By Natalie Spina, Piper Mangold, Felix Otero, Ambrielle Parker and Kortnie McKnight  March 16, 2026 Youthcast Media Group® Every day this fall and winter, Angelina Perez has sat in her bedroom, opened her Common Application, and stared at the list of colleges under her name. As a high school senior, each spare hour has been dedicated to supplemental essays and financial aid forms.  As a low-income first-generation immigrant from Argentina, she knew it wouldn’t be easy. But sh