Hi, I have a question regarding in-state/out of state tuition. I currently live in Illinois with my mother. I previously lived in California for my entire life. My parents had received a divorce when I was younger, but they both remained in California. Now that I have moved to Illinois, I still want to attend a UC school. Now UC does not give financial aid to out of state students, which is a problem because neither parent can help me currently with college. Now I may be able to afford in-state tuition, so if I apply to a UC school from my father’s residence can I still get in-state tuition? Or do I have to live there some amount of years in order to receive it? Or will they deny it all together because I’m moving there basically to apply to college? If that is the case, is there a way for me to receive in-state tuition after moving there or am I basically permanently denied it? I don’t count on getting financial aid while living with my father, however its possible, but my main concern is the in-state tuition.
I probably could apply for financial aid and get a decent amount at USC, from my current residence, then move in with my father after the application process is over, so its partly a deciding factor of what I should set my sights on (in the event I got accepted to either).
I appreciate any feedback anyone could give me on that matter, thank you.
If you are going there for college purposes only, your request will be denied.
If you don’t reside in CA for a year before you start classes, your request will be denied.
If you move to CA now, and your dad declares you as a dependent, you might get instate tuition…I say MIGHT…not guaranteed.
Read this thread…this kid has the same issue…lots of,good responses there.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1921509-receive-instate-tuition-out-of-state-p1.html
From http://ucop.edu/residency/index.html
That site and the UC Residence Policy and Guidelines (pdf) posted there has all the details.
When do you turn 18, approximately? When do you graduate from high school?
I’ll turn 18, june of 2017, so that’s not all too reassuring… I won’t be really graduating high school, there’s been a huge problem as far as my high school years go, that would be too much to get into, so I’ve been on the path to receiving a GED, then going to community college to transfer to a 4 year. So does it rely on the age of dependence only, or if I move and go to community college, say next fall will I qualify by time I would transfer to a 4 year?
Since it’s not your goal to finish high school in Illinois with friends/classmates, can you move in with your California dad BEFORE June 2017 and finish your GED in California, and attend CC in California?
I suppose I could, Its something to think about. I’m trying to pre-plan for things like these, I’m in a bit of a panic over it really. However its not really a ride or die thing for me, attending a UC. I’m not sure how feasible it would be for me to move in with my father, in that amount of time. So, would it just be smarter for me to not look forward to a UC and try to get financial aid through USC? Both UCLA and USC are basically matched as the top of my list, however I know I can’t bank on being accepted to either.
What are your ACT or SAT scores?
Have you talked to your dad about living with him? Does he have a high income?
Read about the ways you can qualify for instate status in California. Seems to me from what you have posted that the easiest way would be to move in with your dad before you turn 18, attend either a California h.s. (maybe through dual enrollment?) or take the California GED. That eliminates a lot of the issues of being an OOS student. You could even continue as a high school student while at a community college, even if you are 18 or even 19 if you don’t have the credits to graduate from high school.
You might have reasons why you can’t move, but it seems that’s the easiest. All the other things you’ve suggested, not moving until you take the GED moving after sometime, are just riskier that you won’t be deemed a resident for tuition purposes.
Agree^
If you have a diploma from a non California HS/community college, you will already be under the micro for OOS.
@Madison85 Haven’t taken the ACT or SAT, never have had the opportunity. I have not spoken to my dad about moving with him, I have no idea if he’d be okay with it. I believe he technically has high income, however his financial state is a different story, so he most likely could not contribute to my college education (and yes I know the college won’t care about that, just another road block).
@twoinanddone I’d prefer to get a GED, either way, due to the ludicrous way I’ve been treated during my high school years. I’m not sure if I could even move (being he said yes) due to financial reasons.
@“aunt bea” So if I were to get a GED in Illinois, and attend community college in California, that wouldn’t work either right?
If you live with Dad, under the age of 18, more than likely, your residence would be considered INSTATE as a Californian, since it would be very difficult for a minor child to live in California without the financial support of an instate resident.
Also, with MINOR California status, you would be eligible for state funding:
(Cal grant- http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?ID=48 ). Blue and Gold?
How?
You stated that you had lived in California for your entire life. That means your parents paid heavy state California taxes. The Cal grants should give you credit for that, since they do give credit to other MINOR students who have been California residents. It’s about where you reside, and who you live with, before the age of 18 (with your GED in California) because you will qualify for state services as a MINOR. You can contact the UC residency offices to ask.
If you decide to stay and attend a CC in Illinois after becoming an adult, you would likely be viewed as OOS and be full fees at all of your sites since your documentation will be completely OOS.
I think you are being very unrealistic about USC if you don’t even have any test scores yet. Getting in with a high gpa and great test scores is very difficult, but getting in with a GED, no gpa, and unknown test scores, and expecting a lot of financial aid? Impossible.
You asked, we’ve suggested a better way to get instate status. You CAN do it other ways (more there, live there for several years as an independent earner and tax payer, get married, join the military), but you have an option most don’t have as you have a parent who is a resident.
Attending a community college in CA won’t make you a resident if you aren’t a resident, and you may have to pay OOS tuition at the CC too (they have some different rules).
@twoinanddone According to what I’ve been told, the community college is going to take the place of high school. So I’ll have taken the tests in the community college. The financial aid I anticipate is need based only. I obviously have no college yet, so I have no idea whether or not I’ll be able to even qualify for any of prospective schools and have already taken that in to consideration. This is all something I’m thinking about in the event I could be accepted academically. I obviously know, without a shadow of a doubt, if I show apply to USC with no gpa/test scores or any school for that matter its pretty much a given I’ll be denied.
I’m only trying to get all the information I can, I’m not asking anyone to pull some magic rabbit out a hat. Thank you for the constructive information I’ve been given. I’m simply trying to get all the knowledge I can, because it would be a very difficult decision. Having not lived with my father full time for almost 9 years, with only occasional visits in between, its rather difficult to decide to even propose the question to him, let alone actually follow through in the event he accepted.
@“aunt bea” Thank you for that information, I’ll take it in to consideration as well.
Agree with @twoinanddone, USC is not going to happen in this late stage of the game. It’s a private school and they have their pick of great students.
If you decide to live with your father, and he approves the move, tell both parents that it is a business/financial decision. That’s it, no drama, no conflicts.
Then, take a test; pick one. Contact the local California school district in your Dad’s area of residence. Sign up for their “alternative programs” so that they can monitor your GED status and provide the necessary college info that you can’t do alone: letters of recommendation, counselor information, signatures, etc.(if you decide to apply directly). They can also help with SAT/ACT prep (all paid for by your local and state California taxes) and any CC info you may need.
Once you complete the limited requirements, they typically give you a high school certificate with the local school district name emblazoned on it. You will need that.
Otherwise, plan on paying $55K per year as an adult OOS student.
@“aunt bea” Much easier said than done, but thank you for the insight.
Agree^, I’m not in your shoes, so consider your options wisely, then make a decision about how you will proceed.
As an adult, I see things differently, but you are not my age, and you haven’t had a whole lot of experience in life, as an older teen. Do what you are comfortable doing and what feels right for you.
Good Luck!
Is your dad remarried? Can you call/email/text him about if you could move in with him by January or so?
That’s just it, there probably won’t be a lot of financial aid. If you continue to be a dependent of your mother’s, and thus an Illinois resident, you’d be limited to federal financial aid only in California. Not much. If you become a dependent of your father, then his income will determine your FA but you’d be a California resident.
I don’t understand what you are saying about community college. If you take a GED, when you go to CC you’d be a college student.
. What tests? You’ll already be in college so won’t need ACT/SAT anymore.
I’ll again say again that I think a good option would be to move to California as a high school student, register for high school, and take all classes you need at community college. You’d get a high school diploma rather than a GED, but still be with college kids. Aunt Bea suggested working with the high school district for alternatives - and there are a lot in California - online, community college, tech schools. You are lucky you are looking at this now, before you are 18. It makes a difference.