<p>I am an OOS student at my junior college here in VA. I'm paying 3 times as much tuition as in-staters ($9,000 vs. $3,000), but that's a fact I can live with. After all, it was my choice to come to school here where I knew ahead of time I'd be paying OOS rates.</p>
<p>But here's the part that seems unfair - the plethora of scholarships/grants, etc available through the school are open only to VA residents. I'm on the President's List, paying 3 times as much as most of the other students, and yet I have to pay my own way. Isn't the point of paying OOS tuition to make up for the difference that I haven't paid in taxes, which help fund the state-supported school?? As long as I've paid the extra tuition, shouldn't I then be on an even-footing with everyone else?</p>
<p>The logic just isn't adding up, but maybe someone can clear it up for me. Even if you disagree with me, I just want to know why the school would have this policy.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>public schools are supported by taxpayers of that state
preference then goes to that states students
most junior or Cc colleges don't offer finaid
The ones around here don't even particpate in Stafford loan program
if the scholarships/grants are funded by local companies, perhaps their intent is to encourage VA residents to attend school in state
OUr state had a promise scholarship that was about $2,000 each year for every year of school that my daughter qualified for. The catch was you had to attend school in state, it could be any school public or private, but in state.
She did apply to 3 instate schools, and recieved additional merit aid at one of them, but still decided to attend out of state.
Many states have reciprocal agreements where you pay bordering states 150% of instate tuition to attend their schools
Now it isn't all of their schools, and it often limits which majors they accept but it is another way to save money.
JUst wondering though- I hadnt realized junior or community colleges varied that much, what made you decide to attend out of state?</p>
<p>Mostly because I'm an idiot. I'd be in-state right now at the University of Washington had I stayed in Seattle, but I have family in VA and since I want to work for the gov't, being close to DC is a good thing. But now I'm in limbo, because Washington state won't give me in-state rates since I've registered everything in VA. But I am working on residency here, which will then give me a shot at those scholarships...but by that time, I'll have already transferred. Ugh.</p>
<p>lesson learned...it is good you shared, because it give others some information they have probably not even thought about</p>
<p>gotta love bureacracy</p>