I am accepted into a university out of state. However, I am enrolled in a program that allows me to have in-state residency for this university, only if I am under a certain major. This major is something I am not interested in at all. The program states says I am qualified for as long as I keep the major. It says nothing about any other specific requirements. Therefore, I am planning on taking classes only related to another major that I am actually planning on completing. I was planning on doing this for a year and applying for residency in that state after the year is up because I will have an address (not the dorm, an actual house off campus) there for 12 months and etc.
Do you see any problems I could run into by doing this? Will the college think anything of me taking classes completely unrelated to the major I am under? BTW, I have been dual-enrolling for the past two years therefore, 90% of my core classes are done. So I would actually be taking my intro major classes for my real intended major.
First, the school may require you to take the major classes. You’ll have to have a faculty adviser sign of on your registration. You may be able to get the classes you want through drop/add, but maybe not.
Second, you will most likely not be approved as a resident after one year. It depends on the state and some require that your parent (if you are a dependent student) live in the state to qualify for instate tuition. Check the requirements of the state you are planning to move to. Utah and Missouri make it easy, most other states are a lot harder.
The school says you would qualify for instate residency IF you study a particular major.
It does NOT say this will establish instate residency for you. There is a difference.
I’m going to guess that if you switch majors, you will,lose that instate tuition status.
But to,really know…call,the school and ask.
If you want in state status at this school…as an OOS student…you will have to major in the major that gives you that status…
In the vast majority of states, you can NOT establish residency WHILE you are attending college in a new state. In addition, YOUR residency as an undergrad is based on the residency of your parents.
What has changed since this thread when you supposedly had your finances covered.
And there are universities that will back-bill you at OOS rates for breaking this agreement.
Be wise. Look at the actual residency requirements for that U (and/or the state system.) It’s much more than having an off campus address, it’s several layers of proofs.
I want to clear something up, I would be receiving instate residency 100% with this program. Not just qualified.
As for the other thread, during this time my parents ensured me that money would be covered if I went to this school, but I think they were so confident I was getting into the school they wanted me to go to so they said that just so I would not worry. They also thought the yearly tuition at this school would be lower.
@lookingforward
On the website it says,
“Most institutions will not require you to pay back tuition for the years that you received — benefits if you change your major or program to one that is not approved for the — or is available in your home state. However, if you change your major during a semester, the institution may charge you the out-of-state tuition rate for that semester. If you change your major to a different program that is included — you must be recertified by your state coordinator.”
Yes…you will get instate tuition IF YOU DO THE MAJOR THAT GRANTS THIS.
This does NOT mean that you will receive instate tuition of you do NOT study this major.
If you switch majors to another which does not grant you instate status…or you do NOT take the courses for this major that gives you instate rates…you will lose that instate status.
I’m going to speak bluntly. You think you can game this system…and you can’t. If you switch majors…plan to pay the out of state rate.
And for the record…I’m wondering if you got your application to,your parent preferred school pulled…and bamboozled your parents into believing this school choice of yours was affordable. It won’t be…apparently…unless you do this major for the instate rate.
OP, is that New England? There, the whole deal is to offer a major your state doesn’t (or if your state offers it further than X distance from home than the other state.) No matter, check your actual institution. And be wary of the distinction between “instate for tuition purposes” and actual ongoing state residency. These folks didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday, they know all the tricks. We couldn’t take that risk.
@thumper1
For the record…I did not get my application pulled. There was no way to get anything done about it discreetly so I just let what was meant to be happen and I didn’t get in.
It was my parents idea to do this program and take other classes. Like I said in my post, I am planning on enrolling in the major but just taking other classes for my preferred major. I understand that I will not receive the benefits if I switch my major…which is why I will not switch it. 
Which university?
Your major isn’t just what you say it is. Who do you think will believe you are an X major, if you’re concentrating on classes in another? The qualified major will require certain classes.
This is completely different if you major in one and just want addl classes in your preferred field. But a major is a major. Can you be more specific?
The major I want is finance. It has SOME classes related to the major I am supposed to stay in.
There’s a huge difference between getting instate rates for a certain major …and…becoming a resident of that state.
You would get instate rates for that major…that doesn’t make you a resident.
You would NOT become a resident after one year in most states because you were in school during that time…which means that you’re there for school purposes.
What state is this?
One problem is that you already have some lower division classes and now you will need the courses for finance. You may have a problem getting into those courses. Many programs give majors priority registration (and athletes, and honor students, and then other business school majors) so they may just not be available. for you when you need them. If you are a junior, you won’t have a lot of time to waste. Some schools have a requirement that you apply for graduation almost a year before graduating, so in the fall for spring graduation. You’d have to declare at that time, so you are looking at a year of the OOS tuition right there.
You asked for the group’s opinion, and most of us don’t think it will work. What is the major you were accepted into? Can you minor in finance?
How feasible is a double major at this school?
^ I agree. I was thinking about the same thing while I was reading above. Note that you will need to declare major (the real one) by certain time. Some courses may give preference for enrollment by major also. So either you need to pay OOS tuition beginning some time in sophomore year or it may delay your graduation that may end up costing you more. Double major may avoid these problem if feasible.
Universities do not have the authority to grant in-state residency.
They do offer in-state tuition for out of state students based on certain criteria - specific major, academic excellence, etc.
The distinction is important. Read the materials carefully. I suspect you’ve been offered tuition billed at the in-state rate contingent on your major. Also check to see if there is a minimum GPA or other requirements to keep this benefit.
Listen carefully. You will need to take the courses that are required to lead to this special major that gives you instate tuition. Period. It is very very highly likely that you won’t have as much choice with your course selections as you think.
To be frank, it sounds like you are being totally dishonest with this college…and colleges frown on dishonesty. Sounds like your plan is to take as many finance courses as possible…and then poof switch to that major your senior year when your tuition bills have already been paid.
What you are trying to do is gain a benefit using dishonest means.
If you want to major in finance, go to an affordable college where you can openly major in FINANCE…not one where you have to pretend you are majoring in something else to,gain instate tuition.
Personally, I think your plan is very flawed. You are getting instate tuition at a college because you have chosen a certain major at that college. The college will have some very clear requirements for this benefit. As noted upstream, the schools have seen every trick in the book to game their system. And yes, they will be watching to make sure you fulfil their major requirement for the instate benefit. And yes, if you don’t…you will get a bill for OOS costs, and backcharged for the instate/OOS difference.
In addition, if this all comes tumbling down your junior year, let’s say. You could be forced to transfer as a junior because you can not afford to pay your OOS costs.
Best plan always…be honest, and play by the rules. Drumming up ways to game the system…not smart.
When you go to work in the future in finance…will you expect folks to be dishonest about their transactions with you?