I currently go to a private university in California and just finished my freshmen year. I was thinking of transferring to a UC for my junior year but I’m from out of state and my parents still live out of state. I have an early birthday so I will turn 20 in August. So I will be 21 in August of 2018 which will before my junior year. Would it be possible to establish myself as an independent? I’ve been reading that I can’t if my primary purpose for staying in California was for education purpose, which has pretty much been true for the past 12 months. So is there anyway around this? I was thinking of getting a job at a fast food place and living in the summer so it will be a full 12 months?
No.
UC follows the money. Who is paying for your college tuition, and your room and board?
If the answer is “my parents”, and your parents live and work outside California, then the money is coming from out-of-state, and you don’t qualify for in-state tuition.
If I get In state tuition at the UC then yes I can pay for my college tuition.
If the only reason you are in CA is to attend college now you will not get in state tuition. No matter how you try to justify it, you will not get it.
There is no way around it, legally. And if you lie you could be prosecuted.
If you can earn enough $$ in California to support yourself independently for two years, without financial support or gifts from your parents or anyone else, then you could qualify for in-state tuition.
Well honestly I’ve always wanted to live in CA and do plan on living here after I graduate. I would have moved here anyways after I was done with high school and lived here. It just happens that I go to college here as well. But that is not how it works isn’t?
Correct, that is not how it works.
That is not how it works.
The minute you attended the private university in California, you stepped into California for educational purposes.
That started your timeline as an official OOS student. It matters. Your age doesn’t matter because you are OOS.
UCs are funded by the State of California taxpayers. You haven’t paid any taxes which is what California residents have paid significantly over that amount for their children for years.
What you don’t seem to understand is that you wont be able to support yourself and pay California fees for rents and taxes. Your W2’s have to match your required budget which includes market rate rents, taxes, utilities and expenses. A paper trail is required. You cannot accept ANY FORM OF HELP from anyone. You can’t live with relatives and you have to pay everything at market rate for two years. This means you cant get a discounted rent; you have to pay our expensive market rates. Getting a job at a fast food place, if you can find one, will not cover your annual expenses in California.
It is very difficult to get instate residency; the State knows the tricks. You need to read the full requirements:
http://ucop.edu/general-counsel/_files/ed-affairs/uc-residence-policy.pdf#page=18
Bummer.