Hi guys, any and all help will be greatly appreciated. So this is my situation: I used to live in Florida since I was around 2 years old until I was 15. So I attended school until my Freshman year of high school, then my parents decided to move to Texas because of a job transfer. So I then became a Texan resident and completed high school in Texas. I now attend the University of Texas at Arlington and am completing my freshman year of undergrad. And I simply am unhappy in this state living here for four years just makes me depressed. I want to move back to my home state of Florida and attend University of Central Florida. The problem is I am 19 years old and currently a dependent of my parents who are also Texas residents. I want to know if there is any way I can eventually attend UCF with in-state tuition because the out of state cost is just absurd. Is it possible for me to move to Florida, rent an apartment, get a part-time job, get a florida drivers license, register my car in florida, get florida voters card, and in 12 months after doing that will it qualify me for in-state tuition to attend UCF? I would be attending Valencia community college for 1 year before transferring to UCF if this is how it works. I also plan on living in florida after completing college, because I know the schools don’t want to give residency to people who just move to the state to get in state tuition then they leave.
Thank you for your help, looking forward to your replies.
It appears it can be done, but DON’T go to community college in that 12 months. You want to establish residency as a non-college student. You’ll also have to be a non-dependent for tax purposes on your parents. That’s a big deduction to give up. You’ll still be dependent for financial aid purposes, so consider that too. If you move to Florida, get your license immediately, make sure you keep all records for date of lease, utilities starts, voting registration, etc. The form does require you to submit copies of your license and leases.
Did your parents purchase a Florida Prepaid tuition package? Some of the older ones had a benefit of instate tuition even if the child never lived in Florida.
Until you turn 24, get married, serve in the military or have children that you provide 51% support for, you will be a dependent student. As a dependent student, your are a resident, where your parents are residents.
With your intent to enroll in college, unless your parent’s work takes them back to Florida, you cannot and most likely will not be granted residency in florida for the sole purpose of getting in-state tuition, which is what you want to do
I don’t think that’s right, @sybbie. For financial aid, yes, he will be a dependent, but Florida law allows young adults to be residents for tuition if they meet the requirements.
The individual schools also, sometimes, allow instate tuition for certain scholarship recipients.
No I really doubt my parents purchased a prepaid tuition package. But why can’t I attend community college while establishing residency? So I would have to take a year of college and then apply to UCF? And while establishing residency do I have to have a Full-time job or will a part time job suffice? Thank you so much for the help. If i were to take a year off I would probably have to convince my parents but hopefully they will understand because they know how unhappy I am in Texas.
Valencia is a state school. Enrolling will not show intent of moving to Florida to establish residency.
As far as working, you have to support yourself. If you can do that by working part time, great, but why wouldn’t you work full time if you can find a position? Many people in Orlando (not that you have to live in Orlando during your gap year) work 2-3 part time jobs, at least seasonally.
This does not seem to be OP’s case; s/he is looking to transfer from college in Texas to CC in Florida with the hopes of transferring to a 4 year school. Even if you work, whatever financial aid you receive will be based on your parent’s income and assets (along with yours if you are working).
ETA:
It looks as if unless Op’s parents are Florida residents, s/he will not be granted in-state tuition at Valencia Community College
Have you spoken with your parents about this? are they willing to pay for you to attend school in Florida?
Why can’t you attend community or other college when you immediately move to FL?
First off...you will be paying the OOS rate because NOW you are a TX resident.
Second...if you enroll in college...you will have moved to FL to ENROLL IN COLLEGE...and yes, I'm yelling. You need to establish residency for 12 months BEFORE you enroll in college. Otherwise, your intent, no matter what you say, was to enroll in college when you got to FL.
I hate to ask this...but what really makes you think you will be happier in FL?
I have talked to my parents about me transferring there and they were skeptical but said I could, now me taking off a year in order to become an “independent” and gain residency will probably be more skeptical about it. They probably won’t pay my tuition if I do move to Orlando, because currently my tuition here in Texas is covered half by scholarship and half by FAFSA. If I do decide to go through with this and move and takes year off to work and gain residency, should I apply to UCF right now and not go until the year after or do I apply after I lived there for a year. Also I plan on talking to UCF about this to see if this is my only option. I also currently have two uncle’s who live in Orlando, not sure if that helps.
@Thumper8 I definitely see where you are coming from and understand why you are yelling lol. My situation is just a bit weird. Yes, I see why the college would think I am moving to Florida just to enroll in college even though I intend to live there and go to med school there and so on. This my sound silly, but I want to move to Orlando because I spent my whole life there and I know a bunch of people there and I feel more comfortable in that environment. I really tried to make Texas my home for 4 years but I just don’t like it here. And am willing to do whatever to move back to Orlando.
Is there any way to know clearly that I am a resident? Or do I base it off of that I lived there for 12 months, I got my Florida drivers license, registration, voters card, pay my own rent etc?
The colleges have seen it all. You will be providing transfer information from your current college in TEXAS…where you are a resident. You will be sending a HS transcript which is from a TEXAS high school.
Don’t you think the colleges will see that you need to establish residency before you can have instate rates in Florida??
@thumper1 no what I’m asking is, when I move to Orlando and do all the requirements for residency, how do I know for sure that I am considered a Florida resident? Or will it just be up in the air and then I apply to UCF?
@CourtneyThurston I don’t mind taking one year off of college to qualify for in state tuition, and only have to pay 6k tuition at UCF by working a part time job if it means I will be happy. Thats how unhappy I find it here
Instead of jumping through hoops to move, can you work summers in Florida and visit there? Graduate and go where ever you want as an independent adult.