Senior with 4.09 GPA accepted at UC Berkeley, oh wait illegal immigrant

[Khamsin]

What I want to know is with a GPA like that why she cant get help.

Because she's illegal. I'm more surprised that INS hasn't deported her family after this publicity. Not because of it, but rather since if they hadn't noticed them before, I'm sure they know about them now, and now there's no legal reason not to. I agree, it's a flaw in the system that should be fixed, there should be a better way to detect and deport people before things get to this point. One good solution might be to require SS numbers for enrollment in public school. Another, possibly better option, is to still let anyone in but after about 4th grade, conduct checks on families who have children in school with no SS number and deport their families as they are discovered.

Thing is, let's say she graduates from college and becomes a doctor or a lawyer... oops! She can't get a license to practice. No pre-tax retirement investment funds (though she won't have to pay taxes, at least), no home loans, no medical benefits, no pretty much anything else. All she'll be able to do is work at a job that gets paid under the table. So... waitress, laborer, stripper... all worthy jobs of a college graduate, especially if she graduates with a 4.09, too.

So, her best chance now is, if she isn't deported now that the government knows they're illegal, to apply for a student VISA. Her parents may be screwed though, and could get an IRS audit at best (to see if they've been paying all their taxes since they've been here), or deported at worst. It'll be harder for them to get a visa, green card, or citizenship, but they should try for something.

[BerenTebogo]

Then you aren't talking about this article or this girl's situation.

I just ctfl+f'd the initial post. You're right.

My bad =>

Back to ranting about Texas.

[Inactive]

Keyword here is


ILLEGAL

^ This
Could care less what your GPA is there shouldn't even be a discussion. If I can't obtain financial aid as a legal citizen who needs it, I'll be damned if an illegal immigrant was able to.

[BerenTebogo]

^ This
Could care less what your GPA is there shouldn't even be a discussion. If I can't obtain financial aid as a legal citizen who needs it, I'll be damned if an illegal immigrant was able to.

If you have a pulse and are over the age of 12 you can qualify for Stafford loans through FAFSA at the very least. What the fuck are you doing?

Edit: First year of CC I was still a dependent under my parents because I had gotten married that year and shit hadn't gone through. Dependent is the total wrong word though. I had to apply for FAFSA with their tax return showing over 6 figures, despite making only $22k a year myself and being 100% on my own with my wife.

I still got Stafford loans through Sallie Mae. Seriously. What are you doing?

[archibaldcrane]

If you have a pulse and are over the age of 12 you can qualify for Stafford loans through FAFSA at the very least. What the fuck are you doing?

Can you get Stafford loans if your parents are well-off?

[Weiing]

Seriously? You guys...

I think much of main article was covering the Dream Act, and the necessity of it.


With this Act, if she qualifies, she'd be able to get a visa and then possibly become a permanent resident of this country. Assuming she's serious about her education, I'd think it'd be worth it if she could be able to pay for college at in-state prices (not even talking about loans and such) and be able to get her residency in the process.

It's not a mere hand-out. There are strict requirements!

Poor kids... All they wanted was an education and they didn't even know what was going on when they immigrated.

Please remember, although the majority may apply to Latinos, this also applies to other ethnicities, as well.

inb4: bleeding hearts etc etc

[Heavencloud]

Wait... GPA in High School means something? News to me, I knew people dumb as shit who now have below 3.0's in college that had 4.0's in HS. Not to say this chick isn't somewhat smart, but really?

[BerenTebogo]

Can you get Stafford loans if your parents are well-off?

I edited my post right above yours.

[archibaldcrane]

I edited my post right above yours.

I'm pretty sure that being married changed your situation compared to most.

[BerenTebogo]

I'm pretty sure that being married changed your situation compared to most.

I had to file as a dependent to my parents. Financially and legally (regarding taxes) I wasn't married yet. (That's what I was told by the financial aid office at my school anyways. By all rights I should have gone for free without having to repay due to tax bracket. I have since)

[Gredival]

As said multiple times already, shit's situational. Harvard is less intellectually rigorous in science and math curriculum compared to the top schools specializing in such.

You don't go to MIT to study business law.

The fact that Harvard isn't at the top in every department isn't relevant. In a neutral setting ignoring specialized departments virtually everyone would take HYPS over Cal or Umich in student quality and academic rigor.

If you are getting that specialized in departments you have generally average schools like Cal State Pomona (Calpoly Pomona) with top of the nation departments. That still doesn't mean anything for the quality of the students in general.

Wait... GPA in High School means something? News to me, I knew people dumb as shit who now have below 3.0's in college that had 4.0's in HS. Not to say this chick isn't somewhat smart, but really?

It doesn't... but it's safe to say she's smarter than the average kid who gets 2.0's and 3.0's in HS and wouldn't even have the chance to fail at Berkeley

[archibaldcrane]

Seriously? You guys...

I think much of main article was covering the Dream Act, and the necessity of it.

The Dream Act is great as part of comprehensive immigration reform. However, without more legal pathways to proper immigration that don't require illegal immigration to start, the Dream Act provides even more incentive for illegal immigration.

[BerenTebogo]

The fact that Harvard isn't at the top in every department isn't relevant. In a neutral setting ignoring specialized departments virtually everyone would take HYPS over Cal or Umich in student quality and academic rigor.

If you are getting that specialized in departments you have generally average schools like Cal State Pomona (Calpoly Pomona) with top of the nation departments. That still doesn't mean anything for the quality of the students in general.

Well, honest question here because maybe it's just clearer to me. Who goes to a college that costs $30,000 or more a year without a direction in mind? Why wouldn't you aspire to go to the school that focuses most strongly in your area?

I don't like broad statements about X is better than Y because of test scores and the like. The things that matter to anyone with a brain need to be scrutinized more closely.

Edit: I should say that the only reason I'm even arguing this is because I've had schools up my ass with recruitment due to my GPA after CC (did Phi Theta Kappa so they sent my name out, etc). I got recruited by Columbia, applied for shits, and am choosing a local state school over Columbia so that I can afford to do my grad work at UC Berkely. UCB being the best school in the country for my specialty, hands down. So in some sense I'm arguing the decision I've already made for the sake of it.

[Plow]

4.09 isn't getting you into Harvard unless you're exorbitantly rich. At *best* it's really about a 3.8, at worst it's around a 3.0.

My family is rich as fuck. Nowhere near rich enough to buy our way into Harvard. Barely rich enough to afford going without scholarships, that shit is expensive as fuck.

If you want to buy your way into Harvard, we're not talking a few million. We're talking 10's. It's not the ridiculous joke to get in you people seem to think it is.


That would be Notre Dame.

[archibaldcrane]

4.09 isn't getting you into Harvard unless you're exorbitantly rich. At *best* it's really about a 3.8, at worst it's around a 3.0.

She's hispanic, it's probably a shoo-in.

[Plow]

Well, honest question here because maybe it's just clearer to me. Who goes to a college that costs $30,000 or more a year without a direction in mind? Why wouldn't you aspire to go to the school that focuses most strongly in your area?

I don't like broad statements about X is better than Y because of test scores and the like. The things that matter to anyone with a brain need to be scrutinized more closely.

Edit: I should say that the only reason I'm even arguing this is because I've had schools up my ass with recruitment due to my GPA after CC. I got recruited by Columbia, applied for shits, and am choosing a local state school over Columbia so that I can afford to do my grad work at UC Berkely. UCB being the best school in the country for my specialty, hands down. So in some sense I'm arguing the decision I've already made for the sake of it.

You realize they recruit people, but don't accept them, on a regular basis, right?

Both of my sisters have masters, one just finished all her actual classes for her PHD. The other just finished her first semester of work on her JD. Harvard was "recruiting" her heavily, with major scholarships on the table. But then they didn't accept her. So she's at Georgia, which is a damn good law school, with a full ride the rest of the way.

[BerenTebogo]

You realize they recruit people, but don't accept them, on a regular basis, right?

Both of my sisters have masters, one just finished all her actual classes for her PHD. The other just finished her first semester of work on her JD. Harvard was "recruiting" her heavily, with major scholarships on the table. But then they didn't accept her. So she's at Georgia, which is a damn good law school, with a full ride the rest of the way.

I got in, ace. I think that's clearly implied.

I wouldn't be able to afford anything other than a cardboard box in NYC even after applicable loans and scholarships though. Fuck that shit and fuck NYC. Not a hard decision for me I guess, lol.

[Plow]

I got in, ace. I think that's clearly implied.

Eh, kind of, but the implication that you assumed since you were getting recruited that you would automatically get in was perceivable since you didn't actually say you applied and were accepted heh.


Just thought I'd point out using my sister as an example that you can be a hell of a student, good enough to get tons of attention from them, and still not be good enough for Ivy league schools, especially in the areas they're most well known for on an individual basis. (i.e. Harvard law)

[BerenTebogo]

Eh, kind of, but the implication that you assumed since you were getting recruited that you would automatically get in was perceivable since you didn't actually say you applied and were accepted heh.

Fair enough. I do see that now that you point it out.

[Gredival]

Well, honest question here because maybe it's just clearer to me. Who goes to a college that costs $30,000 or more a year without a direction in mind? Why wouldn't you aspire to go to the school that focuses most strongly in your area?

I don't like broad statements about X is better than Y because of test scores and the like. The things that matter to anyone with a brain need to be scrutinized more closely.

Edit: I should say that the only reason I'm even arguing this is because I've had schools up my ass with recruitment due to my GPA after CC. I got recruited by Columbia, applied for shits, and am choosing a local state school over Columbia so that I can afford to do my grad work at UC Berkely. UCB being the best school in the country for my specialty, hands down. So in some sense I'm arguing the decision I've already made for the sake of it.

Now if you know exactly what you want to do, none of this need apply. I myself am going to Law School this fall and my application was hurt by an average-ish GPA. That is because I went to a very competitive school that's a peer to HYP as far as admissions statistics. If I could go back I would definitely have gone to UCLA or Cal, chose easy over "academically challenge but rewarding" classes, and rode to a near 4.0 off the mediocrity of average classmates.

But there are many times where choosing on prestige makes sense.

Many people don't intend to do graduate school, so paying for a brand name diploma might be very important coming into the job market right after graduation. Especially in a situation where general prestige might be more important than how respected your specific department, the school's prestige can speak to your qualification.

If you want to see how go meet some new people for two weeks. For one week tell them that next summer you are going to Harvard. The next week tell another group you are going to a local community college. Who was more impressed by you the first five minutes of conversation before even knowing you? You may think these are just average people and you don't need to impress them... but many employers ARE average people. If you're not trying to get into a job with enough specialization to require the employer to know the top-10 schools in their field, you are always going to be better off if you can name-drop an Ivy.

Additionally if you don't know what exactly you want to do going to a school like Harvard is a safe way to make sure doors are open to you after graduation. Sure it may not be the ideal path, but I can guarantee you that no door will be closed to you because you went to Harvard. When you don't know what you want to do in life that flexibility is more important than local Tijuana Tech's high placement in Engineering -- specialized reputation limits you and is therefore not of use unless you are 100% set on your life path. And the fact is that a huge number of people change majors in college (I want to say 50% but I have no idea if that's correct).

Better schools get more employers for OCI programs. This is essential to getting a high paying job if you are trying to break into a competitive market without any connections.

Those better professors are also usually helpful in networking.