How is State of Residence Determined?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hello:</p>

<p>My children are still young, but I'm reading this forum to get some ideas onto improving my kids chances for admission to highly competitive LACs/Ivys.</p>

<p>We live in NJ, are of asian-indian heritage and make enough money where we know our kids won't be eligible for financial aid.</p>

<p>Imagine two asian kids with idential SAT scores, ECs and grades, but one of these kids lives in NJ and the other lives in Idaho. Its my general impression that the child from Idaho would be more highly sought after in the admissions office.</p>

<p>Although we live in one of the best public school districts in the state, I'm probably going to send both of my kids to a private high school. We also own some beach property in Delaware, and an apartment and land in India. I imagine there are less "highly competitive" kids coming out of the schools of Delaware vs where we live now in NJ.</p>

<p>Would it make any difference if we used our delaware or India mailing address on all the college application forms? We do legitimately live in all 3 places: NJ, DE and India for part of the year.</p>

2

<p>Each state ultimately uses its own criteria to define resident. generally, though, they use the criteria of voter registration, vehicle registration, paying income taxes etc. </p>

<p>you might want to go to the u websites of a few colleges of potential interest and see what they say. I'm sure it is spelled out somewhere.</p>

<p>Does gaming go on? Sure. After all, a lot of money is at stake. Keep in mind, though, that colleges have seen every trick in the book, including many we would never think of. Keep in mind, too, that the consequences of getting caught in gaming can go beyond just paying the difference.</p>

3

<p>We had friends who were relocating across country during app season. Mom and kids stayed east to finish school and Dad started job in the west. They were told that for tuition purposes the student would be considered in-state in Dad's state, but for admissions purposes they consider the state of the HS the student attends. I'm not sure if all schools go by this.</p>

4

<p>it generally is the HS of record that counts, particularly for public unis, unless one attends an OOS boarding school (or parents relocate for work). But, sorry, residents of any NE state (incl. DE) are geographically impacted by NE colleges. All private colleges want geographic diversity, and the geographic difference between NJ and DE is only a river. If you use your India address, colleges will want confirmation of citizenship and/or Visa, and will treat is appropriately, i.e., international or NJ resident.</p>

5

<p>Be honest, and use the address of residency that you use on your federal income tax return. Many colleges require the filing of the FAFSA even for consideration for merit aid, and virtually ALL colleges require this for need based aid. At some point you could easily be selected for verification (we have been EVERY year despite the fact that all of our DS's finaid is merit aid) and have been required to send in our federal income tax returns. The bottom line is the legal place of residence for most students is the place where their parents RESIDE....not other places where you own land, not where you might be able to set up a post office box or other address...not where your kids go to private school. What you are doing is trying to "game the system" and to be honest, the stakes if you get caught (rescinded acceptance and/or finaid offers) are too high to do this. Be honest.</p>

6

<p>It would not be unethical to figure out the rules and make the decision to change your state of residence before college time, if your family has a decision looming or a possible option to allow you to change locations, but state schools look at many parametres:
Driver's license
registered to vote
state income taxes paid
fed income tax address
church
doctors
location for health insurance PPO
car registration
Some people are snow birds and some people work overseas or in multiple states, in that case, I have been told, you are a resident of the state in which you choose to be a resident, but then you must maintain all those auspices of residency.</p>

<p>So, you may have the option to choose one of your locations, but you have to choose it and make it so.</p>

7

<p>I'd like to clarify things a bit:</p>

<p>We're not going to be applying for financial aid or loans, so FAFSA is not an issue. I'll pay the full tuition out of my own pocket.</p>

<p>Geting a discount on in-state vs out of state tuition is also really not an issue for me. I'm more interested in highly competitive LACs and Ivys and how they consider geographic diversity.</p>

<p>My kids will probably be going to an out of state high school as boarding students. Doesn't make much sense to use the private high school as the mailing address.</p>

<p>I'm not trying to lie, but simply understand the rules. We have 3 residences and legitimately spend time in each one during the year.</p>

8

<p>They will look at your child in the context of the private boarding school that he comes out of. It doesn't matter in the least what state you claim as your residence in this case. If you LIVED in Idaho, and your child went to school at a public high school in Idaho - then he would be "diversity" in the sense you are talking about. But if you send you kid off to private boarding school, that 'geographic diversity" aspect disappears. (IMHO) That being said, your kid will certainly be considered "diversity" for his travel and cultural background.</p>

9

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<p>Indeed the above things are considered. BUT for undergraduates, unless the student is independent (and that is VERY hard to become), the above are looked at for the PARENTS, not the child. It's where did the parents live, pay taxes, have jobs, have driver's licenses, etc. In almost all cases, the state of residence for the student is the SAME as the state of residence for the parent. Re: using international status (using your address in India)...again...I would advise you to be honest. The reality is you and your family are NOT residents of India. You are residents of the US. LAC's are also looking at honesty in your applications...not gaming the system to tip the scale in favor of your child. If you live in Place A, then Place A IS your residency.</p>