<p>Residency is determined based on the rules of the state, colleges have very little leeway to make exceptions. What you saying is “I will settle in your state after I get admission, please give me in state status”. Extending that logic, anyone should be able get in status in any state, all they have to say is “I will come to your state, join your state school, get a job (or my parents will get a job), I need instant residency”. The concept of out of state then becomes moot. To prevent that from happening, most states have minimum period of residency and proof that you are there in the state for things other than education. Paying taxes, owning a houses, having a non campus job etc, are some examples. Remember, the person in the school who makes the determination has been doing this job for years, and they have seen just about everything. From what I have heard, they follow the rules very strictly, especially in this economy. </p>
<p>I am not sure which state will give instant residency. As thumper1 says, your mother may need to move one year earlier, or you need to take a gap year, or pay one year out of state tuition, or go to a community college and transfer after one year etc. There are choices, not the one you may like.</p>
<p>Also, I assume you and your mother are citizens or green card holders of the US. If not, rules may be different.</p>