Applying to college is never easy.
For some Alta Vista Charter School seniors, applying to college is even harder.
“Like their classmates, they want to apply to schools they’ve always intended or wanted to go to," said John Kearney, a teacher at the school. "Throughout the process they are figuring out some of these other challenges.”
Last year Missouri state lawmakers made it tougher for undocumented students to attend public colleges and universities.
They passedHouse Bill 3, requiring Missouri public universities and colleges to charge undocumented students out-of-state tuition rates. They also passed Senate Bill 224, taking away A+ Scholarship Program from undocumented students.
COLLEGE COST COMPARISON:
University of Missouri
- In-state tuition rate: $5,293 a semester
- Out-of-state tuition rate: $12,599 a semester
Northwest Missouri State University
- In-state tuition rate: $3,947 a semester
- Out-of-state tuition rate: $6,897 a semester
University of Missouri -- Kansas City
- In-state tuition rate: $4,776 a semester
- Out-of-state tuition rate: $11,357 a semester
At the time, lawmakers said the bills were necessary to send a message against illegal immigration, arguing it was unfair to reward those who came to the country illegally.
At Alta Vista Charter School, undocumented students make up 40 to 45 percent of the student body.
“It’s really made public four year colleges really not an option for our students anymore,” said Kearney.
41 Action News spoke to four seniors who are living in the United States illegally. Each came to the country from Mexico when they were young. The girls asked 41 Action News to use their first names only.
Vanessa’s plan was to go to UMKC. She wanted to study business while living at home to save money and help her single-mother with expenses. Since the new law went into effect, she’s had to reconsider her options—apply to schools hours away in different states.
Vanessa
Vanessa first came to the country from Mexico when she was three-years-old. She told 41 Action News, living in the United States is all she can remember.
“Because of my immigration status people see me differently. If you put yourself in my parents shoes, wouldn’t you do the same? This way your kids could have a better future? What parent wouldn’t do that,” she said.
Vanessa’s plan was to go to UMKC. She wanted to study business while living at home to save money and help her single-mother with expenses. Since the new law went into effect, she’s had to reconsider her options—apply to schools hours away in different states.
“I kept working hard, getting good grades, staying up at night,” Vanessa said. It seems “all of my hard work was for nothing because of my status.”
Leticia is hoping to get a scholarship from the College of St. Mary in Omaha. If she does, she will be forced to leave her mother and 8-year-old brother, who she currently cares for when their mom is working.
Leticia
Leticia came to the United States when she was eight-years-old.
She told 41 Action News she always wanted to go to Northwest Missouri State. She even started working two after-school jobs to save money.
But since the new law, neither Leticia nor her mother can now afford the tuition.
“We’ve done nothing wrong. All we want to do is just go to college and have a better life,” she said.
Leticia is hoping to get a scholarship from the College of St. Mary in Omaha. If she does, she will be forced to leave her mother and 8-year-old brother, who she currently cares for when their mom is working.
“My my brought us here for us to get a better education, something she couldn’t get,” Anahi said. “I have to do something with my life and there’s no other way out except taking higher education.”
Anahi
Anahi wants to be a lawyer. Her mother brought her to the United States when she was eight-years-old.
“My my brought us here for us to get a better education, something she couldn’t get,” Anahi said. “I have to do something with my life and there’s no other way out except taking higher education.”
Instead of Missouri public colleges and universities, Anahi is now looking at and applying for scholarships to private Catholic colleges and universities. These schools, because of their endowments and missions, are becoming go-to options for undocumented students.
“I wonder ‘why, why are they doing this?’ We are not causing any harm,” Wendy said. “Us, undocumented students, have to try and get good grades. We want to go to college and those who have the opportunity don’t take it.”
Wendy
Wendy first came to the country when she was eight-years-old. At first, she told 41 Action News it was tough to adjust.
“I had to ask the kid next to me to ask the teacher if I could go to the bathroom because I didn’t know how to,” she said.
Since sophomore year, Wendy has worked hard to get As and Bs. She has the grades and test scores to get into a good Missouri public college or university but she does not have the funds to pay the out-of-state tuition.
“I wonder ‘why, why are they doing this?’ We are not causing any harm,” Wendy said. “Us, undocumented students, have to try and get good grades. We want to go to college and those who have the opportunity don’t take it.”
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Ariel Rothfield can be reached at ariel.rothfield@kshb.com.
