Before deciding to apply to a particular institution, it is important that undocumented students contact schools that they are considering to see if they are a good fit for the student’s interests and needs for support, funding and professional development. Contact both the school and the department to have a good understanding of the application process and on the opportunities, specifically, if you’re undocumented. Some questions that you may consider:
- What is your policy on admitting undocumented students? Is the school willing to waive the application fee?
- Is the school willing to consider funding a school visit?
- Do you currently have undocumented students on campus who may be willing to connect with me?
- What is the school’s policy on providing funding for undocumented/DACAmented students?
- How are doctoral students funded? At what rate? Does funding cover conference attendance and research after candidacy? How is funding for doctoral students distributed? Is funding centralized through the university or does it come from individual departments?
- How involved is the school in assisting students to find external funding and fellowships?
- What is the caseload of advisees for each professor in my department?
- What types of academic support resources are there available for students on campus?
- What types of support systems does the school have for students’ job search and/or career development?
- Who on campus should I contact to discuss the particulars of my application and needs as an undocumented student?
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