1. College Planning for Special Populations
(PART 1)
CUNY Collaborative Programs: A NYGEAR UP Partner

2. Agenda: Special Populations
Part 1
Undocumented Youth
English Language learners
Immigrant and Refugee families
Part 2
Youth with Disabilities
Homeless Youth
Youth in Foster Care
Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening and Welcome,
Today we are talking about college planning with special populations. Special Populations can be defined as individuals:
with disabilities
from economically disadvantaged families
preparing for nontraditional training and employment
who are undocumented
who are homeless
who come from immigrant and refugee families
in foster care
with other barriers to educational achievement including individuals with limited-English proficiency
Today we are going to focus on these populations:
Undocumented Youth
English Language learners
Immigrant and Refugee Families
Part 2 of this series will discuss:
Youth with Disabilities
Homeless youth
Youth in Foster care
We will discuss ways you can help your child prepare for college based on the specific circumstances of your family.

3. Undocumented Students
CUNY Collaborative Programs: A NYGEAR UP Partner

4. Undocumented Youth and Unaccompanied Children
Aspiring citizens who came to the United States without legal documentation or have over stayed their visa.
Are often unaware they are undocumented until they begin the college application process.
Don’t qualify for federal grants or loans, even if they are in financial need and their parents pay taxes.
Are racially and ethnically diverse and are part of the roughly million undocumented immigrants in the United States.
Undocumented and unaccompanied youth are aspiring citizens who came to the United States without legal documentation or have over-stayed their visas.
Students often are unaware they are undocumented until they begin the college application process.
Do not qualify for federal grants or loans, even if they are in financial need and their parents pay taxes.
Are racially and ethnically diverse, come from all over the world and are part of the roughly 11.5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.

5. What is DACA? (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Protects DREAMers from deportation
Can apply for a work permit
Can apply for a social security number
DREAMers
Undocumented immigrant youth who came to this country before age 16
Have lived in the US continuously
Are at least 15 years old
Currently in school or graduated high school or GED or veteran
We are going to discuss some immigration options for undocumented youth. We are aware that this is a concern for some of our families and want to give more information about what their options are. However, before considering applying we suggest you reach out for legal council for advice and information, as the laws and policies continue to change.
DACA is an American immigration policy started by the Obama administration in June 2012 that allows certain illegal immigrants to the US who entered the country as minors to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and eligibility for a work permit. Dreamers, as they are known, can also apply for a social security number.
Dreamers There are now 1.8 million DREAMers living in the U.S. and 65,000 graduate from high school every year. For many, it’s the only country they’ve ever known. Dreamers are:
» Young people (born on or after June 16, 1981) who came to the U.S. before the age of 16. » Don’t have lawful immigration status
» Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
» Have lived continuously in the U.S. since June 15, 2007 » At least 15 years old » Currently in school or a graduate of high school or GED recipient or honorably discharged military veteran » Have a clean criminal record and have passed a background check.

6. Dreamers: Financial Aid and Eligibility
Federal and State Aid eligibility:
Can apply to college
Generally ineligible for state or federal financial aid
May or may not need to give the college a social security number to enroll
Private grants and scholarships are available for DACA and undocumented students
Regardless of their legal status, students living in New York State are eligible for in-state tuition at SUNY and CUNY schools.
Source: Federal Student Aid
Undocumented students can apply to college. School policies regarding required documentation vary; some colleges do not require applicants to have a Social Security number, while other colleges will allow applicants to leave their response regarding their “Immigration Status” blank.
We know that when it comes to thinking about college, the cost of college is a number one concern for families. A majority of undocumented youth pay in full for their college expenses. This is because undocumented youth do not qualify for Federal and state financial aid, meaning they are unable to complete the FAFSA (financial aid application to apply for federal aid). In some instances, DACA students may qualify for lower in-state tuition rates and state education grants. Private grants and scholarships are also available for undocumented students.
[Handout A : Questions and Answers: Financial Aid and Undocumented Students]
[Handout B: Immigrant rights, Organizations and Financial Aid]
Distribute and review information on handouts.

7. Qualifying for In-State Tuition at SUNY
To qualify for in-state tuition at a SUNY school, a student must present a valid Permanent Resident Card as proof of their immigrant status. Students who are unable to present valid documentation of their alien status are prohibited from qualifying for an in-state tuition rate.
However, non-resident students—including undocumented students—who have attended a New York state high school for at least two years and graduated from that school, may be eligible for in-state tuition at SUNY schools.
The cost of tuition and attendance for a college is based on whether a student is a resident of that particular state for a certain amount of years. Usually students not from the state are charged more for tuition. So residency status is a factor when determining the tuition a student is charged.
Students who are not U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or do not possess a green card, visa, or other legal records, may be eligible to receive in-state tuition rates if specific qualification are met. For example, non-resident students (including undocumented students) who have attended a New York state high school for at least two years and graduated from that school, may be eligible for in-state tuition at SUNY schools.

8. Qualifying for In-State Tuition at CUNY
A student must have:
Graduated from a New York state high school within five years of applying to CUNY,
Attended a New York State high school for two or more years, OR
Obtained a high school equivalency degree from an approved New York State program.
To qualify for in-state tuition at a CUNY school, a student must have:
(1) graduated from a New York state high school within five years of applying to CUNY,
(2) attended a New York State high school for two or more years, or
(3) obtained a high school equivalency degree or GED from an approved New York State program.

9. English Language Learners
CUNY Collaborative Programs: A NYGEAR UP Partner

10. Guiding ELLs and Their Families Through the College Application Process
What are colleges looking for?
Academic Readiness
Demonstration of English proficiency
Legal status
Positive personal traits and qualities
English Language Learners may be legal citizens or undocumented. Regardless, it is important to support their college goals and ensure they are college ready. When it comes time for your ELL student to apply to college, colleges will be looking for four particular qualities:
Academic Readiness
Demonstration of English proficiency
Legal status
Positive personal traits and qualities
Now we are going to go over exactly what this means.

11. ELLs and the College Application Process
What are colleges looking for?
Academic Readiness
Transcript
Senior Grades
Standardized Exams: NYS Regents, SAT or ACT
Colleges will look at how your child is doing academically by reviewing your child’s transcript, grades, and exam scores. A transcript is a document that lists the courses a student has taken, when the class was taken, who the teacher was, and the grades the student earned. Colleges are interested in the classes a student has taken, as well as the grades he or she received. For example, it always looks better when your child has attempted an advanced course, even if they did not receive an A in the course.
While college acceptance will be based on your child's 9th to 11th grade results, colleges look at performance during 12th grade very closely. Colleges can withdraw acceptance if there is a significant drop in grades during a student’s senior year.
Also seniors will be have the opportunity to take the SAT or ACT, which are standardized exams to enter college and are used to evaluate a student’s application. A standardized exam is any form of test that (1) requires all test takers to answer the same questions in the same way, and that (2) is scored in a “standard” or consistent manner, which makes it possible to compare the relative performance of one student or groups of students. For example the NYC Regents exams your child will take are an example of a standardized exam.
Standardized Exams:
The SAT is a standardized examination that is accepted by most colleges and includes: Reading, Math, Writing & Language and an optional essay.
The ACT is also accepted by most colleges and is made up of: English, Reading, Math and Science, as well as an optional writing test.

12. ELLs and the College Application: What are colleges looking for?
Demonstration of English Proficiency
Coursework
New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT)
NYS English Regents exam
SAT
TOEFL
Colleges want to be sure their students are ready for college-level work, and English proficiency is one of the important areas that they look for in an candidate’s qualifications. There are a few things that can be used to show English language proficiency:
Coursework: To graduate from high school, ELLs must earn eight credits of English, which may include English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT): During the spring of each school year, ELLs in grades K-12 take the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT), which is designed to measure language development. Passing this exam is one way to demonstrate English proficiency.
NYS English Regents exam: To pass the English Regents exam, a student must earn a score of 65 or higher. However, certain colleges, including the City University of New York (CUNY), require students to earn a score of 75 or higher to demonstrate English proficiency.
SAT 1: An SAT Critical Reading score of 480 or higher can demonstrate English proficiency.
TOEFL: Colleges may require applicants who are recent immigrants to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This test evaluates a student’s ability to understand and use English in an academic environment
In addition to the Regents exam and TOEFL, colleges may offer English language learners individual entrance exams or place them in remedial classes, which are non credit bearing courses in Math, reading and writing.

13. ELLs and the College Application: What are colleges looking for?
Positive personal traits and qualities
Essay
Extracurricular activities
Colleges are looking for well-rounded students. This means they are looking for students who not only did well academically but participated in extra curricular activities like sports, academic teams or even volunteering. They want students who are going to be actively part of their college communities. So please encourage your child to get involved in their communities inside and out of school. This will not only benefit them for college but in most cases can build long-lasting life skills.
Essay: Most college applications require students to submit an essay based on influential experiences or people, or their own talents and interests. This essay is an opportunity for students to showcase their abilities and passions.
Extracurricular activities: Competitive colleges are interested in more than just academics and want students who will add to their campus community.

14. Immigrant and Refugee Youth
CUNY Collaborative Programs: A NYGEAR UP Partner

15. Financial Aid Eligibility: Non-Citizens
Student Status
Federal Pell/Direct Loan
NYS TAP+
Campus Based Federal Aid: FWS, Perkins Loans, FSEOG++
Special programs: SEEK, CD+++
Permanent U.S. Resident
Eligible
Asylum Status Granted
Refugee/Parolee Status Granted
Victims Of Human Trafficking
Battered Immigrants-Qualified Alien
Permanent Residency Pending
N/E
The following chart provides the financial aid eligibility status for most classifications of non-citizens. Some students may be required to document eligible immigration status before receiving PELL or other federal student aid. Some may be asked by HESC to document citizenship or immigration status before receiving NY State aid.
Certain status require more documentation.
Status and documentation needed:
Permanent U.S. Resident (must have form Form I-151,I-551, Or I-551C): These students are eligible for state, federal, campus based aid and special programs.
Asylum Status Granted (Must Be Stamped On Form I-94): These students are eligible for state, federal, campus based aid and special programs.
Refugee/Parolee Status Granted (Must Be Stamped On Form I-94): These students are eligible for state, federal, campus based aid and special programs.
Victims Of Human Trafficking – T-Visa (and their spouses and children): These students are eligible for state, federal, campus based aid and special programs.
Battered Immigrants-Qualified Alien: These students are eligible for state, federal, campus based aid and special programs.
Permanent Residency Pending: These students are not eligible for state, federal and campus based aid but can apply for special programs like SEEK and College Discovery. This program will give academic supports and some financial support.
Information is from the CUNY website

16. Financial Aid Eligibility: Non-Citizens
Student Status
Federal Pell/Direct Loan
NYS TAP
Campus Based Federal Aid: FWS, Perkins Loans, FSEOG
Special programs: SEEK, CD
Asylum Status Pending
N/E
Eligible
Refugee/Parolee Status Pending
Conditional Entrant* Temporary Refugee Status
Cuban/Haitian Entrant
I-688 Holders
I-688A Holders
Status and documentation needed:
Refugee/Parolee Status Pending: These students are not eligible for state, federal and campus based aid. But can apply for special programs like SEEK and College Discovery. That will give academic supports and some financial support.
Conditional Entrant* Temporary Refugee Status (Must Be Stamped On Form I-94): These students are eligible for state, federal, campus based aid and special programs.
Cuban/Haitian Entrant (Must Be Stamped On Form I-94): These students are eligible for state, federal, campus based aid and special programs.
I-688 Holders: These students are not eligible for state, federal and campus based aid but can apply for special programs like SEEK and College Discovery. That will give academic supports and some financial support.
I-688A Holders: These students are not eligible for state, federal and campus based aid but can apply for special programs like SEEK and College Discovery. That will give academic supports and some financial support.

17. Financial Aid Eligibility: Non-Citizens
Student Status
Federal Pell/Direct Loan
NYS TAP
Campus Based Federal Aid: FWS, Perkins Loans, FSEOG
Special programs: SEEK, CD
I-688B Holders
N/E
Eligible
I-797 Family Unity Status
Temporary Or Student Visa
Undocumented Alien
Status and documentation needed:
I-688B Holders: These students are not eligible for state, federal and campus based aid but can apply for special programs like SEEK and College Discovery. That will give academic supports and some financial support.
I-797 Family Unity Status: These students are not eligible for state, federal and campus based aid but can apply for special programs like SEEK and College Discovery. That will give academic supports and some financial support.
Temporary Or Student Visa: These students are not eligible for state, federal and campus based aid but can apply for special programs like SEEK and College Discovery. That will give academic supports and some financial support.
Undocumented Alien: These students are not eligible for state, federal, campus based aid and Special programs like SEEK or College Discovery.
N/E = Not Eligible
+ New York State residency is required for TAP
++ Campus Based Federal Aid (Federal Work-Study, Perkins Loan, Federal SEOG)
+++ New York City residency is required for College Discovery and Bi-Lingual program.
* Dated prior to March 31, 1980
For more information on non-U.S. citizenship financial aid visit the Department of Education website.

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