We send our condolences and strength to the victims of the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson, AZ. We are mourning the loss of leaders, younger and older. We WILL recover together. As one of our co-founders wrote, "I love Tucson. It's my home. I will continue to fight for humanity." We WILL continue to fight for humanity. Join us.
Immigrant advocates compare the economics of S.B 1070 and the DREAM Act The DREAM Act would generate long-term economic benefits while Arizona-type immigration enforcement has had a negative economic impact on that state’s economy: That was the message delivered by participants in a press conference hosted by the Alliance for Immigrants Rights – Michigan.
The DREAM Act would grant a person who entered the U.S. illegally before the age of 16 conditional permanent resident status for a period of six years, after which he or she could aspire to be a legal permanent resident. The act requires youth to attain at least an associate-level college degree to be eligible for legal permanent resident status.
Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immigration enforcement law, meanwhile, would criminalize undocumented immigrants, currently a civil violation under federal immigration law.
Marshall Fitz told conference participants that the Center for American Progress contracted the firm Elliott D Pollack and Company to study the impact of S.B. 1070 on the convention industry. The study shows that conference cancellations and a stop to future bookings resulted in a $400 million loss in economic output and more than $130 million in lost earnings.
Fitz added that the only people who benefit from S.B. 1070-like measures are the politicians who create these wedge issues. He concluded that hopefully this study will give legislators pause before they follow Arizona’s path.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are up to 2.1 million people eligible for DREAM Act benefits, but only about 825,000 beneficiaries would gain legal permanent resident status.
The DREAM Act would produce thousands of college graduates, contributing to the pool of higher-income earners needed by the future workforce.
A UCLA No DREAMERS Left Behind study looks at two scenarios to project the national economic benefits generated by the DREAM Act by calculating the income of those affected over a 40-year period.
Raul Hinojosa, one of the authors of the UCLA study, said during the Tuesday press conference, “This is a critical moment for American civil rights and how we are looking to fill the high-skilled workforce of tomorrow.”
Hinojosa explained that the estimates of the net benefit for the U.S economy is in 2010 dollars and does not include the overall value of what people produce.
In one scenario, dubbed by the authors the No DREAMers Left Behind scenario, 2.1 million undocumented immigrants would become legalized and generate approximately $3.6 trillion over a 40-year period.
In the other scenario, in which 825,000 eligible individuals achieve legal permanent resident status, the study concludes that the income generated over 40 years would be $1.4 trillion.
MYTH#1
“You have to be rich to attend a private university.”
Wrong! Seventy percent of the students attending private colleges receive need-based financial aid. In fact some students can qualify and attend a private university at little or no cost. Private institutions tend to have more funds available to students than public institutions.
MYTH #2
“Students should know exactly what they want to study before they apply to college.”
Not necessarily. You may have to make a career decision earlier if you plan to attend a specialized college of engineering, music, etc. But most colleges and universities encourage you to take a broad range of subjects to help you decide on a field of study. At most schools you will not need to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year or early junior year.
MYTH #3
“You must find the ‘perfect’ college.”
The perfect college probably does not exist. The best way to select the right school for you is to research three or four colleges that meet your criteria, and then visit each one.
MYTH #4
“Telling a university that you are applying for financial aid may hurt your chances for admission.”
Not true! Selective colleges do not let a family’s financial ability enter into the admission decision.
MYTH #5
“Admissions officers consider only grades and test scores when considering an applicant.”
Selective colleges are also interested in the rigor of the subjects taken, the competitiveness of the school, and upward or downward trends in grades. Your application essay, as well as extracurricular and leadership activities, talent and personal character are also very important. A word of caution: quality over quantity is what most colleges look for.
MYTH #6
“People say that because I have no social security number I will never be able to attend college!”
No one can ever deny you access to a college education. There are private scholarships available to help you fund your schooling if your academics are strong.
9th Grade
10th Grade
11th Grade
· Check with your counselor to be sure you are taking the right college prep courses needed for a selective 4-yr college or university and challenge yourself.
· Maintaining A’s and B’s is very important in your junior year. College counselors will be paying particular attention to these classes for rigor and performance.
· Register for the PSAT in October.
· Take the PSAT. The results will give you and your counselor an idea of your strengths and the areas you need to improve as you prepare for college admission. The fee is $13. Ask your counselor about a fee waiver. Depending on your score, you may also be eligible for national scholarships. Practice using free online resources http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/prep.html
· If you are taking Advanced Placement subjects, register for the AP exams in spring. Scoring well on these exams will enable you to earn credit for college-level courses. (
· Attend college fairs and presentations by colleges who visit your school and ask questions.
· Create a file on your favorite colleges and obtain information about these schools.
· Visit colleges that interest you. Try to meet with the admissions officer, academic professor in your intended program, student organizations, and athletics. Prepare questions about the school and have a transcript or list of courses you have taken since ninth grade.
· Think about re-taking the SAT I or ACT tests if necessary.
· Update your Leadership Portfolio.
· From May to July be prepared to receive mail from many colleges.
Over the Summer
· Read the college mail you receive. Return reply cards to schools that interest you. They will send you viewbooks, catalogues and applications.
· Visit your “short list” colleges in person if possible.
· Prepare for the SAT I and the ACT by reading books and manuals with the testing tips and sample questions. Attend workshops on how to prepare for these entrance exams if offered at your school or ask a counselor where you can prepare.
· Begin looking for scholarships. If you are not a candidate for them at this time save a copy in a folder and revisit it your senior year. All the money you can get is great.
12th Grade
· Check with your counselor to make sure you are taking the right classes.
· Maintain A’s and B’s and do not get senioritis early!
· Update your Leadership Portfolio.
· Visit your short list schools again.
· Check frequently with your college counselor or career center director for information about scholarships awarded by your school, local companies and community groups.
· In early September, register for the SAT I and the ACT. Register a month or two before the test date.
· By the end of October, make a final list of the schools to which you will apply for admission.
· Make a file for each school and a checklist of the required admission items: transcripts, applications fees, recommendations, essays, test scores, etc.
· Pay special attention to deadlines.
· Apply early if you can.
Entire or portions of the information provided is property of www.scholarshipsaz.org. Because the information enclosed is made available by U.S. Government, post-secondary educational institutions, providers of financial aid, and other outside agencies, this information is subject to change without notification.
How to prepare
Planning for college should begin as early as the eighth grade because that is when you need to decide whether or not you are going to follow a college preparatory track. A college preparatory track should include as a minimum:
· 4 years of English and Literature
· 3-4 years of Math (including advanced algebra and trigonometry)
· 2-3 years of Foreign Language
· 2-4 years of Laboratory Science
· 2 years of History and Social Science
· 3 years of Electives
16 year-long academic subjects
This schedule demands that you take at least 4 college preparatory classes in every year of high school, still leaving room for you to take additional electives in music, art, yearbook, etc.
If you are interested in engineering, math, science or computers, take all the math and science you can. If your strengths are history, writing, literature or the arts, take extra classes in these subjects. It is always a good idea to take extra foreign language courses. Your school counselor will help you plan you schedule according to your strengths and interests.
The following is only a suggested list that will help guide you to a successful senior year without stressing too much about your college application.