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<blockquote> <p>I was considering serving time in the armed forces before college>.</p> </blockquote>
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<p>That will make you an independent student for finaid purposes BUT it will NOT give you instate status in CA unless you reside in CA for a year before you enroll in college...work full time, and support yourself. No Berkeley does not give automatic aid to NMS students. I'm not from CA so I can't comment on merit aid....but my bet would be that since it is a UC, the bulk of their merit aid goes to top applicants from within CA. I believe veterans also do receive some kind of college stipend, don't they?</p>