Welcome, undocu+ Trojans, and congratulations on your admission to the University of Southern California. Your admission is a testament to your passion and hard work, and it does not go unnoticed. Though it may feel isolating to be an undocumented student at a private university, there are more than 450,000 other undocumented students in higher education navigating the same process you are not starting.

Community support 

Entering the University campus can feel overwhelming, especially in wondering which clubs represent and support you. Formerly known as Improving Dreams, Equality, Access and Success at USC, the Undocumented Trojan Success Assembly has space for you. Beginning its trial period as an assembly in Fall 2024, the assembly aims to support the undocumented community through allyship and providing resources to the undocumented population at USC. Students can get involved through Instagram and find more information at the Involvement Fair at the beginning of each semester.

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The assembly will be part of the Undergraduate Student Government and serve as the first-ever assembly to fully represent the undocumented community. The assembly aims to connect the undocumented community through general body meetings, monthly events and advocacy work.  

Other assemblies that focus on different identities and overall well-being of the student body–including the Black Student Assembly, Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment, Student Assembly for Accessibility and Academic Culture Assembly are present on campus. 

Additionally, when searching for residential colleges to reside in, there are special interest communities available to students; for example, the Latinx Floor serves Latine students, and Somerville Place uplifts Black students. Both are located at Pardee Tower. The Student Union, which hosts USC’s cultural centers, USG assemblies and other student communities — welcome you. 

Financial Aid

Financial aid varies from student to student, and as an undocumented student, the process tends to be lengthy and frustrating. Especially for first-generation students, navigating financial aid forms can be confusing and lead to potential mix-ups with documentation. For this reason, here are ways to prepare for financial aid at USC with some forms to help navigate the process more smoothly.

All USC students must file and submit the College Scholarship Service Profile — this allows incoming and current students to apply for non-federal financial aid. Every year you return to the University, you must submit this form. For California students, you may additionally submit the California Dream Act application. This allows you to receive state aid. 

Additionally, all students and their parents are required to submit their 2022 tax returns to the Financial Aid Summary and Tasks page, the financial aid portal of the University. The FAST portal will present students with any additional documents they need to submit to adjust or qualify for financial aid. In order to confirm your immigrant status to the University, you must submit a third-party letter confirming your undocumented status. This letter will allow the financial aid office to confirm you are a resident and not an international student. 

It should be noted that there are plenty of undocumented students on campus who can provide you with further support. The process can be confusing and frustrating, but know you are not alone; reach out and take advantage of resources such as the Undocumented Trojan Success Assembly, which has assisted and provided students with direct connections to administration, external scholarships and personal experiences on navigating financial aid. Furthermore, the First Generation Plus Success Center houses undocumented resources to direct you to appropriate resources to support financial challenges with undocumented status. 

Scholarships 

The USC Alumni Networks empower and further provide career services to students. From internships to fellowships, LinkedIn can become a useful tool in searching for available positions and alumni connections. However, in financing college expenses, alumni associations have provided thousands of scholarships to current students. Associations such as the Latino Alumni Association, Black Alumni Association, Asian Pacific Alumni Association, Lambda LGBTQ+ Alumni Association and more have provided countless opportunities for students. To learn more, all incoming students can apply through the alumni association website. 

Despite the many resources that exist at USC, there are further external resources when arriving in Los Angeles that will support your well-being in college, such as the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, Black Alliance for Just Immigration and Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. Utilizing the available resources in navigating your unique college journey will ensure that you are best supported while you are a student. There is a space for you at this University and there is much more to explore while you spend your college years at USC. 

Heydy Vasquez is a sophomore writing about the lack of support for undocumented students on college campuses. Her column, “Undocu-Tales,” runs every other Wednesday.