Huge Life Choice!!!

<p>I graduated one of the more elite high schools in NYC, but without the stats needed for one of the top schools. I decided to go to St. John's mainly because I only have to pay $4,000 a year and they have major (Sports Management). However, I've been thinking and having serious regrets about not going away and I came up with a plan. I'll stay at SJU for the year and strive to get a high GPA and transfer to the University of Michigan. I know that sounds like a typical action plan by a lot of students, but there's a catch.
Since out of state tuition is ridiculous, I was thinking of moving to Michigan for a year and gaining in-state residency while working and paying bills. Not only would getting in be somewhat easier because of in-state status and of course the tuition would basically be cut in half, but I would also be able to have the experience of living on my own and earning a living for the year and getting a lot of financial aid since I would only be using my income.
I have a question though...if I moved to Michigan this summer and applied as a transfer during the fall, would I qualify as being an in-state student since I would have a year of residency by the time school starts, or would I need to live there for an entire year, THEN apply for the following semester? That is the main issue I've been thinking about. </p>

<p>Feedback on this dilemma would be GREATLY appreciated since I've been thinking very hard about this and is a huge life decision in my young life.</p>

<p>Doubleg, check out the link to UMich for residency. I just skimmed it, but it appears that if you are under 24 you may have difficulty claiming residency. Also, financial aid still considers your parents income even if you are living on your own income (if under 24-I think). You might try posting on the FinAid Forum about that question.
<a href="http://www.umich.edu/%7Eregoff/resreg.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.umich.edu/~regoff/resreg.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks a lot for the link, outwestmom...I know it will be difficult, but my financial situation definitely wouldn't allow me to be an out of state student at UMich and being over $100,000 in debt doesn't sound too appealing. I really want to get the college experience and go to college far from home, but at the same time not be swamped with repaying student loans for the next 20 years or so. I feel as if I'm missing out on the true college experience by commuting.</p>

<p>UMich does have merit scholarships, if you think you could make it.</p>