<p>To be fair to the student, neither Florida nor Texas have income taxes. They collect their revenue largely through property taxes which, presumably, this student’s family pays. Nevertheless, based on the information given, he doesn’t seem to meet the residency requirements that those states impose.</p>
<p>Owning a property in Florida will not qualify you for in state tuition. Your parents would have to establish permanent domicile there and not have residency elsewhere.
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<p>Does anyone know, out of California, Florida, Texas, and New York, which one is the easiest to establish residency in?
By the way, I realize that there are a lot of “good” schools in Virginia. However, I really want to go somewhere that has more to offer than just the school. I’m looking for quality of life in addition to a good education. UVA, VA Tech, William & Mary, and most of the other schools in VA are in the middle of nowhere and, while I would be glad to attend any one of those schools should the other locations not work out, I would much rather attend a school in one of those other states.
Check out my other question if you want more info on my motives: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1051957-what-my-chances-these-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1051957-what-my-chances-these-schools.html</a></p>
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<p>A few things…and just to warn, I’m not lecturing you. I’m a VA college student. I didn’t wasn’t considered anything great in high school AND my parents don’t have the money to pay for college (but I didn’t have my sights set up high like you, I just wanted to go to Tech). It might not seem like a big deal now, but after 2 years in college, I have realized how hard it is to get together all the money needed for college.
Anyway…</p>
<p>Have you ever been to Charlottesville? It’s not really in the middle of nowhere. It’s not quite NOVA/DC-City or Richmond-City Life, but it’s wayyy above middle-of-nowhere Blacksburg and quiet Williamsburg. There’s the downtown area, downtown mall, the corner near their campus, and lots of locally owned food places and stores. It’s definitely not a college town like I thought.</p>
<p>If you can get into UVA, and you like the school there, then I’d say it’s worth the investment. There are TONS of kids applying out of state to get to both UVA and Virginia Tech each year, and TONS get rejected since they’re out of state.</p>
<p>You have plenty of time after you graduate to get your “quality of life.” If you plan on going to grad school, maybe you can look at the more interesting places for that. Or you can try and get a job there after you graduate. There are plenty of options if you stay in state. Financially, it’s a better option if you don’t want to be stuck with loans or can’t come up with money even after getting merit aid.</p>
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Merit aid at Virginia Tech and other VA schools is kinda hard to predict.
Is your GPA weighted or unweighted?
What area of VA are you from (Central, NOVA, Hampton Roads)? Depending on where you’re from, admission to some schools in VA might actually be difficult for you.
Are you currently a senior? What major are you applying to?</p>
<p>I’m currently in NOVA/DC metro area. My GPA is unweighted and I’m a senior this year. I’m looking at some sort of business degree (preferably business administration but it’s not set in stone) as my undergrad major.</p>
<p>“Out of California, Florida, Texas, and New York, which one is the easiest to establish residency in?” </p>
<p>In general or for you? In general, the answer is California because I believe you only have to have attended 3 years of high school in CA to get residency. For you, whatever state you can get your parents to move in by the end of the month. </p>
<p>If you are in the DC area, you could also see about scholarships and tuition at schools within commuting distance: George Mason, Catholic, Trinity if you’re female and Howard. </p>
<p>Honestly, I get the feeling you want us to tell you that there’s some way to establish residency in a state where your parents don’t live so you can attend a prestigious college and, frankly, there is no way. The most prestigious affordable schools are your instate publics-- which are the state schools of Virginia.</p>
<p>This student says he/she is a senior. It’s a little late to be adding a large number of schools to your list of applications especially if merit aid is something you want. The most generous MERIT aid from many private schools and many out of state publics had December 1 deadlines.</p>
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<p>The easiest (and only) state to establish residency in is the one your PARENTS and family move to. Since you are a senior and it takes 12 months to establish residency, you are a resident of VA for your college applications whether you want to be…or not.</p>
<p>And do check school policies…at some places the residency status as a freshman is the one you KEEP for all four years. SO if you are OOS as an incoming freshman, you will be considered OOS for all four years.</p>
<p>In VA, however, I believe you lose your instate residency status one year after your FAMILY establishes a domicile elsewhere.</p>
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<p>Very true. Look at the cost of some of the schools in the SUNY system. BUT get cracking…these schools have lots of applicants who have ALREADY applied. Your applications won’t be complete until after the first of the year at the rate your’e going.</p>
<p>As a senior…have you already applied to a list of schools? I sure hope so.</p>
<p>Check out SUNY Purchase…I don’t know the costs but you can surely find this out yourself by looking on the website. </p>
<p>I have to tell you, your SAT/ACT scores are not going to put you in contention for significant merit awards at MOST out of state public universities or the private schools on your list (I read your chances thread).</p>
<p>Is there any GOOD reason why you can’t mend fences with your parents? I have two kids and I would hate to think that either of them would rather go to college far away and assume debt than continue to be part of our family in a positive way.</p>
<p>Personally I think you are shooting yourself in the foot.</p>
<p>California residency is impossible unless your parents move west and/or you become financially independent. For the latter, you could move to California, get a job, an apartment, utilities – all paid out of your earnings. After one year, you could apply to a UC at instate rates.</p>
<p>I know it’s late–I didn’t really do a whole lot of planning. College just became real to me this year.
Thumper-I’m not trying to run away from my parents by going to an out of state school. You read that chances thread right? I’m involved in acting, music, and a bunch of other showbizzy-type stuff. I just want to be somewhere that fosters those kinds of interests. I am trying to mend fences here, I just don’t know if my dad will get over it by the time I have to pay.
This thing about OOS students keeping their OOS tuition rates all four years is really concerning me. Is that true at all universities? And if it is true, would I be considered in-state if, at the beginning of the previous year, rented an apartment in the state and held that lease throughout the four years, living there when I didn’t stay at the school?</p>
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<p>But remember…YOU would need to be totally self supporting to do this. That means you would need to be earning enough money in CA to cover all of your living expenses for that year…rent, utilities, food, clothing, car, insurance (car), EVERYTHING. Your earnings would then be used to determine any federally funded need based aid. Sure, you could end up being “independent” but you would not be able to use that $20K per year from your dad in subsequent years because you would have to LIST that as “money paid on your behalf” on the FAFSA. My guess is that would red flag your “independent” status and you would be at square one.</p>
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<p>NO…it has to be your FAMILY’s real permanent residence…not just an address with your name on it.</p>
<p>But if I were to get my own place, actually live there, and apply as an independent, would my family’s residence matter? I would be earning close to nothing so I would get financial aid.</p>
<p>“But if I were to get my own place, actually live there, and apply as an independent, would my family’s residence matter? I would be earning close to nothing so I would get financial aid.”</p>
<p>You CANNOT file financial aid as an independent just because you live independently. There are strict rules. The only way you can apply independent is if you are married, in the military, have a child, were emancipated by a court before your 18th birthday or are 24 years of age or older. That’s it. Those are FEDERAL rules. The financial aid office can’t just change them. </p>
<p>If you’re into music and acting, Purchase is a good choice.</p>
<p>The problem is you cannot just choose to apply as an independent student. A student under the age of 24 is generally considered a dependent of their parents when it comes to instate tuition and when it comes to financial aid. Living on your own and having your own apartment does not change this. (my son dropped out of school for a couple of years and worked full time and was completely self supporting - paying all his own rent and bills - when he returned to school at 22 he was still considered our dependent).</p>
<p>Your state of residence is based on your parents state of residence. California does say that a student that lives in CA for a year and is completely financially independent (means you must prove you are working and have income to pay all your own expenses) *may *qualify as instate for tuition. However you would still not qualify for financial aid as for FAFSA you will still be considered your parent’s dependent.</p>
<p>Most states are less lenient and will base your residency on that of your parents. There was one student a year or so back who had lived with his sister in Florida after his parents moved away - he was denied instate tuition because his parents were not residents of the state, even though he had lived there and graduated HS there.</p>
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<p>If you earn “close to nothing” this will be a RED FLAG…big one. The school will want to know HOW you are paying your bills…how YOU are supporting yourself (which is what independent students MUST show evidence of doing). Your income will be used to determine your financial aid. ANY money paid on your behalf (so if someone else is paying ANY of your bills that is REQUIRED to be reported) will be added as income also.</p>
<p>You may not qualify for as much aid as you think. It’s expensive to LIVE in CA. How to you propose to do that if you earn next to nothing?</p>
<p>Due to the law, I don’t think it matters. But the living conditions would be relative to my wages.</p>
<p>lovinmehard…I hope you have applications all sent to a variety of schools. EVERY student, regardless of their situation should have a school that is financially affordable on their list. There are options for you out there…you just don’t seem to LIKE any of the options. I’m not sure any of us can change that. The colleges you have listed are expensive and most are reaches for you in terms of admission and merit aid possibilities. Hopefully you have something on your application list that is an instate safety school.</p>
<p>At this point, you either need to apply to some less expensive instate schools, or somehow reconcile with your dad. Your choice.</p>
<p>The other choice would be to completely put off attending college for a while. Work full time until you are 24 when you WILL be an independent student. You could move to a state where you want to establish residency during these next 6 years…and work there. You will then have both instate status AND independent for financial aid status…two separate things.</p>
<p>I am wondering if financial aid was not an issue… could a student move to a different state, be COMPLETELY self-supporting for a year (without attending school), and then be considered in-state for tuition purposes?</p>
<p>I understand the Fafsa rules, but am wondering about the residency rules if a student is completely self supporting and will not be applying for financial aid?</p>
<p>One last question-If my father comes around and decides to pay for most of the tuition, what do you think my chances of acceptance are at my list of schools?</p>
<p>Here’s the list again:
NYU
UCLA
U.T. Austin
Columbia
Cornell
USC
UVA
Virginia Tech
U.C. Berkeley
University of Florida
Florida State
University of Miami
Arizona State
Georgetown</p>
<p>By the way thanks to all you guys for helping me out-I really appreciate all the time you guys have put in</p>
<p>Kat: It depends on the state. From what I have seen, most states base their in state tuition on the parents state of residency if the student is below a certain age (and not married, a veteran etc). The only one I am aware of (which does not mean there are not others) that allows a student to establish residency by living in the state and being financially independent is California. And the student must actually be financially independent - ie be able to show sufficient income to be able to pay all their own expenses (rent, bills, food, insurance etc) without assistance from parents. Also I think they cannot have been claimed on the parents tax returns for the previous 2 years for CA (I may be getting that mixed up with another state)</p>
<p>edit: I didn’t imagine it. But there is a 2 year financial independency requirement, not one.</p>
<p>from [Establishing</a> California Residence for Tuition Purposes, Office of the Registrar](<a href=“404 - Page Not Found”>404 - Page Not Found)
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