<p>Hi! First time poster here.</p>
<p>I currently live and attend community college in Dallas, Texas with my fiance. We are planning on moving to the Los Angeles area next summer/fall and I will most likely enroll at Pasadena City or Golden West prior to applying to CSUF. My aunt is a Titan herself and all she could tell me about establishing residency in California was that it took about six months and that I had to live within a certain number of miles from the campus I want to attend; Fullerton's website didn't offer too much help and no one answers whenever I try to call the school. After snooping around online I've also heard that it takes one year and that I will not be allowed to take any classes whatsoever during this time. </p>
<p>My biggest questions are 1) is transferring between community colleges before applying a solid plan, and 2) what are the solid facts of establishing residency for this particular school? (Information on other CSU or even UC campuses are also welcome.)</p>
<p>All advice is welcome, and thanks in advance! :)</p>
<p>California’s residency requirements are much stricter than they were a couple of decades ago. How current is your aunt’s information?</p>
<p>You can find residency requirements listed on the web site of CSUF. Just Google.</p>
<p>How old are you? If you’re under 24 and unmarried, it will be exceedingly difficult to become a Californian for purposes of university tuition. The State of California is chronically on the brink of financial ruin. They cannot afford to give out resident tuition as if it were Halloween candy. They used to do that, but not any more.</p>
<p>Hmm…melby, you’re right. Fullerton is vague about residency. There’s some information on pages 6 and 7 here: <a href=“http://www.fullerton.edu/catalogprevious/catalog2007-2009/catalog_pdf/pdf/561-577_Admissions.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fullerton.edu/catalogprevious/catalog2007-2009/catalog_pdf/pdf/561-577_Admissions.pdf</a>. </p>
<p>I think you’ll face some potential hurdles. Among them:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How are you paying your bills? If you are receiving financial support from your parents, you’ll have a harder time convincing California that you’re a Californian. They’ll be inclined to say that if your parents are providing your support, and your parents are Texans, you’re a Texan, too.</p></li>
<li><p>How are you going to pay for college? If you expect financial aid, and you’re unmarried, your parents’ income will be a factor in the amount and kind of aid you’re eligible for. If your parents make a good living, but you’re trying to live without their support so you can become a Californian, you may find that you’re between a rock and a hard place: not taking their money, so that you can change your state of residency, but not eligible for much financial aid because you theoretically could be taking their money.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If you and your fiance get married, you’ll probably have an easier time establishing your residency independent of your parents’ residency, and qualifying for financial aid.</p>
<p>It does seem, from what I’ve been able to find on line, that the Cal State system is somewhat less strict about residency for tuition purposes than the UC system is. Which is a good thing for you. Have you seen this document? <a href=“http://www.calstate.edu/budget/student-fees/documents/csu-residency-policy.pdf[/url]”>http://www.calstate.edu/budget/student-fees/documents/csu-residency-policy.pdf</a></p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Hi Sikorsky, thanks for the reply! I’m at work/on my phone so this will be brief but to answer your questions:</p>
<p>1) My aunt is a current resident of Orange County and my father lives in Norwalk with my stepmother. My mother lives in Hawaii, and my grandmother who raised me claimed me on her taxes in Texas growing up although she was never my legal guardian. </p>
<p>2) I’m 22 and will be 24 by the time we are married and settled in California.</p>
<p>3) We receive no financial support from our families whatsoever except for the odd $50-100 if we really need it, and that’s rare. We have both been filing as independent since 2010 and all bills are in our names.</p>
<p>4) Now that I’m returning to school, my family is offering to help a little (textbooks or paying for one class here and there) but in the meantime I’m exploring my financial aid options. I began filling out a FAFSA form, but the questions regarding my parents are difficult to answer given how complicated the family situation is. We have also opened up a savings account for any moving-related expenses which I am prepared to take from for school.</p>
<p>Writing everything out reminds me that this is a little overwhelming, but moving back home and finishing school there is something I’ve been determined to do my whole life. Again, thanks so much for your input! A fresh set of eyes is always helpful.</p>
<p>The link below is the general requirement to have resident status for admissions to a UC:
[Residency</a> Requirements | UC Berkeley Office of Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.berkeley.edu/residencyrequirements]Residency”>http://admissions.berkeley.edu/residencyrequirements)</p>
<p>The link below is the general requirement to have resident status for tuition to a UC:
[Establishing</a> Legal Residence - Office Of The Registrar](<a href=“http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Registrar/establish.html]Establishing”>http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Registrar/establish.html)</p>
<p>The link below if for nonresident tuition exemption for a UC:
[Nonresident</a> tuition exemption | UC Admissions](<a href=“http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/cost/out-of-state/nonresident-tuition-exemption/index.html]Nonresident”>http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/cost/out-of-state/nonresident-tuition-exemption/index.html)</p>
<p>The link below is the requirement to obtain resident status for tuition to CSU:
[CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - Transfer Students - Residency Classification](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU)</p>
<p>The link below is for nonresident tuition fee waiver:
<a href=“http://www.calstate.edu/budget/student-fees/fee-waivers/mandatory.shtml#vet[/url]”>http://www.calstate.edu/budget/student-fees/fee-waivers/mandatory.shtml#vet</a></p>
<p>You’ll have to inquire with the respective CSU’s you’re interested in to obtain information on the requirements to obtain resident status for admissions.</p>