<p>So basically I'm transferring out of my little state school known as USM (if you've heard of it, you're either a Mainer and/or heard about how it's going down the drain), so I'm bouncing while I still can. Now, I won't get into why I want to leave USM, but let's just say I wanna learn CS and USM is making it difficult and not cost effective for me. Being dirt poor, I can only afford in-state rates, which is why I have hatched a glorious master plan of acquiring California residence for tuition purposes, but that's not the issue. </p>
<p>See I like programming, and I have aspirations to own my own development studio and what not. However, I only have a 3.0 GPA (which funny enough if we were just counting my CS/Math classes alone I would have a 3.8 GPA). The problem is that despite being above the curve to get into most decent CA public universities, to get into the CS major I would require an absurd 3.5+ GPA which I suspect has something to do with pretty much every school of engineering being impacted. Not only that, pretty much ever UC school gives preference to community college applicants over poor sods like me who are coming form a 4 year out of state.</p>
<p>I've already committed to moving to CA in a week or so, so I can't back out now. My programming skills are decent enough as is since I've already secured a well paying internship. So what do I do about my major? If I apply to any uni I actually wanna go to, I'll probably be accepted as undeclared. What are the restrictions of that? Can I still take any classes that there is room for? If so, what's preventing me from just taking all the CS classes I want too?</p>
<p>tl;dr: I can get into the universities I want to, but not into the major I want to, what do I do?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Getting California residency for tuition and financial aid purposes at California public universities and community colleges may be harder than you think. Without California residency, you will likely find the net prices to be too high.</p></li>
<li><p>Some CSUs are not impacted at a campus level and not impacted for the CS major (e.g. CSUDH, CSUEB), so only a 2.0 college GPA would be needed to transfer in. Some others are only minimally impacted (e.g. CSUC, CSULA, CSUN, CSUSac, CSUSB), so the college GPA requirement would only be a little higher.</p></li>
<li><p>At the schools where the CS major is heavily subscribed or impacted, you may find that space in the CS courses is reserved for CS majors, making it difficult for undeclared students to get into the CS courses.</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li><p>So I haven’t been claimed as a dependent on either of my parent’s tax returns for over two years, and I can provide documented evidence that I have been supporting myself via work income/un-cosigned loans for the past two years as well as the upcoming year via the aforementioned internship. (Taking a year to work said internship after moving to CA before applying to school again). So unless I missed something, that would qualify me for in-state. </p></li>
<li><p>I have been mostly looking at the UC schools mostly due a lot of them having a reputation for a good CS program. I’m having difficult finding information about the quality of various CS programs in the CSU system, and was wondering if you have any recommendations as I fear investing a large amount of time and money only to realize that the department is underfunded and ran by a skeleton crew of mostly indifferent professors.</p></li>
<li><p>So effectively it means that CS majors would simply get priority over me in terms of space in the class, correct? </p></li>
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<p>Your major GPA is fine, but your overall is too low, especially for CS. I’m not trying to totally discourage you, but I think that the likelihood of an out of state transfer with a 3.0 getting into a UC for CS is very slim. Yes most UCs are better than most CSUs, but as an out of state 3.0 you have to be realistic. A CSU is likely your nest option, and depending on the school even that can be dicey.</p>
<p>Also, how many units have you already completed? Do you plan on attending a community vollege before trying to transfer? Do you have any info on the transferability of the classes you’ve taken to a UC or CSU?</p>
<p>I don’t think getting residency is that easy:</p>
<p>" …2. If you are an undergraduate under the age of 24 and your parent(s) are not California residents, it is unlikely that you will be able to qualify as a California resident for purposes of tuition and fees.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The term “California resident for purposes of tuition and fees” comes from the University’s residence regulations and differs from other definitions of California residence. For example, a person who is a California resident for tax or voting purposes will not necessarily be a resident for purposes of tuition and fees. Admissions and Financial Aid definitions of resident also differ. They do not confer residence for purposes of tuition and fees.</p></li>
<li><p>You do not become a resident for purposes of tuition and fees simply by living in California for 366 days or more. The length of time you attend the University of California or live in California is not the sole determining factor of residency…"</p></li>
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<p>I think it would be better for you to work the first year instead of going to college. That’s what I did, then when you get your residency, go to college. The tuition for non-residents is insane, even at community colleges.</p>
<p>I don’t think you have really thought this through, to tell you the truth. Obtaining in-state tuition is going to be harder than you think. It is not my intention to be mean, but I am certain the UC system is going to see right through your plan. Your intentions are very clear, you’re coming to California for educational reasons, not because you want to make it your home. Your track record screams this out.When the UC system sees that you’re transferring from USM, even if you wait a year, they are going to deny you in-state tuition.Doesn’t seems weird than the year before you want to transfer, you suddenly move to California? You might not think this is obvious, but the UC system will. They look at these kinds of things when determining if they want to grant someone in-state tuition. </p>
<p>Just because have lived in California for a year does not mean you will get in-state tuition. If you decide to attend a California community college, then your also going to be denied in state tuition. Anyway, you still have a week to back out of this. You should read the entire in state tuition manual before you come over here. While it might be long, moving to California is a life changing decision, and you should inform yourself as much as you can. There is a lot you over looked. You do not have all of the facts. You might be making the the biggest mistake of your life, and you might not even know that. Are you prepared to live with the consequences if your plans fails. (Very Likely) Here is the manual: <a href=“UC Legal - Office of the General Counsel | UCOP”>UC Legal - Office of the General Counsel | UCOP;
<p>First, if he’s independent of parents for two years I believe residency is not that hard. He would have to live here a year. Considering your CS/math GPA is 3.8 and your overall is 3.0 are there some Ds you can get erased through academic renewal? You have to keep track of your overall unit count. You need 30 CCC units to apply. If you can swing that while staying under unit cap and get major prereqs done, erase some possible bad grades through academic renewal, you could be OK. Not for fall’15, but fall '16. </p>
<p>@lindyk8
The 2 year rule you mention gains the OP financial independence, not residency. They still have to prove that they want CA to be home and they’re not just here for school. The burden of proof is in the student not the school.</p>
<p>It seems like he’ll be able to be declared as financially independent, and doesn’t need to rely on parents for to help declare residency. That in and if itself doesn’t mean he’ll be able to get residency for tuition purposes. Lots of hurdles here. </p>
<p>Even IF you gain residency for tuition purposes, you are still trying to transfer from an out of state college. That is pretty difficult for any student, let alone a 3.0 student. </p>
<p>I said he had independence and one year to gain residency. Reread my post.
They have one year to get job, change drivers license, get license plate, bank acct, rental agreement, income tax, etc.
The rule is one year. Quite doable. </p>
<p>Check out @collegedropout1’s recent thread. As he has seen, it isn’t that hard to get residency, despite protests to the contrary. It’s just a lot of steps, all simple and easy.</p>
<p>I noticed everyone kind of slams any out of stater trying for residency. He has a viable and fairly straight-forward shot. </p>
<p>@lindyk8 I misunderstood. You’re seldom wrong, and right again ;-)</p>
<p>I think his biggest hurdle is his grades and that he’s from an out of state school. I would say the same thing if he were prepared to pay full out of state fees. I think a a student from a CCC, would have trouble transferring to a UC for CS with a 3.0. I’m not trying g to be negative if squash a dream, but i think I’m being realistic.</p>
<p>Haha @2016Candles no worries. I’m wrong a lot especially with STEM. </p>
<p>The key with the guy really is if he can get into CCC and not hit unit cap. Plus he would need some sort of academic renewal. We are in total agreement that GPA needs to get up. I think he has a handful of Ds in there, so he might be able to finagle it. </p>
<p>Also OOS do get in, but again there’s the GPA issue that needs addressing.</p>
<p>Hey OP having been through the other thread re financial independence, you better make sure it’s tight as a drum because they check for any handout anywhere. Just make sure no medical paid, no financial gifts, etc. From what I heard they spend a lot of time looking… And you can’t have gotten money from your parents or anyone in CA and maybe no one anywhere (not sure…)</p>
<p>3.0 GPA will hurt you as a CS major. Well, as any major, really.</p>
<p>The residency thing is a bit tricky, but it sounds like you’re on the right track. I was in an easier situation since my parents moved with me, but it’s definitely possible to get in-state tuition after a year here. Sounds like your biggest hurdle will be intent to stay (move your bank account, license, etc.) which isn’t usually too bad.</p>
<p>At least for the UC system, transfers are expected to apply as their intended major. I would suggest applying as CS, that way your coursework and essays will make sense… and some schools have rules against transfers changing majors. Along the same lines, make sure you’ve got the right coursework for the schools you want to apply to. assist.org will give you a good idea of what’s expected at different schools. You’ll have to guess the articulations from your old school, but anything you’re missing you might want to take at a CC. Keep in mind that transfers are expected to have 60+ credits by the time they transfer (or ~30 when they apply). So, make sure you’re on track with all the transfer requirements.</p>
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