1. College Overview for Undocumented Students Bridgid Titley Future School Counselor Spring 2013

2. Message from Your School Counselor Legally, school personnel are not allowed to ask about the immigration status of students or parents. If you choose to tell me about your status, that information is CONFIDENTIAL. I will not share it with anyone, unless I have your permission. I will act as your ALLY during the college admissions process by assisting with research and identifying additional resources to help you.

3. College Admissions As an undocumented immigrant you CAN attend college and receive financial assistance, although barriers do exist Approximately 65,000 undocumented immigrants graduate from high school each year; only between 5 and 10 percent go on to college No federal or state law prohibits accepting undocumented students to U.S. colleges or requires proof of citizenship to enter a U.S. college, public or private Each institution (public and private) sets its own policies regarding admissions for undocumented students Research admissions policies as you develop a list of colleges of interest

4. College Tuition In Illinois, undocumented students pay in-state tuition rates at public institutions Some state (public) institutions treat undocumented students as foreign/international students and charge them out-of-state tuition rates, making the institution more expensive At private institutions, all students (in-state and out-of-state) pay the same tuition rate

5. Financial Aid & Scholarships Federal Financial Aid Undocumented students do not qualify for federal financial aid, which includes grants, loans, scholarships, and work- study money State Financial Aid in Illinois Undocumented students pay in-state tuition rates, but do not qualify for state financial aid The Illinois DREAM Act, however, has set up a private fund to provide financial assistance to children of immigrants Private Scholarships Private institutions set their own financial aid policies and may provide grants and scholarships to undocumented students

6. Important Illinois Legislation Bill HB 60 - Higher Education In-State Tuition Undocumented students residing in Illinois and meeting all of the following requirements are able to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities of Illinois. Effective as of May 20, 2003. Requirements Student has resided in Illinois with his/her parent or guardian while attending public or private high school Student has graduated from an Illinois public or private high school or received a GED from IL Student has attended an Illinois high school for at least three (3) years Student has registered to enter the university no earlier than the Fall 2003 semester Student provides the university with an affidavit stating he/she will file an application to become a permanent resident of the U.S. once he/she becomes eligible to do so http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=60&GAID=3&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=195&SessionID=3&G A=93 Public Act 097-0233 – Illinois DREAM Act To receive a scholarship from the Illinois DREAM Fund, students must meet the same requirements outlined above. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=097-0233

7. College Majors Some majors require background checks or lead to career paths that require background checks, state certification or licensure, or a social security number This is often true in the fields of education, social work, health, and law enforcement Potentially friendly career areas for undocumented immigrants: Administrative Positions; Business Office Manager; Computers; Graphic Design; Hotel Management; Journalism/Communications; Radio & TV Broadcasting; Restaurants; Trade Fields, such as painters, caterers, carpenters, repairers Source: IL Association for College Admissions Counseling, http://www.iacac.org/undocumented/careers/

8. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) “On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several key guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and would then be eligible for work authorization.” - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Receiving deferred action does not qualify you for federal financial aid, but does make you eligible for work authorization

9. Questions to Ask: Admissions, Aid, & Majors Does the institution admit undocumented students? Does the institution require a social security number and proof of residency? Does the institution have a policy regarding whether or not it will report undocumented students? Will the institution consider undocumented students for institutional aid or merit aid? Does the institution offer special scholarships for international students? Can undocumented students apply for these scholarships? Does the major require a background check? Does the major lead to certification or state licensure for which an undocumented student might be ineligible? Are advisors and career development staff aware of these issues?

10. Resources Choose Your Future http://www.chooseyourfuture.org/college/undocumented-students College Board http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/financial-aid/undocumented-students Repository of Resources for Undocumented Students Http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/Repository-Resources-Undocumented-Students_2012.pdf Illinois Association for College Admissions Counseling http://www.iacac.org/undocumented/ IL DREAM Act Undocumented Student Guide to College http://www.icirr.org/sites/default/files/ILDreamActStudentGuideFINAL.pdf Immigrant Youth Financial Resource Guide http://www.iyjl.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/IYJL-Immigrant-Youth-Financial-Resource-Guide-.pdf What DACA Approval Means For You http://www.e4fc.org/images/E4FC_GOTDACA.pdf

11. If You Dream of Attending College… WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN! Available for appointments Monday through Friday, 9am – 3pm Bridgid.titley@cps.edu (773) 555-1234