University of Minnesota is relatively inexpensive from OOS.
Utah and Missouri will easily grant you residency after a year if you’re a citizen.
You’re not an international student, you’re a US citizen who was internationally educated.
Why isn’t Alabama an option? It’s one of the best Honors Colleges in the country and its scholarships are guaranteed. Other scholarships and good honors program would include ASU Barrett (you’d be internationally educated = expedited admission. Ie., they really want you).
If Clemson is an option, why wouldn’t Alabama be one? You don’t have to say, but I find this odd.
The merit aid at Alabama that is guaranteed does not exist…at all…at Clemson.
My mom feels that Alabama is not a good place to stay, especially when I’ll be alone -_- I’m not 100% sure why, either. Clemson would have been otherwise out too, except a really close friend of ours stays there- so kind of family.
@MYOS1634 : Can anybody tell me the OOS tuition at Cal States? Ordinarily, that would have been my first back option, but when I calculated, it seemed to come to a lot 
And no, I can say with 90% certainty my parent won’t cooperate- I’m kind of relying on the 10% chance, honestly. If I get into a good enough college, perhaps he will pay, but not otherwise. Situation is v v v complicated sigh
He doesn’t have to pay if he declares you as his dependent child. He can consider himself your custodial parent during college so that you get the instate discount - after all, he DID pay the taxes - and your other parent pays the tuition and fees.
Oos is 32k direct costs. 13k instate. Plus about 5k general expenses (transportation, books, personal stuff. You can cut that by buying used books, being frugal.) So even if your father doesn’t pay a cent, simply agreeing to have you recognized as instate, he "gives " you 20k. I don’t see why he wouldn’t, right? Would your other parent be able to pay mist of the other 13k?
Tuscaloosa isn’t the religious fundamentalist heaven where people educated abroad or brown or with an accent are in danger… that people living outside the US often think Alabama is. It’s a college town. There’s an Alabama forum on thus website, have your mother ask her questions and doute, frankly, there. Lots of parents from outside Alabama will tell her what it’s like (50% students come from other states.)
<i don’t="" see="" why="" he="" wouldn’t,="" right?=""> Ha, I wish. In fact, he may refuse to do that, simply so that my mother has to pay 20K more (not possible for her right now). There’s a lot of history here- actually, there are enough finances to pay for my college education at a reasonable cost (and more)- its currently all in a joint account, which neither parent can access without the other’s permission. So everything is kind of stuck 
I’ll try your suggestion about Alabama.<i don’t="" see="" why="" he="" wouldn’t,="" right?="">
You on,y have until Monday to apply to Alabama if you want to get their generous merit awards. You would need to,apply ASAP. Application deadline for those is December 1.
I believe UT Austin has made it much harder to get residency in recent years. You need to check before counting on that as an option. I wonder if your mom might consider University of Alabama at Huntsville. It has a very different atmosphere than UA at Tuscaloosa.
I just read thru the residency questionnaire for Texas and it does appear to have been tightened. It mentioned working at least 20 hours/wk for a year and having enough income to support half tuition and room and board. I also believe that your parents cannot claim you as a dependent. Again, check with the school but it is tougher and you have to be much more independent than previously. Again, UT Dallas, if you get an AES scholarship, will give you in state tuition.