Getting to and through college isn’t easy. Unfortunately, the Trump administration’s recent attacks on universities, free speech, campus DEI initiatives, and its efforts to undercut the federal student loan and financial aid system threaten to make life harder for many students — especially first-generation students, students of color, and students from low-income backgrounds, who were already struggling to pay for college and now face additional stress and uncertainty. I spoke with Aaliyah, a student at a private university in Colorado, about her academic journey and how this administration’s policies are impacting students and campus life at her college. Here’s what she said:

On getting to college and the benefits of dual enrollment

I’ve lived in Colorado my whole life. I attended a low-income high school, and I’m first generation, so no one in my family has been to college. In high school, I applied to a bunch of programs to have the mentorship to understand what it takes to get into college and the scores I needed to get in. And I applied to a lot of scholarships.

I had the opportunity to take dual-enrollment classes through my local community college, which was a few miles away, so I was able to earn a lot of college credits in high school, and I got most of my math credits out of the way. I didn’t have to take any writing courses, because I got all those done. Dual enrollment is a way for students who don’t have the money for four years to get it done quicker. I know someone who is graduating next year, after three years, because they don’t have the money to support themselves through the last year.

Those classes prepared me for college. Being first generation and from a low-income school, you sometimes feel a little dumb, and you’re like, am I smart enough? Kids whose parents have money and have been to college have mentors. Dual-enrollment classes gave me a foundation and the writing skills and mental strength to get through my first year.

Why she chose this university

Honestly, this university was my last choice. It was the one that gave me the most scholarships, so that’s why I chose it.

On financial aid and paying for college

In my first year, I had to take out loans because I wasn’t given enough aid on account of how much my mom made, which was most confusing, because my mom only made $50,000. I only got a $3,000 Pell Grant for the whole year.

I feel like no one tells first-generation students about different loan types. There are subsidized and unsubsidized loans — and you’re not supposed to take out one of them because it has interest while you’re in school, right? I just wanted to stay in school. I didn’t want my mom paying for anything because she doesn’t have the money. Taking out loans was my only option.

This year, my second, everything is paid for by scholarships, because I applied to a lot of scholarships, went to the financial aid office, and the school gave me grants. I’m confused about where they came from. I mean, thank you to whoever gave them to me, but will I have those scholarships again next year?

I’m thankful for the full ride. It’s just that the financial aid office is sometimes dodgy about scholarships. During the first quarter, I had a gap and didn’t have scholarships to fill it. So, I went to them, and they said, ‘Oh, we can increase this scholarship. It’s not maxed out.’ That’s confusing. Like, what do you mean it’s not maxed out? Why didn’t you max it out in the first place?

I’m nervous about what my financial aid will look like next year because of Trump and also because the school raises the price every year by $2,000 or $3,000. I could graduate early, but I don’t want to if I have the money. I’m just praying, please. I signed up to be an apartment manager next year, which is like a resident adviser (RA), where you get a room grant. Rooms here are like $10,000 a year, so I’m hoping that’s paid for. I may have to drop meals next year and sign up for EBT.

On challenges she’s faced and tradeoffs she’s made

I don’t live like other students, because many of them have money. I don’t go to the clubs or buy drinks. I’m trying to save money to pay my loans after I graduate. And I’m thinking about what happens then. Like, where will I live? Because my housing outside of college isn’t as stable as I want it to be. I hope that by the time I graduate, I have enough money to get my own apartment.

I broke my computer and asked for money to buy a new one. Having a computer is a big thing because everything is online. I was using a school computer, but I had to give it back. So, I’m trying to save up for things I need for school and work, like a computer and a car.

So many jobs and internships require you to have a car to get there, especially in Colorado, which is a big state. Last summer, I was on the bus for 45 minutes just trying to get to my internship. That’s why it’s important for internships to be paid. Having paid internships has helped me save and, hopefully, will enable me to feel more comfortable in the future.

On adjusting to college

When I first got here, I felt like I wasn’t supposed to be here. Being a first-generation student, I felt like the school might kick me out at any moment. I had some support from a program, but it wasn’t as helpful as I wanted it to be. So, it was mainly me figuring out what I want to do. I feel like that’s many students’ experience. As a first-generation, low-income student, you’re just trying to figure out what the next steps are.

The first year is the hardest, because you’re figuring out how the grading system works. How do these professors work? How do I balance my time? Thankfully, I have a 3.99 GPA now. I’ve got straight A’s, but imposter syndrome was a worry coming into college.

I also feel like COVID hit this school hard. After COVID, many DEI offices, on-campus groups, and clubs were slow to start back up, and I noticed a lack of connection and community among students from marginalized backgrounds last year. I felt very alone at first. Not having a parent or anyone to help you navigate college is just 10 times harder, but I figured things out.

I’m a part of a women’s college, and I mentor people too. At my university, there are clubs that I found that just started back up this year, which made me happy but also sad, because I was like, why weren’t y’all here for me last year?

On campus life in the time of Trump

My minor is in critical race and ethnic studies. This year, they cut 50% of the humanities programs, including faculty and classes. There are very few options now.

My minor is in critical race and ethnic studies. Last year, my professor talked about how schools that only want profits will get rid of humanities programs first. This year, they cut like 50% of the humanities programs, including faculty and classes. I’m in the humanities and another college, but they cut a lot of critical race and ethnic studies offerings. We only have three teachers who teach critical race and ethnic studies, and I’m pretty sure they’re adjuncts. There are very few options now.

I’m technically in my second year, but credit-wise, I’m a senior, so I’m less worried about courses. I will say I’m kind of worried about the community here, because we had some Black community initiatives, and the chair for that used to get paid, but he’s no longer paid for that, nor is the person who facilitates critical race and ethnic studies. My main worry is community events, because faculty being paid is an important factor for making those happen. Last year, they did a good job on Black History Month and wanted to showcase it. This year, it felt like they just skipped over it, and it feels like they’re doing things with not a lot.

On how free speech on campus has changed

Many of my professors of color have stopped talking about DEI in our clubs and programs. They’re nervous in this one program, which is a scholar program within the university that gives me $6,000, because what happens if the administration sees it as a DEI program? They might get rid of our scholarships.

A lot of people here are liberal. Many of them agree with DEI and support it, but at the same time, they don’t talk about it much. It feels like it’s not a worry for many people, because they’re not a person of color.

Students are afraid of talking. People want to talk, but students in my public policy classes — we’re doing a partnership with the state of Colorado, doing research for them to use in their policymaking — say they’re nervous about talking about DEI or anything that goes against the Trump administration and being targeted by them. There’s a lot of international students at this university, and some have been sent back to their home countries. So, they’re worried — what happens if I speak out? Will they target me?

Her advice for other first-gen students

When I first got to college, I barely slept because I was worried about how to pay for it. Now I would tell others that, even if they don’t have a full ride, just go, because you’ll find your way. There are so many hidden opportunities. There’s emergency grants and scholarships you can apply for. Another thing that helped me was getting internships, which gave me a community outside of school and money to pay for school. Internships are something that many first years and second years don’t talk about, but I’d say you should start applying for internships and fellowships as early as possible.

I found a civic engagement organization where I got to lobby at the Capitol. I still talk to many of the people who were in the program with me. I was able to save money from that internship and put it into a savings account. No one talks about how important a savings account is in college. This year, I’ve saved up a bunch of money. I’m at $5,000 now, and I’m not as scared of the school kicking me out, because I have that money and, if there is a gap, I’ll be able to fill it on my own.

On what’s next

I have enough credits to graduate early. But I’m fine graduating in 2027, which is when I’m supposed to graduate. I also applied for a jumpstart program to get a master’s in public policy. If it’s not free, I’m not doing it. I’m waiting to hear back.

I want to go to law school, but applying is expensive. I can’t have a horrible LSAT score, but tutoring is expensive, so I’m saving up. I also applied for $3,000 in enrichment funds and I’m waiting to hear back.

Series: Getting To & Through College