I'm a college admissions counselor. Ask me anything about college.

Browsing through this forum, I see that lots of you guys have questions about attaining higher education. While I'm expert in my particular university, I've also learned a lot about the higher education process. I work alongside admissions counselors from various universities as well, and have been actively listening and asking questions about their policies for DACA students and undocumented whenever the chances arise.

I want to do an AMA because recently, we lost student who just wasn't honest with us about his status. Because he didn't tell us his situation until a few days before classes started, there was nothing we could do for him. He will not be attending our university this fall due to financial issues.

The main thing I want you guys to know is that every university has admissions counselors, and we are here to help. Be honest with us, do your part, and we will do whatever we can to help you be able to afford to attend. If the student mentioned above had told us that he couldn't get financial aid because of his situation, we would have tried to get him more money to offset the cost. We wanted to help, but because he waited so long, there we had no more cards to play. We can't help you if you don't let us.

I did not have DACA my first two years of college, but I was able to get enough money that my mom worked her ass off to pay for the rest. I was able to gain more scholarship money along the way to help. If I had used my admissions counselor more, affording college would have been less of a colossal challenge.

I currently have my green card, and an overwhelming desire to give back to our community so I thought I'd start here. Ask me your higher education questions, and I will do my best to answer.

What university do you work at? I currently am enrolled in community college but will be transfering soon. I am in California by the way.

I'm not really comfortable sharing the exact name because it would be really easy to figure out who I am from googling my university BUT it's a school in the southeast. If it turns out I can help you, I'll PM you my contact info.

What I can tell you is to shop around when it's time to transfer to a 4 year school. Some universities have nice transfer scholarships. For us, with 2 years completed and a 3.0 GPA, you're looking at enough in scholarships that you're basically paying in-state tuition. You can also transfer in after 1 year with a 3.5 GPA and get the same scholarship.

Make sure your keeping in touch with your admissions counselor when the time comes, because personally, I would be working behind the scenes to see if we could get you extra scholarship dollars on top of the big one I mentioned.

Am I correct to guess that you work in an undergrad admissions area?

I ask this because, I am kinda interested at the graduate level, but I know that usually it is not up to the counselors at that point, but rather by the department heads.

Yes. Scholarships at that next level are different, because you are typically looking at things like GA positions, TA positions, and paid research positions. The money comes from that specific department. Not always, but usually.

what is the best way to raise your gpa if u already graduated with ur undergraduate degree? then hoping to go into post-graduate: masters/phd.

What should someone do if a college counselor makes him or her feel uncomfortable.

My experience with a college counselor was a bad one . The counselor who saw me was not educated on undocumented students and made me feel like I had no chance at life . The whole time it was conversation about when I will fix my status and about why am I even going to college if I won't be able to use my degree after .

I developed thick skin early on obviously, so I stood proud and assurted my position on how I will one day be able to use my degree .

I'm sure others have had similar experiences.

Definitely had a similar experience. I'm from NYC and I was trying to apply to a school at the next county, and my advisor basically say I will cause my entire family to be deported and I will basically be giving myself in. Then she made me want to go to my guidance counselor to make me understand like wth.

If you've already graduated, there's not anything you can do about that GPA. What you can do is score really well on your entrance exams to try to redeem yourself. Another good option is to consider continuing your education where you got your undergraduate degree. If you've made good connections with professors, even if your GPA isn't perfect, you can always try to get a GA/TA position through them.

A professor really liked me, and told me that if I wanted to go to grad school there, she would request me as a TA. Plenty of my friends who stayed for grad school got their TA positions because their former professors really liked and trusted them.

You can also get another bachelor's, and maintain a higher GPA, but that's not a very realistic option for DACA students.

Your GPA is what it is though. Sorry, friend.

Wow. You guys dealt with some counselors who did not have their priorities straight. From my experience, most counselors genuinely want to help students. However, there are a few in the industry who are in it just to get their masters for free, and you can tell by this sort of behavior.

You can do a couple of things... You can go on the website, and try to find another counselor or you can reach out to the diversity center. Most schools have at least one office dedicated to diversity, and if your counselor is this uneducated and misguided, someone in diversity may be a better resource. While not an expert in admissions, they'll be more willing to fight alongside you.

But honestly, if your counselor dismisses you because of your status, it may be time to consider a different university. The admissions counselors are typically a good reflection of the pillars of the university. A college education is more than just the classroom experience, so if you don't feel like you're home and actually wanted, just keep an open mind to other schools.

I'm really sorry that your admissions counselors were so rude to you.

Also, never let anyone make you feel like you don't have a future because of your status. We were dealt rough hands, but we were made to withstand. Keep your chin up like you've got a nosebleed.

I'm a graduate student. Maybe I can help. What's your question?