I was wondering if any of you all had any advice of the stated topic above. I spent 3 semesters in Iowa at a 4yr, but I’m taking a leave of absence this semester for a few different reasons, so I’m at home but still technically enrolled. I registered to vote in Iowa in November 2014 for the elections there. At the time, I wasn’t completely positive I was transferring, but I wanted to participate anyway. I’ve been applying to schools to transfer to, and my first acceptance (school in home state) has told me that I do not qualify for in state tuition because I’m registered to vote out of state. My current address has been my permanent residence for almost 10 years. I work and file taxes in my home state. I even qualify for county tuition for the community college (taking classes this semester there). I have to appeal to the residency committee now to see if I can get it changed, but I’m not really sure what to say. Has anyone dealt with this before? What was the result? I didn’t realize registering to vote in another state would screw me over so badly - out of state tuition is almost $12k more expensive than in state tuition and about as expensive as my previous college used to cost me in loans every year.
You need to find the exact web pages that describe the requirements or standards for in-state. Assuming it’s Md, they want certain elements for “…at least twelve (12) consecutive months immediately prior to and including the last date available to register for courses in the semester/term for which the student seeks in-state tuition status.” http://www.umd.edu/catalog/index.cfm/show/content.section/c/48/s/587
Follow the link.
I know voting confuses some and am just saying, not scolding, but you could have registered to vote in your home state and used an absentee ballot. (My own kids registered at their school locations, too.)
Yes, they want to see that you have relinquished all ties. I don’t know the outcome for you, I just know in CA the UCs are aggressive about this because they want the higher tuition. Good luck.
The logic at the time was ‘well, I’m here 8 months of the year, and my vote has more impact here, so why not?’ Plus, I registered the day of to vote, so it was too late to do absentee. I looked around for information about voting registration and tuiton, but the vast majority said it didn’t matter. I couldn’t prove my residence (dorm) in IA, so someone vouched for me.
I just registered online for MD. Do you think this will at least help clear things up? Any other advice? I appreciate all of your help.
Ok, there is strike two: you spend eight months out of the year wherever it is. They will in no way consider you to be a resident somewhere else. Now that you’ve registered, they will probably aggressively check where you actually are during the year. Again, my only experience is the UCs, but they check every two week vacation. They really look for where you’re spending your time. You may have opened up a can of worms.
Lindy, look at what the school says. Parents’ location matters, when one is still a dependent. OP said he paid taxes in Md. Etc.
OP, follow the link inside the web addr I gave. Follow the bullets about reconsideration and do your best to explain that registering to vote was a last minute decision to participate, blah, blah, the right respectful tone, not too long, not too short. On all other points you seem to qualify. And I think ucb does have a point about registering to vote at home, now. Presumably your driver’s lic and and car reg are in Md. Maybe you have a home bank acct you continued to use.
Going to school out of state, doesn’t necessarily make you out of state. If your primary reason for moving out of state is to attend school, then TYPICALLY you can still be a resident of your home state. If all you’ve done is register to vote out of state, you can likely win an appeal.
Ah, @lookingforward, I misread. I thought he was saying he had moved his allegiance to OOS to get residency tuition, but signed up to vote back in his home state, as well as living in his home state a good part of the time. So, it’s the reverse.
Ok, so were you paying OOS tuition at the OOS school? That is probably the main question. If so, then that is declaring you were still a resident of your home state. (I see no mention that you are a dependent, but I assume you are, based on lookingforward’s comment.)
Anyway, signing up to vote IS a big deal. It’s mentioned repeatedly on the UC residency pages as something not to do, and something they specifically look for. And you’ve lived there three years.
Hopefully, it will get sorted out, especially if you are still a dependent and you paid OOS tuition in your current school throughout this whole time.
Okay, I call BS on this. Kids can normally register to vote at their school, and they sure don’t get in-state tuition for doing it! Some kids become politically active in their college communities, and care more about those races than the ones back at home. That is fine, and they shouldn’t be penalized for it. While my kids generally have registered at home and voted absentee, I would not fault them for an instant if they preferred to vote in their college location. There is nothing “confusing” about it, it is legal and should not cost the OP his residency in his home state. OP, don’t feel bad for a second about that decision. I think you have a good shot at winning your appeal.
OP, just write (or state if you have to do it in person) a clear explanation of all your ties to your home state, the lenght of those ties, and that you were only in the other state to attend college. While you voted there, your residence was clearly in your home state where your parents have resided, where you graduated from high school, and where you have returned after leaving your previous college. Did you keep your driver’s license in your home state? Include that information if you did. Do you have any siblings paying in-state tuition in your home state? That might be worth stating as well.
Not from me, my kids registered at their oos school, so I know it can be done. The issue is that OP wants to transfer to a Md school and, first pass, they seem to be denying him residency based on that voter reg (according to OP.).
It’s also in Maryland system notes I linked that all bullets must be satisfied and one of them is not registered to vote oos. Houston, we have a problem.
He/she needs to follow the state procedure. I advocated that. In fact, it’s really the only choice. But now we need to hear from OP.
And lindyk8, not CA. And he said 3 semesters, not 3 years. OP registered Nov '14, 3 months ago.
The problem is that the colleges want to get OOS tuitition so impose all these obstacles. I get how it could happen with the student wanting to vote somewhere and not thinking one way or the other about it. The thing I find perplexing, though, is if he applied for his home state college, he would have to fill out an application, which asks if you are a dependent and then your parents’ address, which one assumes is the ten year address he noted above. Right?
Plus, he’s paying OOS tuition at the other place. (We’re assuming this since I’m not sure he said those last two things, but I keep missing things, so it’s probably right in front of my face.)
I get how an automated system might find the voting and flag it, I suppose, but wouldn’t a phone call with a human correct what appears an obvious error? He was there three semesters (not three years, my bad), is legally living at home, and paying what we assume is OOS tuition. Something seems amiss. Why don’t his parents call? As a parent, I would be on that sooo fast. Maybe he’s independent, as he noted he’s paid taxes for several years.
I feel there is something missing. But maybe it’s all just red tape.
I’m so sorry for not responding! I didn’t realize I had gotten all of the responses!
To answer your questions and clarify a few things:
I am a dependent still.
Yes, I still have my MD driver’s license. I’ve also paid taxes in MD for the past 3 years or so.
My car is in my dad’s name, so that won’t really count, but that was a really good idea.
My Iowa school was private, so there was no distinction there for tuition.
I “resided” in Iowa solely to go to school, and I only voted there purely for political reasons.
I have none of my possessions in Iowa. Most of them were at home (10 yr address in MD) when I was at school.
The only tie I have left is that I’m still technically enrolled but rather taking a “leave of absence.” I did this to cover my bases in case what I want to do here in MD doesn’t work out. I may been miserable at the IA school, but I still need to finish my degree.
I am registered to vote in MD now and should get my voter registration card in the mail within the next few weeks.
I like the bank account idea. I’ve had my bank account for a few years now at the same branch in my hometown.
I’m still on my parent’s insurance – would that count for me?
Oh, and I’m a girl, by the way
I was looking at the form, and this part is bothering me:
“Owns or possesses, and has continuously occupied, including during weekends, breaks and
vacations, living quarters in Maryland. The student must provide evidence of a genuine deed or
lease and documentation of rent payments made. In lieu of a deed or lease, a notarized affidavit
from a landlord showing the address, name of the student as occupant, term of residence, and
history of rent payments made will be considered. As an alternative, a student may demonstrate
that he or she shares living quarters in Maryland which are owned or rented and occupied by a
parent, legal guardian or spouse.”
How do I show that I live with my parents? Match my driver’s license with their deed? Tax return?
What do they mean by “continuously occupied, including during weekends, breaks, and vacations, living quarters in MD”? By this statement alone, I wouldn’t qualify because I was in another state. What if I had just taken a really long vacation? It doesn’t make sense that I would have to be in my home permanently for 12 months. By that logic, when I applied my senior year of high school to in state schools, I shouldn’t have qualified for in state tuition because I was out of the country for a week.
I am still in the process of writing my letter. I really appreciate all of your insights, and I will be sure to include them in my letter.
