I got accepted to UCI and UCSD as an OOS student but my mom is planning to move to CA as well because my sister is already attending college in California. We are completely moving out of the prior state and are seeking to establish living in California. I know that it takes roughly a year to file an appeal but I’m unsure to risk the odds of not getting the appeal approved, especially since declaring residency is so strict with the UC’s. How are my chances of getting in-state tuition after 1-2 years? Anyone who went through a similar case?
@123Mom456 Why do you think this is very hard to do if the parent follows/meets all the criteria in the link you provided which is basically legitimately moving to the state for permanent residency with employment, housing, paying taxes, etc.? I understand that lots of kids/parents try to beat the OOS system especially with the CA schools, but I am genuinely interested in the answer. Mainly because my husband and I are thinking of downsizing and retiring to another state when our youngest graduates from high school (and hopefully convince her to take a gap year or find an affordable private or community college to attend for a year or two). I’ve been wondering if that is a real option for us.
@LeastComplicated The OP’s mom would have to prove that the primary reason for moving to CA was NOT to get instate tuition for her son. With the son already in a UC that would be very hard to do.
@LeastComplicated - It is difficult to prove intent was not for instate tuition. It is also not as easy as saying I am here and now I am a resident. Employment, housing, paying taxes, etc., will all take time to establish and severing all ties from previous state will take time too. Maybe some people try to beat the system but I don’t believe it is easy to do. I would look carefully at the rules for any public universities that your daughter may be thinking about.
Will mom be working there? If she changes jobs to CA, then yes, she can show a reason for moving independent of college tuition. If not? Then probably not.
@TomSrOfBoston So our plan of moving to another state for the purpose of eventual retirement tax advantages and downsizing (and just to get out of the rat race area we live in now) would not be feasible? Our oldest would also be in the state we are considering moving to but will be going to a private college there starting this fall. This is just something we’ve been thinking about - I actually have no clue if we would do it or not - we’ll have to make that decision when the youngest graduates from high school in two years - she might insist on going to an in state public school with her friends - but I thought I’d ask. We might just have to downsize and relocate to a nicer area in-state until she finishes college. Thanks for the help.
My mom is planning to work in CA since she would be completely moving and severing ties from the other state. She is basically following us since my sister and I were planning to live in CA in the long run. I’m even considering going to CC for a couple of years and transfer since it’s so uncertain if I will be considered a resident. It’s just discouraging since I’ve worked so hard in high school (4.0+ gpa, etc) and I can’t go to the schools that I wanted to go to
Thank you for all the responses though! I truly appreciate it.
You need to check the policies on the state you plan to relocate TO.
At some colleges…the student matriculation status remains the SAME regardless. In other words…if the student matriculates as an OOS student…that is their status for the full time they are in college as undergrads.
If you MAY be eligible to merit awards, think very carefully about taking any college or CC courses before applying to Us, as those credits may make you a transfer rather than a freshman admit. Freshmen tend to be offered the most generous award packages.
If you’re a strong student, as your post suggests, why not apply to some private Us like USC, Loyola, USF, Santa Clara U that provide merit awards regardless of residency? You may also want to check threads for other Us that grant generous merit for high achieving HS kids.
Say this and you will be denied instate residency for certain. If you are in a CA community college that will lessen your chances of ever getting instate tuition.
@HImom I’d have to take a gap year to apply again to private universities so maybe that is an option as well. Thank you for your suggestions although I did get rejected to USC…sighs.
@TomSrOfBoston Why would that lessen my chances of getting in state tuition if my mom and I would be living in CA for more than a year (more like two years) while attending CC? My mom would be a CA resident by then (and would be living in CA for probably the rest of her life) even if I do get accepted as a transfer student. Wouldn’t it be more proof to show that California is our permanent residence? The reason for going to CC is to secure residency and then hopefully going to a UC than to pay two years of OOS tuition at UC in the process of appealing.
Under NO circumstances should you assist your mother in getting residency. The more you post here the more you hurt your chances. You are admitting that the reason you would be in a CA community college is to get instate residency. And they will not just believe your intent to stay. Everyone would say that.
I thought students needed to establish residency for instate tuition purposes a year BEFORE they enrolled…and that doesn’t seem to be this student’s plan.
although I did get rejected to USC…sighs.