Out of state financial aid questions

[RhythmKyle]

<p>Hi im moving to california next year for college but i have a couple questions..
would it be cheaper to go to a community college then to go to a state school so that i would get residency?
or should i just go straight to the school i want to go to?
also.. what option would i get more financial aid for? if i was to move out to california and get residency i would be seen as independent but if i move there as an out of state student i would still be dependent on my parents so would this have an effect on my financial aid? </p>

<p>which option is smarter and cheaper?</p>

[Erin_s_Dad]

<p>You will not gain CA residency while you attend school. It is smarter and cheaper to live in CA for a year or longer to actually gain residency. Look at the requirements here: [Establishing</a> California Residence for Tuition Purposes, Office of the Registrar](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ucsb.edu/residenc.htm]Establishing”>404 - Page Not Found)</p>

[RhythmKyle]

<p>well i was going to live on my own in an apartment while attending santa monica college. if i did this for a year then i would gain residency but i wasnt sure if it would be smarter to just be an out of state student since i might get more financial aid</p>

[thumper1]

<p>

i wasnt sure if it would be smarter to just be an out of state student since i might get more financial aid

</p>

<p>The VAST bulk of need based aid in the UC and Cal State systems is given to instate residents via the Cal Grant programs. OOS students have costs that are triple instate costs and they seldom get aid to cover it.</p>

<p>I’m not sure you can establish instate residency in CA for financial aid purposes as easily as you think. Perhaps for tuition purposes…but the reality is that you will STILL have to list your parents income/assets on the FAFSA form when applying for financial aid even if you manage to get instate residency status.</p>

[emeraldkity4]

<p>*if i did this for a year then i would gain residency *</p>

<p>How so?</p>

<p>

Establishing Residency</p>

<p>An adult student (at least 18 years of age) may establish residency for tuition purposes in California (i.e., begin the 366 day presence and intent requirements) if he/she is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or other immigrant who is legally present, or a nonimmigrant who is not precluded under federal law from establishing a domicile in the United States. This includes nonimmigrants in any of the following categories: A, E, G, H1, H4, I, K, L, N, NATO, O1, O3, R, V, or TPS. Adult students cannot derive presence nor intent from a parent or spouse.</p>

<p>Physical Presence: The act necessary to establish a residence for tuition purposes is physical presence in California. A student (or parent through whom a student seeks to satisfy the University’s financial independence requirement) must be able to verify that he/she established a physical presence in California more than one year (366 days) immediately prior to the residence determination date of the term for which classification as a resident is requested and that he/she was physically present during that year. Residence may not be established in absentia. Continuous physical presence is not mandatory, but a student who leaves California after establishing presence has the burden of proving that he/she intended to remain a California resident and that his/her principal place of residence has been in California.</p>

<p>Intent: Demonstrate through objective documentation that physical presence was coupled with the intent to make California the permanent home. Intent is evaluated as an independent element of residence, separate from physical presence, and is demonstrated by establishing residential ties in California and relinquishing ties to the former place of residence. Examples of residential ties include, but are not limited to, paying California income tax on total income from the date residence was first established in California (including income earned outside the state), obtaining a California Driver License or California Identification Card, vehicle registration, and voter registration; greater weight will be given to legal ties established with the State of California. Indicia of intent to make California one’s permanent home must be established and ties to the former place of residence relinquished as soon as possible after the date of entry into California. Any delay in establishing intent may delay the earliest date the student may qualify for a resident classification. Students who fail to establish ties with the State of California and relinquish ties from the former place of residence within their first quarter of attendance will be presumed to be in California solely for educational purposes. Physical presence within California solely for educational purposes does not constitute the establishment of California residency regardless of the length of stay.</p>

<p>Financial Independence: Students who will not reach age 24 by December 31 of the year in which classification as a resident is requested, and who are not dependent upon a natural or adoptive parent who satisfies University requirements as a resident for tuition purposes,will be required to satisfy the University’s self-sufficiency requirement in addition to the 366 day physical presence and intent requirements. It should be noted that this requirement makes it extremely difficult for most undergraduates who do not have a parent domiciled in California to qualify for classification as a resident at a University of California campus.

</p>

[RhythmKyle]

<p>damnn so i cant move there and after being there for 366 days i still cant get in state tuition…? im gonna be going to a private school anyways but i was still wondering just in case i was gonna go to a state school</p>

[thumper1]

<p>Why would you care at all about residency if you are attending a PRIVATE university? And again I say…you have two issue if you decide to go to a public university.</p>

<ol>
<li>Establishing residency for instate tuition purposes (VERY unlikely unless your whole family relocates there ONE year prior to your attendance in college)…</li>
</ol>

<p>And </p>

<ol>
<li>Your status for financial aid purposes. Even if YOU somehow were able to establish residency for tuition purposes, you would likely NOT be able to do so for financial aid purposes.</li>
</ol>

[sk8rmom]

<p>

if i was to move out to california and get residency i would be seen as independent but if i move there as an out of state student i would still be dependent on my parents so would this have an effect on my financial aid?

</p>

<p>This is also a common, but false, assumption. Simply because you’re living on your own does not mean you will be considered independent for financial aid purposes. IRS rules and FAFSA rules are very different on this point. Independent student status applies only if you meet one or more conditions such as you’re 24, married, a grad student, in the military, an orphan or were in legal guardianship before age 18, etc. There are qualifying questions you’ll answer on FAFSA and they will determine your status for FA purposes.</p>