Support Services

• Internships
• Research
• Volunteering
• Academic Projects
• Professional Projects
• Part-Time Positions
• Student Leadership Roles
• Student Organization/Membership

• To get started, you can make an appointment with a Career Coach/Advisor at the UCC or with the career services office within your school/college:
  • https://umich.joinhandshake.com/appointments/new/
  • Your conversation with a career coach may include talking about your interests, skills, values, challenges and past experiences. This will help narrow down the types of opportunities that you may enjoy and help you identify areas you want to pursue. Talking with career professionals will help clarify your goals and help navigate related experiences that are available.
  • This link will connect you to a list of career offices within the schools/colleges to learn more about what is available to students from the particular majors that they each serve, that complement the broad UCC offering: https://hireblue.umich.edu/career-services-offices
• Search for opportunities on Handshake (UCC) and other job posting sites (individual schools/colleges). Handshake is the University Career Center’s exclusive job and internship searching tool (NOTE: Handshake supports Stamps Art and Design, School of Music, Theatre and Dance, and Michigan Athletics). You can learn about on-campus career events, sign up to participate in career programs (Immersions, Employer Challenges, Events), and access the national database of jobs and internships. The job posting section allows you to narrow your search by industry, position type, and location through the Advanced Search feature. There are thousands of postings, so considering what is most important to you will help you customize the list of opportunities. And remember, the UCC staff and staff in other career offices on campus,  are always available to help you through this process.

• Friends;
• Family;
• Family Friends;
• UM Faculty and faculty from previous institutions;
• Mentors;
• Alumni;
• Coworkers and Supervisors (current and previous).

• University of Michigan Office of Financial Aid (OFA): The Office of Financial Aid website provides links to multiple scholarships offered by the university, departments, private sources, with a section specifically devoted to DACA students: https://finaid.umich.edu/undocumented-students/.
  • Krissy Bhaumik (kbhaumik@umich.edu)- Associate Director, Financial Wellness, Advising and Eligibility Units is a key contact available to address your specific situation.
• University of Michigan Undocumented Students Website: This resource has a section on funding that includes external scholarships for DACA and undocumented students: https://undocumented.umich.edu/funding/.

Getting help preparing your application materials

When completing online applications, you will typically need a resume and cover letter. You are encouraged to make an appointment with the UCC or your school/college career center to get feedback on your resume and other related materials. The staff in these offices will be able to address any questions you may have about navigating the hiring process.

Will your status affect the application process?

As a DACA student, it is likely that you will first encounter this question when completing job applications: “Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?”

• If you currently have DACA status, you are able to answer that question with a “yes” and move through the organization’s hiring process without needing to discuss your immigration status.
• If you do not currently have DACA status or any other work authorization status, there will be a few stages in the process in which your status may come into question. These situations are discussed in the link below.

For information: “Life after College: A Guide for Undocumented Students,” published by Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC).

• Assess your interests, values, goals, and abilities honestly and realistically;
• Become familiar with types of degrees and degree levels;
• Explore eligibility requirements, especially if your chosen field requires state/national licensure (medicine and other health professions; law, etc.);
• Understand applicability, marketability and scope of the degree(s) considered;
• Talk to people in the field, read about relevant issues, spend time with people in the professional settings that you wish to join;
• Build a competitive profile, both in terms of academic and non-academic preparation (See the Getting Experience section of this document);
• Practice articulating your reasons for wanting to pursue a degree by connecting your skills, personal traits, academic and life experiences, and professional interests to your targeted field
• Investigate ways to finance your education;
• Research schools and programs—understand program nuances;
• Fully understand the application process, timelines, and mechanics;
• Decide when and where to apply.

• Master’s programs typically require a 2-3 year commitment and they are geared toward increasing your knowledge and experience in a certain area (i.e., counseling, education, social work, and business).
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs  can last between 5-7 years and they focus on deeply increasing  one’s knowledge in a specific area. These degrees include research and teaching in academia (at a university-level) and prepare graduates to use this background in research and teaching in settings like college campuses, labs, government and/ or to use a particular skills set in an industry environment (i.e., consulting, data analysis, tech transfer).
• Professional school programs prepare you for careers in specific fields and can range from 2-7+ years. Examples include but are not limited to: medical school (7+ years), law school (3 years) and higher education (2 years).

• Academic requirements:  Do you need to take certain courses to be able to apply?  What kind of GPA do admitted applicants have on average?
• Entrance tests: Do you need to take a standardized test with your application materials such as the MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, etc.? When is the test offered and how can you best prepare?
• Experience requirements: Does your chosen degree expect you to complete certain preparatory experiences such as working or volunteering in the field or shadowing professionals?  Do you need to provide a verified record of such activities?
• Ally communities: Does the university you are considering have resources for DACA students? How easy will it be to find support on campus through a DACA Student Services office? What relevant student organizations are available?
• Cost: How much would an advanced degree cost?  What kind of financial aid is available both in general and specifically for DACA students?  Which programs offer scholarships and/or assistantships to offset the cost of graduate school?

• Fellowships/scholarships: Private and institutional scholarships may be available.  Check with the institutions that you are targeting about resources that may be available to students in general and to DACA students in particular since there may be restrictions with immigration status.  Educators for Fair Consideration have published a list of scholarships and fellowships (2017-2018) that do not require proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency: (https://immigrantsrising.org).
• Assistantships: Many graduate programs offer assistantships, which will allow you to work on-campus as a research assistant (RA), Graduate Student Assistant (GSA), Graduate Student Instructors (GSI), or Teaching Assistant (TA).  These assistantships often cover tuition costs and at times offer stipends for living expenses. As an undergraduate student, you have probably worked with graduate assistants in your course labs or lectures. Be sure to look into eligibility criteria.
• Private loans: Depending on restrictions with each banking institution, it may be possible to secure private loans.  Private loans often have higher interest rates, and should be researched carefully so the terms for repayment are fully understood. Larger loan amounts may also require a co-signer; however, some banks may allow you to take out a small private loan without an additional signer.