Will having a green card help in the graduate admissions process?

A green card indicates that as a permanent resident of the United States, you have been granted permission to legally reside and work within the country. This year alone, thousands of international students will apply to U.S. graduate programs as green card holders. While the card provides obvious benefits outside of your education, students often grapple with whether or not it can provide them any real advantage in the admissions process.

Personal advantages aside, the green card will not give you a leg up in the eyes of an admissions officer. In general, international students will be evaluated in one applicant pool from the country in which they reside. Admissions officers, in turn, will not judge applicants based on citizenship or immigration status.

With that said, it’s important for prospective graduate students to recognize how a Green Card can make their post-baccalaureate studies more affordable.

For starters, being a permanent resident of the U.S. allows students to be legally employed full-time. For graduate students looking for an internship during school, an authorized Curricular Practical Training (CPT) will allow F1 visa students to take part in part-time employment only.

The CPT, however, only goes so far. For students seeking full time employment in the years following their schooling, the green card will be a necessary asset.

In addition, green card holders will also be eligible for federal student aid via FAFSA. Grants and loans can be a welcome relief for graduate students on the cusp of their own career and financial responsibility.