Hello Americans! I am from Mexico and I have no money. I live in Detroit. I want to go to college here?

Question

But I have no money. How can I get financial aid? Please help me. Thank you.

Answer 1

Maria: You told us where you were from, and where you were living, but you didn't tell us about the most important consideration of all - whether you are a US citizen or a permanent resident.

The number one source of financial aid to college students in the US is the federal government, but there are very specific rules about who is eligible to apply for this type of assistance. The rules can be a little complicated, but in a somewhat oversimplified way, federal aid is only available to applicants who are US citizens, permanent residents, and individuals granted refugee or asylum status. (I've left out a few additional categories, but they won't apply to your situation)

If you are eligible for federal financial aid, your next step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or "FAFSA". When you complete that application, you will be required to provide the "A-number" that you received from immigration.

If you're not qualified for federal aid, that doesn't mean you're totally out of luck, because the schools are free to provide assistance to any students they choose to assist. If you have significant financial need, you should contact the financial aid office at the school you hope to attend. The chances of assistance are dramatically improved if you present exceptional academic potential.

If you'd like to read more about the federal aid system, I've attached a booklet from the US Department of Education that explains the entire financial aid program. I'll go ahead and attach links to both the English and Spanish versions, if you or your parents would prefer to review the information in Spanish, as well.

Good luck to you - I hope this helped.