hello everyone

Hello everyone. I never thought a forum like this would exist. It's really comforting to interact with people in similar situation to mine.
My story goes like this. I was brought here when I was 10. I am leaving in New Jersey since then. I never thought my status will affect my life greatly once I graduate from high school. I completed elementary school and high school without worrying much about status. I always thought something will happen before I graduate from high school. I had good grades. When the time came for college applications I only applied to community college, since I could only afford that. My goal was to get in the Rutgers. I could have probably managed if I had to pay instate tuition, but out of state fees are insane.
Now it’s a year since I graduated from high school. I am 19 and feel like my life is going nowhere. I am tired of lying constantly to friends about why I am not working, driving and applying to any university. Thankfully I have a supportive family that keeps me going. I hope there will be way out of this mess before I breakdown completely.
Thanks for reading.

Yeah, it's bliss up until you graduate high school; it then hits you like a ton of bricks.

Welcome to the forum.

welcome, mesan!

There is a CUNY system in NYC that is fairly affordable as far as colleges go (around 4000 a year?) and I know DREAMies who attend there. You should look into it, if you don't live too far from NYC.

Welcome.

He lives in Jersey. He won't be considered a state resident for tuition purposes, even if he lives in NYC for more than a year.

Mesan, you can still check out CUNY's schools. The system has good colleges that are nationally ranked. The engineering and business schools, specifically, are top notch. Even at out-of-state rates, the tuition is low compared to other universities. 15 credits will run about $6500.

Thanks guys. 6500 is not bad compared to other colleges and I can easily get to NYC using public transportation. I will definitely check them out.
If I had searched all this during my senior year at HS, I would have ended up in better school but at that time I was trying to avoid everything that reminded me of my illegal status. It did hit me like a ton of bricks like ark said in the summer when friends started to talk about about how exited they were regarding their colleges and dormitories.

hahahaha I agree. Couldn't have phrased it any better

welcome to DAP

Welcome to DAP. I'm from PA, so we're somewhat close, lol. Anyway, glad to have you with us and please get involved!

Well that's wonderful.

welcome.

Wow HOnestly! i Felt like i was writing that! There has to be something else we can do, rather than sit here and wait for it to pass..