? I'm already planning on applying to a ton of scholarships, especially now, but does anyone else have anything else I should know or might be helpful?

Thank you!

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11 months ago

Hey there!

So, I really didn't know much about this...but I REALLY wanted to help you, so I used ivy assistant:

"ivy: It's important for your friend to explore alternative financial aid options since they cannot apply for FAFSA due to their immigrant status. Many colleges and universities offer institutional aid, which can be merit-based or need-based.

Has your friend looked into the financial aid policies of the colleges they are interested in applying to?

me: no

ivy: That's a good starting point for your friend. Encourage them to research the financial aid policies of the colleges they're interested in. They should look for information about institutional aid, merit-based scholarships, and need-based grants that are available to international or immigrant students.

Additionally, they can search for external scholarships and grants that are specifically designed for immigrant or international students. There are numerous organizations that offer financial assistance to students with diverse backgrounds.

Would your friend like help finding some scholarships or resources tailored to their situation?

me: yes!

ivy: Great! Here are a few resources and scholarships that your friend can explore:

TheDream.US: A national scholarship fund for DREAMers, offering financial support for both two-year and four-year college programs. (thedream.us/)

Golden Door Scholars: This organization provides scholarships for DACA recipients and undocumented students. (goldendoorscholars.org/)

MALDEF Scholarship Resource Guide: The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund provides a list of scholarships, including many that don't require U.S. citizenship or residency. (maldef.org/resources/scholarship-resource-guide/)

Immigrants Rising: A resource hub that offers a list of undergraduate scholarships that don't require proof of citizenship or legal permanent residency. (immigrantsrising.org/resource/undergraduate-scholarships/)

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans: This competitive fellowship program awards merit-based graduate school scholarships to immigrants and children of immigrants. (pdsoros.org/)

Encourage your friend to visit these websites and look for additional resources. It's essential for them to research each scholarship's eligibility requirements and deadlines.

Would your friend be interested in getting advice on how to strengthen their scholarship applications?

me: can you list more?

ivy: Of course! Here are a few more scholarship opportunities and resources for immigrant students:

Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC): This organization offers a list of scholarships for undocumented students pursuing higher education. (immigrantsrising.org/resource/scholarship-fund/)

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund: This fund provides need-based grants to students actively working for peace and justice, regardless of their citizenship status. (davisputter.org/)

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation: The Foundation offers scholarships for high-achieving students with financial need, and some scholarships are available for students without U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. (jkcf.org/)

Esperanza Education Fund: This scholarship is for immigrant students or children of immigrants in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, regardless of their ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status. (esperanzafund.org/)

CUNY Becas Scholarship Program: This scholarship is for undocumented students attending the City University of New York (CUNY). (cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/eeo/diversity/cuny-becas/)

Please remind your friend to carefully review the eligibility criteria and deadlines for each scholarship. They should also consider reaching out to their school's guidance counselor or college advising office for further assistance in finding suitable scholarships."

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