<p>Hello. I'm an out-of-state resident looking to go to school at UCF for Fall 2013. At first I only applied to UCF to see if I would get any scholarships, and luckily I go something in the mail today (Knight's Achievement Award for Non-Florida Residents) that it valued at $11,000 a year for all four years, totaling $44,000 dollars. This is basically almost a full out-of-state tuition waver, and I am really happy to get it since I would prefer get out of the deep Bible belt and experience other cultures. I'm not sure how many people actually end up with this award.</p>
<p>My question is, can I make UCF work. Normal out-of-state tuition (not including personal expenses) is $32,000 dollars a year according to UCF website (which I'm sure is only going to increase), so with this award my fees will be around $21,000 a year. If I were to go to school in state it would cost me about $19,000 a year. That said, I don't know about any other scholarships I will be getting, and I don't think I will be getting over $1,000 dollars from FAFSA -if that- so I am a bit concerned that this still is not practical. I plan to do work study if I can, or at least get a job to help pay my personal expenses as well as some tuition, but I still don't quite know how much I will be taking out in loans. I am assuming it will be around $15-20,000 a year. I would be taking out the same in-state (Oklahoma), although I may get a scholarship that would knock some off of that.</p>
<p>Now I am fine with taking some student loans, but I do not want to go overboard. I know I will be in debt for a good number of years after college, and as long as I can afford it I'm fine with that. My intended major will be either some form of Engineering, or more likely in the Business field. I may consider going for a masters after graduating.</p>
<p>So with all of this information in mind, what do you guys think I should do. I would REALLY like to go to college at UCF, but I don't want to screw myself over. Before this award I had little hope I would be able to attend at all, and I don't want to get my hopes up prematurely. Thank you!</p>
<p>Edit: In order to keep this scholarship I have to maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA. I don't think this will be a problem, but it IS something to consider.</p>
<p>That is not true Mr. H. I’ve looked into this extensively with other schools. It’t not just living there for a year, it’s obtaining residence for 12 months prior. That means no financial aid from parents, filing a Florida tax return, getting all of your documents in Florida name, breaking all ties with other states. You must be financially independent and not be looking for in-state tuition for schooling purposes. You can email the school and see if they have any special circumstances that would apply to you. Good luck.</p>
<p>From the UCF website:
Important Points You need to Know About Residency Reclassification
Residency Reclassification requirements are established by Florida statutes and the Florida Department of Education administrative code.
Determinations made on residency status are based on the documentation requested on the Residency Reclassification Application and Affidavit. Applicants applying for a residency status change must adhere to the instructions accompanying that form.
There is a difference between being a Florida resident and a Florida resident for tuition purposes. Residing in Florida for a year or longer does not automatically qualify you as a Florida resident for tuition purposes.
To be considered a Florida Resident for Tuition Purposes, you must prove through the submission of official and/or legal documents that you are not merely living in Florida while attending UCF. Each applicant must show proof of a bona fide domicile, rather than a mere temporary residence incident to enrollment in an institution of higher education, during the requisite 12-month qualifying period. On campus housing, Greek housing, and university affiliated housing do not qualify as bona fide domiciles.
Documents establishing Florida residency (for example: drivers license, vehicle registration, voter registration card) must be issued 12 complete months prior to the first day of classes for the term of residency reclassification. Additionally, there must be an absence of any documents representing legal ties to any country or state other than Florida. All documents must be copied onto letter or legal size paper prior to submission to the Registrar´s Office.
No single document, including leases, deeds, employment verifications, or driver´s licenses, will qualify you for Residency Reclassification. Determinations are made based on multiple factors and all the documents submitted.
Evidence that you are the financial dependent of an out-of-state resident can disqualify you from Residency Reclassification. Students must demonstrate that they are financially and legally independent from any out-ofstate resident.
Financial hardship and/or length of enrollment at UCF are not determining factors of Residency.
UCF is authorized to make discretionary judgments as to residency within the bounds of the law and in reaching this professional judgment will evaluate all documents submitted and information available. Students who feel an erroneous decision was made regarding their residency reclassification may request an appeal in writing to the UCF Residency Appeals Committee.</p>
<p>TheVinster17, you are very right to be concerned about student debt. I would crunch the numbers very carefully. If you stay in state, it will cost $76K. With UCF, $84K. Either way, thats an awful lot of debt to have hanging over your head upon graduation. I urge you to check out a student loan calculator before you take on debt to see exactly how much you would owe per month, for how many years, and the total interest you would pay. If you do go to UCF, consider a part time job or an RA job so that at least your room could be paid for. If you work 30 hours a week and file a tax return, you could be reclassified as a Florida Resident, which would lower your fees some more (Orlando has a good job market). Think about doing an AA degree at a local community college (even if still in the Bible Belt) and then transferring. There are not as many scholarships open to transfer students, but your cost savings could be substantial, especially if you live at home. Just make sure your general ed classes align. Do everything you can to avoid taking out loans, or take out the least amount possible, because there is no guarantee you will be able to afford that student debt upon graduation.</p>