Long story short, my mother died in february 2017. I am currently enrolled to attenddd Stony Brook University in the fall, but am slowly starting to get mixed feelings as my mom was all I had in New York in terms of family. My closest immediate family is in Austin, Texas. I would love to move with them, but this means I was have to attend Austin Community College (ACC) for a year until I become a resident because out of state costs are ridiculous.
However, I aspire to transfer into a more prestigious school one day, which was why I had wanted to attend Stony Brook University (SUNY), as it would give me a better starting platform. Would transferring to a prestigious school be a realistic goal if I were to attend Austin Community College or would it hinder my chances at future transfer? Thanks!
Any help would be appreciated.
I’d say Stony Brook is a better platform to transfer from. But let’s be realistic. Most students who didn’t have the stats to get admitted as frosh don’t magically become better students in college and gain one of the even more competitive transfer spots.
I agree with @intparent. Where ever you go, you will need to be very serious about your education and keep a very strong GPA if you want to have any significant chance of either transferring or going to graduate school at a more “prestigious” university.
I am sorry to hear about your mother. As a parent, I am sure that she was very proud of you and would want you to do well in university.
I know a ton of people who didn’t get in to their UC of choice, went to community college, got excellent grades and transferred.
They had excellent test scores and grades in high school as well. That’s not why they didn’t get in.
Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your mother. In your shoes, I actually think you might be best off going to Texas. If your goal is to transfer after a year, I think going to CC for a year, doing great, and giving yourself time to grieve with some family in the area is a good option. I actually think focusing on prestige at this point should be a low priority. I attended CC and transferred into a four year college. Where you get your degree from is not as important as what oppotunties you make for yourself. And there are some prestigious colleges that make a point of accepting kids from CC. I know Brown is one of them.
But the UCs have a guaranteed transfer program.
OP, in general, moving to a state for college disqualifies one from using the time in school to qualify for residency. It’s been a while since I looked at Texas, but please make sure you understand the process there.
My condolences.
@lookingforward , of course, I wasn’t thinking of that. I wonder if OP is still a minor? Would it make any difference?
@Lindagaf thank you for the different perspective. I am 18 years old, so I’m no longer a minor.
@lookingforward I assume UC means University of California? I would need to go to a commmnity college in California to be qualified for that?
I’d assume someone under 18 could have a legal custody arrangement. But for 18+, and in the case of a parent’s death, not sure. Also probably matters is there is a surviving parent in the picture, even if OP has little contact.
OP, many states have ‘articulation agreements’ or ‘guaranteed transfer,’ whereby with a satisfactory record at a comm college, you can transfer to a U in that state. Many states have this arrangement. I mentioned UC because Vicki brought it up.
You bigger issue is affording the costs in Texas. Google ‘college residency Texas’ or something similar. UT Austin expects a kid to live in Texas a year first or meet some other considerations (work, marriage, etc,) that don’t seem to apply to you.
@lookingforward so going to a cc in Texas would not count as me “living here” for 12 consecutive months?
Lookingforward makes a great point. Maybe it would be best for you to take a gap year and work, establish residency in Texas, then start CC. No idea if you have any financial support, but CC is certainly going to be less expensive than Stony Brook. Try contacting the CC and see if they have any arrangements with local state unis such as lookingforward suggested.
Need to live in Texas 12 months prior to enrollment. For a hs grad, most states then require a job and various ways to show you were self supporting and intend to settle there (not just biding time to get in-state rates.)
Here’s one resource. In general, you want to read as much as possible, catch any fine print. http://www.admissions.txstate.edu/future/residency/residencyrequirements.html
ACC may also have "in-district’ requirements.
Sorry about this wrench.
How about moving to Texas and taking a year off school, working, and getting know the state? Then apply to Texas schools for fall 2018. Check the requirements, but you should be a resident by then since you are an independent student (unless you have a father; if you have no parents living, you are independent).
In general, it can be very stressful to make major decisions, (eg, a move,) after the death of a close family member. You want to make sure you’re not leaving behind the support of friends and their families- and etc. Or other advisors helping you on administrative matters. Try to weigh the two choices. We know this is hard, but try to figure, for you, which safety net works best.
@lookingforward @Lindagaf Do you think any state school in Texas would waive their out of state tuition due to my circumstance if I were to apply for spring 2018? Is this even a possibility?
I can’t imagine that happening, sorry to say. You could email an admissions and financial aid office at some colleges there and ask though.
Take care of your health and emotional well-being first. College is going to still be there. You are young and there is no rush. I can understand wanting to get to college, but the money factor is unfortunately a reality you have to deal with.
I am so sorry to hear about your mom. Where is your dad? Will he help pay for school? Can you afford Stony Brook or were you planning to live with your mom and commute?
@sybbie719, if OP can afford Stony Brook, could he spend breaks with his dad or other relatives (in TX) and still retain his NYS residency? How does NYS handle the death of the custodial parent?
Agree, it’s generally very difficult.
Since OP is over 18, I don’t think there’s an issue with vacations, but does he need to maintain a NY home address, for that residency? A call to Stony Brook may also be in order.
We don’t know where you live now, OP, with whom, or who’s helping you with your mom’s affairs. (Even if there were no or few assets, there are details to attend to.) Is there another parent or stepparent in the picture?
I am sorry for your loss.
Bear with me:
Where is your dad, who is your legal next of kin? Is he in NY
If you were to stay in NYS, where would you live on breaks? is there a possibility that you can stay with your family in Texas on breaks?
When you filed for financial aid this year, did you let the school know that your mom passed away?
What does your current financial aid package look like> is stony brook affordable?
Did the school give you a dependency override based on your situation? IF yes, then I would recommend that you stay in NYS and attend stony brook (your financial aid would most likely be set and you would maintain your in-state residency). See the financial aid people, take copies of your mom’s death certificate SS award letters, PA assistance or anything else you have proving support
If you have no fixed place to live talk to them about being an unaccompanied minor (however, if you have always just lived with your mom and have no relationship with your dad, you will most likely get a dependency override. If your dad is not in your life, minimally you should go to Stonybrook’s FA office ASAP and talk to them about your status so that hopefully they will give you a dependency override.
If you have a 0 EFC, you will get full pell, full tap, your loan of $5500. You may have to borrow additional monies if you don’t have the ends? I would also ask for federal work study.