Undocumented Latina Striving for a PhD/JD
Hello, my name is Carolina Lopez and I am a first-generation, low-income, undocumented Latina who just recently completed my fourth year of undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley. I will officially be graduating this upcoming fall with two bachelor's degrees, one in Psychology and one in Philosophy, and I am currently in the process of applying to graduate school programs.
It is my intention to pursue a dual PhD/JD with a PhD in research in Psychology, specifically in the psychology of stigma and prejudice, and a JD with an emphasis in either immigration or criminal law. I plan to apply to both law school and graduate school with the ultimate goal of intersecting my future work in each field for the purposes of reducing the adverse effects of stigma/prejudice present in the justice system as well as in the fields of education and healthcare.
Since I began my journey at UC Berkeley, I have been completely financially independent. I managed to fully support myself by working 20+ hours a week as well as by securing my spot in the Kruttschnitt Aspire Scholarship Program--a four-year scholarship program housed within the Cal Alumni Association--shortly before my arrival at Cal. As of right now, I hold three different work positions: one as a supervisor at the Recreational Sports Facility on campus, one as a tutor/mentor at Oakland high schools and middle schools through an education non-profit called East Bay Consortium, and one as an Immigration Law Fellow with Immigrants Rising, a non-profit dedicated to empowering undocumented young people to achieve educational and career goals through personal, institutional, and policy transformation. Throughout my years at Cal, I also served as an Intake Intern with the Educational Opportunity Program & Undocumented Student Program, a Golden Bear Orientation Leader with UC Berkeley New Student Services, a Volunteer Note Taker for the Disabled Students' Program, and a Research Assistant at the Social Interaction Lab headed by esteemed Psychology professor, Dacher Keltner.
The hours I have dedicated to working in the past and the hours I will dedicate to the three jobs I am working this upcoming year are enough for me to continue to be completely financially independent, but they are not enough to fund my aspirations to apply to graduate school--especially considering that certain fee waivers and reductions require proof of citizenship or residency in order to apply. For this reason, I am asking for you to support my endeavors to apply to a dual program this upcoming fall by contributing to my campaign.
Below are the reasons why I believe you should invest in me, along with a compiled list of the expenditures your investments will contribute to.
You should invest in me because...
-I have big plans to make a difference in this world and I do whatever I need to in order to bring my dreams to fruition, regardless of the rigor or adversity I may face along the way
-I am deeply passionate about social justice issues, and am more than willing to dedicate all of my efforts to help bring about change that will uplift oppressed communities
-I plan to serve as a channel for undocumented folks who are interested in pursuing graduate degrees, providing them with the information, resources, and guidance they need to overcome the educational inequalities they face
Your contributions will go towards...
-GRE and LSAT test prep courses
-registration fees for the GRE and LSAT (the required exams for graduate and law school respectively)
-fees to send GRE and LSAT test score reports to the schools to which I am applying
-application fees collected by schools upon submission of the application
-travel expenses for potential in-person interviews (administered by graduate schools if considered to be a strong applicant)
-travel expenses to visit the campuses (including hotel stay, food expenses, ground transportation, etc.)
-the ability to temporarily reduce my working hours in order to spend more time focusing on GRE/LSAT test prep, connecting with advisors, professors, and current graduate students, and prepping the application essays
-the amount of coffee I will be needing in order to apply to two graduate programs within the same cycle...
I am a fighter. I was born a fighter and was further cultivated into one by my experiences and the adversity I faced as an undocumented, first-generation, low-income, womxn of color in America. I have fought and will continue to fight for my rights and my education, but now the time has come for me to start fighting for the rights and education of my community and others that are similarly disadvantaged. Help me continue to be the fighter that I am so that I can aid in bringing about the social change that we, as a nation, desperately need.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and please share, share, share!!! Your time and donations are appreciated more than words can describe.
P.S. Donations are welcome via venmo as well: @carolinalpz14
It is my intention to pursue a dual PhD/JD with a PhD in research in Psychology, specifically in the psychology of stigma and prejudice, and a JD with an emphasis in either immigration or criminal law. I plan to apply to both law school and graduate school with the ultimate goal of intersecting my future work in each field for the purposes of reducing the adverse effects of stigma/prejudice present in the justice system as well as in the fields of education and healthcare.
Since I began my journey at UC Berkeley, I have been completely financially independent. I managed to fully support myself by working 20+ hours a week as well as by securing my spot in the Kruttschnitt Aspire Scholarship Program--a four-year scholarship program housed within the Cal Alumni Association--shortly before my arrival at Cal. As of right now, I hold three different work positions: one as a supervisor at the Recreational Sports Facility on campus, one as a tutor/mentor at Oakland high schools and middle schools through an education non-profit called East Bay Consortium, and one as an Immigration Law Fellow with Immigrants Rising, a non-profit dedicated to empowering undocumented young people to achieve educational and career goals through personal, institutional, and policy transformation. Throughout my years at Cal, I also served as an Intake Intern with the Educational Opportunity Program & Undocumented Student Program, a Golden Bear Orientation Leader with UC Berkeley New Student Services, a Volunteer Note Taker for the Disabled Students' Program, and a Research Assistant at the Social Interaction Lab headed by esteemed Psychology professor, Dacher Keltner.
The hours I have dedicated to working in the past and the hours I will dedicate to the three jobs I am working this upcoming year are enough for me to continue to be completely financially independent, but they are not enough to fund my aspirations to apply to graduate school--especially considering that certain fee waivers and reductions require proof of citizenship or residency in order to apply. For this reason, I am asking for you to support my endeavors to apply to a dual program this upcoming fall by contributing to my campaign.
Below are the reasons why I believe you should invest in me, along with a compiled list of the expenditures your investments will contribute to.
You should invest in me because...
-I have big plans to make a difference in this world and I do whatever I need to in order to bring my dreams to fruition, regardless of the rigor or adversity I may face along the way
-I am deeply passionate about social justice issues, and am more than willing to dedicate all of my efforts to help bring about change that will uplift oppressed communities
-I plan to serve as a channel for undocumented folks who are interested in pursuing graduate degrees, providing them with the information, resources, and guidance they need to overcome the educational inequalities they face
Your contributions will go towards...
-GRE and LSAT test prep courses
-registration fees for the GRE and LSAT (the required exams for graduate and law school respectively)
-fees to send GRE and LSAT test score reports to the schools to which I am applying
-application fees collected by schools upon submission of the application
-travel expenses for potential in-person interviews (administered by graduate schools if considered to be a strong applicant)
-travel expenses to visit the campuses (including hotel stay, food expenses, ground transportation, etc.)
-the ability to temporarily reduce my working hours in order to spend more time focusing on GRE/LSAT test prep, connecting with advisors, professors, and current graduate students, and prepping the application essays
-the amount of coffee I will be needing in order to apply to two graduate programs within the same cycle...
I am a fighter. I was born a fighter and was further cultivated into one by my experiences and the adversity I faced as an undocumented, first-generation, low-income, womxn of color in America. I have fought and will continue to fight for my rights and my education, but now the time has come for me to start fighting for the rights and education of my community and others that are similarly disadvantaged. Help me continue to be the fighter that I am so that I can aid in bringing about the social change that we, as a nation, desperately need.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and please share, share, share!!! Your time and donations are appreciated more than words can describe.
P.S. Donations are welcome via venmo as well: @carolinalpz14
Organizer
Carolina Lopez
Organizer
Berkeley, CA