<p>I have lived in US for 2 years. I'm a senior. Because of some personal reason, I live with uncle instead of my mother. My priority is applying to colleges in California(where my mother is living). I major in Mechanical Engineering. I plan to apply to UC Berkeley/UCLA but financial aid is a huge problem for me right now. If I apply to UCs, I will have to pay OOS tuition in 1st year and in-state tuition in the remaining years. That will add up to $50k debt when I graduate. Should I choose that way? Is it worth it? Or should I just apply to UT Austin( I still have to pay $13k/year no matter what). I consider applying to USC or some private schools and Ivy Leagues, but I still like to study in CA. So what am I gonna do? Please give some advices. Thanks.
P/S: low-income, SAT: 1950 but I believe I can get 2100 this October. GPA: 3.85 UW. English is not my first language ^^.</p>
<p>You won’t be able to convert to in-state tuition at a UC. Where did you get that idea?</p>
<p>I thought that I can establish California residency while attending college in first year. I don’t really know. That’s just theory. So what should I do?
I’m asking people in CC because I want to know whether applying to UC is a wise choice in my situation.</p>
<p>The UCs have very specific rules for residency. If you start at one as an OOS student you remain that way. Google the rules for the specific UCs that interest you. </p>
<p>In your situation OOS is a very poor idea. You can only borrow $5,500 your Freshman year on your own.</p>
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According to these two webpages, it is possible for you to change your residence status. However, these information may be outdated. See [Legal</a> Residence Information - Office Of The Registrar](<a href=“http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Residency/legalinfo.html]Legal”>http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Residency/legalinfo.html)
Also, see [UCLA</a> Registrar’s Office: Residence for Tuition Purposes–Continuing Nonresident Students](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/residence/rescont.htm]UCLA”>http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/residence/rescont.htm)
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<p>^^^</p>
<p>I believe that for the above to happen the student must either marry a Calif resident or parents must move to Calif or something like that.</p>
<p>I don’t think that a student who is under age 24, who moves to Calif only to go to school, can go to school for one year and then establish residency if his parents live elsewhere.</p>
<p>^I think OP’s mother is living in CA.
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<p>Like 4kidsdad said, my mother is living in CA. I want to go there and establish CA residency, but I’m not sure whether I’m eligible for in-state tuition after freshman year. My situation is kind of confusing. Tuition, however, is a problem for me because my mother can’t afford it. Is UCs a wise choice? or Should I just apply to private universities instead of aiming for UCs?</p>
<p>The UCs, California CCs, and CSUs have their residency policies right smack on their websites. Check the ones that are commuting distance from where your mom lives. If you can qualify as in-state at a CCC, you could live with your mom, work full or part-time, and study full or part-time for two years (or more if necessary) then transfer to a UC or CSU.</p>
<p>sorry, but I don’t think you’ll get into UCB or UCLA engineering with your SAT scores. You may get in to another dept but not engineering. UCs do not discriminate based on race and you’ll have to get 2400s because you are competing against Asians who couldn’t get into the private schools because they cap the Asian percentage to around 20%. That’s why so many Asians (over 50%?) are at Berkeley. And they are REALLY high achieving students. For what it is worth, UCIrvine, UC San Diego are also extremely competitive engineering schools, but you still might not get into either of those.</p>
<p>If your mother is in California and has been paying California taxes, you may be able to pay resident tuition if you live with her. I think that If you can’t do that, then you are an OOS student until age 24.</p>
<p>Isn’t the OP an international student and his US residency is irrelevant to the entire situation?</p>
<p>Thanks Crazy, I agree^^^.
Dragon, you are OOS/international if you have only lived in the US for 2 years and in another state. UC’s will be full fees ($50K a year minimum=$200K) and your stats are too low for those schools. You can’t establish residency in 1 year for California.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for giving advices.
@crazymomster: I am immigrant and have Texas residency. I took 2 APs last year(got 5) and will take 6 APs this senior year. I also have some good ECs. And even if I can bring SAT score up to 2100, my chance is still to low for those schools?
@aunt bea: I don’t want to graduate with that huge debt. Should I just work hard on SAT this Oct and find another school?</p>
<p>Some people said I could establish CA residency; some said I couldn’t. I’m totally confused right now. Should I just get rid of those ideas and find some private school in the East? Do those private school offer good financial aid for low-income student?</p>
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Ask your mom to contact the schools that you’re interested or visit their websites.
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<p>Do you have a green card? If not, then I don’t think that you can get instate in Calif because you didn’t go to high school there.</p>
<p>Dragon: You’ve been going to school in Texas; that is where you have residency and that is where your schools will be the cheapest.</p>
<p>California universities look for California High School diplomas because the residents pay state taxes to support the universities. Since your coursework will be in Texas and you don’t live in California, you’re stuck. </p>
<p>And California doesn’t give out much in aid, especially to students from OOS.</p>
<p>OP, read UC Berkeley’s website on residency.
I think you have a small window to establish your legal residence at CA.</p>
<p>Thank everyone. I know what I should do right now.</p>
<p>4kidsdad…</p>
<p>I don’t think that “window” applies to int’ls. In Calif, for an int’l to get instate tuition, I think he has to go to high school for 3 years in Calif. If this int’l student is a rising senior, one year in a Calif high school won’t provide instate status. </p>
<p>I think the 3 year rule was put in place so that undocumented students who went to school in Calif could get instate rates.</p>