Student
Application

Applications for the Fall 2024 program will open May 1, 2024

Who We Are

Freedom University is a safe educational space for young people, age 17-25, who identify as undocumented immigrants. We welcome students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), undocumented students ineligible for DACA, and survivors of human trafficking. We do not charge tuition of any kind and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We accept up to 25 students each semester based on a written application and video-conference interview, and require that our students commit to attending all weekly classes, supporting one another, and never giving up on their dream of attending college. Please see our list of courses from previous semesters.

When We Meet

Before the pandemic, we met in a confidential location in central Atlanta on Sunday afternoons. Since March 2020, we met on group video conferencing on Zoom to observe CDC social distancing guidelines. We teach using a hybrid model, with in-person classes on Saturdays and online classes on Sundays.

On Saturdays, we hold in-person mental health and arts courses, and monthly community leadership trainings called “Encuentros.” On Sundays, we hold online courses in human rights, college preparation, and STEM. Due to the low access to health insurance in the undocumented community, and the high percentage of students living in multi-generational homes with elders and unvaccinated children vulnerable to infection, all staff, students, and faculty must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and wear masks to participate in our courses, college tours, and community engagement programs.

Fall 2024 Course Schedule (September 15 - December 15, 2024)

To be announced, but will include five courses in Human Rights, College Essay Writing, CLEP Psychology, and the Arts.

Summer 2024 Japan Virtual Study Abroad Program (July 1 - 25, 2024)

Open only to current Freedom University students, Dream.US Scholars at Oglethorpe University, and Mariposa Scholars at Emory University.

Spring 2024 Class Schedule (January 21 - May 19, 2024)

Sundays (Online)

1:00-2:15pm: STEM Course: College Mathematics

2:15-2:30pm: Break

2:30-3:45pm: Human Rights: Indigenous Studies

3:45-4:00pm: Break

4:00-5:15pm: Academic Writing: Writing Tutoring Workshop

Saturdays (In-Person)

12:00-1:00pm: Meditation and Mindfulness

2:00-3:00pm: In-Person Office Hours

3:00-5:00pm: In-Person Arts Course: Media Production

5:00-7:00pm: Monthly “Encuentro” Community Leadership Trainings

(If you need a ride to class, please contact our Student Coordinator, Gabriela Solis)

*All information submitted is confidential and will only be seen by two Freedom University staff members. Please include your mailing address, as we will deliver books and materials to students prior to the first day of class.

What To Expect

Freedom University is an underground school that balances the liberatory goals of a freedom school with the tangible goals of a college preparation program. While students do not receive college credit for their coursework at Freedom University, students do take CLEP courses that prepare them for the College Board CLEP exams, which grant college credits that can be transferred to a future college. In addition, we assist students navigate the complex college application process as first-generation undocumented youth, prepare them to succeed in rigorous college environments, and provide them with a welcoming and supportive community of mentors, professors, and undocumented peers.

As the only school for undocumented youth, we are considered the one true sanctuary campus in the United States. Most importantly, our human rights curriculum seeks to restore students’ sense of individual dignity and collective power. By centering students’ cultural identities and deepening their political consciousness, we empower them with the knowledge and tools they need to actively participate in the positive transformation of the world.

As a student applicant, you will receive a phone call from a staff member regarding your video conference interview, which will take place on August 24 and 25, 2024. Students are accepted based on their character, the alignment of their personal goals with our mission, their agreement to the principles in the Student Code of Conduct, and their commitment to the collective good of the Freedom University community. Students will receive notice of their acceptance to our Fall 2024 Program by August 28, 2024.