<p>So I'm an out of state applicant, and UT Austin is one of my choices. Lately, I've been thinking about financial aid for all of these schools, because I don't have an in-state safety school to fall back on for a full ride (I qualify for the 100% tuition scholarship for Florida schools.) Anyways, I was thinking of a situation that may be able to help should I decide to attend UT. Here it goes:</p>
<p>My parents are divorced. My mom is my custodial parent and I live with her in Florida. My dad is my noncustodial (obviously) and lives in Texas. Well, my dad has enough money to pay for a full two years of school with out of state tuition if were not given any aid at all, but I thought of something that, if it works, can drastically change the money issue. Seeing as how I skipped a grade and will be graduating/attending college at the age of 17, I will still be listed as the custodial child of my mom and will have to use her address as where I lived and whatnot. However, I was wondering, when I turn 18 (February 2010) I wouldn't be bound by custody, and could change my home address to my dad's, thus making me an in-state student and eligible for the in-state tuition by my sophomore year at the earliest. Question is, will that work? Does UT employ a policy that I have to live in Texas (have a Texas address) for X amount of time or will the fact that I "live there" now change my condition from the start?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance, answers would be appreciated, although I'm not entirely sure that this is in the right forum. (also posted this in the UT Austin forum just in case)</p>
<p>You need to check the Texas guidelines for this. Many schools do not reclassify students after their freshman year…in other words, if you are OOS as a freshman, it is very difficult to change to instate status in subsequent years. </p>
<p>Also…you need to find out if you can establish residency in state WHILE you are enrolled at UT as an out of state student (which is what you would be your freshman year). Some schools will say NO to this also…regardless of where your parents move to.</p>
<p>I don’t know the policies of the UT system. You need to contact someone there and ask.</p>
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<p>I’m confused…full tuition sure sounds like a wonderful “fall back” to me…at the Florida schools. Did you NOT apply there? If that is the case, you had a terrific fallback…but didn’t take advantage of it.</p>
<p>Yes, I didn’t take advantage of it. I’m really not fond of Florida as a whole and at the very least want to go out and be in new places. But thanks for the answer. It was really something that I thought of randomly while walking my dog, and it dawned on me to ask here and see if it could actually work.</p>
<p>I don’t think who has custody matters, just who you live with for FAFSA purposes. In some states you would be considered in state anyway if your father has lived and paid taxes there for a year. If Texas doesn’t, you could take a gap year and live with your dad which would make you in state.</p>
<p>Check the req above, but you may be able to do it by moving to TX, living with your Dad and establishing residency, THEN apply for UTA the next year</p>