A student of mine needs some help

[dsc]

I have a wonderful student in my class who would ordinarily be gladly accepted by any college at any time. Unfortunately she is not legal though she has been in the US since age 1. Therefore she can't get a social security number and thus is ineligible for many aid programs and admission in my state's schools. I am wondering if anyone knows of any private schools which will accept a person in her circumstances and offer aid.

[cynatnite]

1. Wouldn't she have the same problem in a private school?

She'd need aid wouldn't she?

Sorry, I can't offer much help, but I hope the best for her.

[dsc]

4. she surely would

but I was hoping that some private schools used private funds to give the aid.

[KyndCulture]

2. is there a reason she can't apply for citizenship?

[Metta]

3. How about contacting your senator or representative?

It seems you just need to find someone who can say yes.

[dsc]

5. My representative is worthless

but hers on the otherhand might be a possiblity. I live on the edge of two districts.

[Metta]

10. If the feds can't help, maybe your state's rep can point you

in the right direction.

[libnnc]

6. You might try my alma-mater Brevard College

large population of international students. It's associated with the United Methodist Church and is located in beautiful Brevard, NC.

http://www.brevard.edu

[Tace]

7. I Don't Know Where You Live...

but you might be able to work something out with a Quaker school. There's a few nice ones too, mostly in the Northeast, I believe.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

11. perhaps guilford college would be willing to do something

They're definitely all about challenging students to think for themselves. Perhaps their administration feels the same way?

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. Maybe contact an Immigration Rights Center

In Washington, it's the NW Immigration Rights Center. They help people to remain in the country.

[demosincebirth]

9. Best bet would be to talk to an immigration lawyer, being

here so long she may able to skip much of the process.

[Cleita]

12. Tell her to find a reputable immigration lawyer.

She's been here long enough that she can probably get legal immigrant status with few problems, especially if she's been a good student. If she can't afford such an animal, maybe some kind of fund raiser would be in order.

[dsc]

14. that could work too

I didn't think of that.

[Wickerman]

13. ouch, tough circumstances

That could be rough. She sounds deserving, certainly.

I know that citizenship papers can present a real problem for her. A friend of mine has an adopted daughter from overseas. When she was brought into the US at about age 6 they thought all the paperwork was complete and that she became a US citizen. Somehow, the incorrect info was placed on her birth certificate English language duplicate and was not noticed until this fall when she started applying to private schools. Because of the nature of the error she was not legally a US Citizen and therefore ineligible for financial aid at any of the three colleges that accepted her and initially offered her very nice packages based on her academic performance. They went through govt hell to get her eligible by accepting date.

Good luck. I know this is no help, but its a serious issue and I wish her and you well.

[Warpy]

15. What she needs is a sponsor

A friend of mine who owned a food store sponsored an acquaintance's daughter, a girl who went on to 4 years on scholarship at an Ivy League school and grad school in France.

Approach friendly small businessmen in the area. Sponsoring her wouldn't be that big a deal. They just guarantee that she won't end up on welfare, and one hopes a girl that smart has discovered Depo shots every three months to avoid it.

That's the best way to do this, the legal way, and I sincerely doubt anyone in any admissions department would admit her without an SSN, although they may be able to help you to find her a sponsor.

Good luck.

[dsc]

16. thanks all I will look into all the suggestions

[brmdp3123]

17. Mmm-take scholarship money from an American citizen...

and give it to someone in the country illegally. Should we be doing that?

[LWolf]

19. "Illegally."

I wonder which crime she committed when she crossed the border at the age of 1. Should she, as a minor, have fled back to her home country, leaving her parents behind? Or should she, as someone approaching "adult" status, do so now? Or should she stay in the country she was raised in?

If she stays, should her opportunities be more limited than those who exited the womb on this side of the border?

Why does one student, based on parents' means and choices, have more opportunities than another? A higher level of education for everyone benefits the nation as a whole.

We need universal pre-school through college or trade school for all who want it.

[dsc]

20. If she is more deserving than the American why not

College is for providing educated people not for giving our citizens a playground. If she is more deserving than an American then she should get the scholarship.

[Poppyseedman]

18. What about her parents doing something?