He then earned a
master's degree in biology. He earned a master's degree in biology because his dream was to go to
medical school. But before DACA, it was impossible. He could not apply
for medical school. The medical schools of America were not accepting
the students who were undocumented. He knew if he went to medical
school anywhere and didn't have a legal right to work, he couldn't
complete a residency at the end of medical school. So he got a master's
degree in biology and a minor in molecular biology and worked as a
teaching assistant. Then DACA came along. Today, Cesar is the first DACA student who is
enrolled in the MD-PhD program at Loyola University Chicago Stritch
School of Medicine. He is entering his third year of this highly
competitive program. They accept only a handful for an MD-PhD. On
completion, he will receive a medical degree and a doctorate degree in
science. He is one of more than 30 DACA recipients at this medical
school, which I am so proud of, in Chicago. It was, in fact, the first
medical school to admit students with DACA status, beginning in 2014. DACA students don't get special treatment--no quotas. They have to
compete. But amazingly bright, young people like Cesar were just
waiting for a chance to compete.
Keywords matched
undocumented DACA