<p>I'm 19. I've lived in NC with my aunt (NC citizen) for 1 year, & am thinking of having her claim me on tax for this return as a qualifying relative, but I'm not sure where that will put me in residency for Dental Schools. I''ll be transferring to Emory (Georgia) as a sophmore this January, & was attending a public University as O-S tuition (NC) after attending CC in FL. Grew up my whole life w/ mother in FL, & moved to NC Dec. 2011. Since I am supposed to use my mother for FAFSA, will it not even matter if I use NC as my permanent address for the next 2 years? I would like to stay in NC, but couldn't if I had to pay OS tuition for dental school. I'm also scared that I'll be left stateless if I let my aunt claim me for the next 2 years while having NC as my permanent address. I would like to decide now which state I should try to claim my residency for dental school. If i let my mother claim me this upcoming tax returns then I don't doubt I'll be considered I-S for FL. But where am I as far as being able to claim NC residency 2 years later if I remain here. I've done all the necessary things like change my drivers license, voted, & even have BCBSNC (blue cross blue shield NC) as my health insurance. Any help would be greatly appreciated as to where I should claim residency & steps</p>
<p>Your aunt cannot claim you as a dependent for financial aid or residency purposes because she never had legal custody. At this point in your life, colleges will determine that your legal residence is Florida, since your mother lives there, and you graduated from high school there.</p>
<p>Who claims you for taxes does not always affect your state residency, though sometimes it does. Each school can have different rules, so check the forms for the schools you wish to pursue.</p>
<p>An example, if you grew up in FL, but move away, you MIGHT still be a FL resident for admissions and/or tuition (getting one does not always mean you get the other) if your Mom claims you and your Mom remains a FL resident, then you could be considered a resident under your Mom’s umbrella.</p>
<p>Or, if you moved to NC and got a job and are self supporting, you MIGHT be able to qualify on your own as a NC resident, but be sure to check the forms for both admissions and tuition.</p>
<p>It sounds like you want to be a NC resident whilst attending Emory? Then download the NC dental school forms and see what they say. Be sure to realize that you likely must be a NC resident for a year before you apply and if it is like med school, you apply a year before matriculation.</p>
<p>It is good to think this through ahead of time, perhaps a phone call to the school may help you with some advice. I think they will want to know that you physically spent 12 consecutive months in NC and may want you to have been self-supporting at that time</p>
<p>It sounds like my hope of living with/ being dependent off of a NC tax payer (aunt) for a total of 3 years isn’t going to grant me instate residency. Even though I’ve taken the necessary steps to normally claim residency. Seems as though I have to be Dependent off of my parent (whom lives in FL), or Independent for NC which is nearly impossible as a full-time student at a private university in Georgia that can only spend summers & breaks in NC. Am I on the right mind track ?</p>
<p>You are a dependent of your FL parents and a FL resident. No way around that.</p>
<p>You will not be considered independent of your parent until you’re 24, join the military, or fully support a dependent of your own (child or spouse).</p>
<p>The UNC residency manual states:
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<p><a href=“http://registrar.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/06/Residence_Manual_Aug_2010.pdf[/url]”>http://registrar.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/06/Residence_Manual_Aug_2010.pdf</a></p>
<p>I understand that I don’t have much of a chance, since I’m not fully independent for residency. as I have read the manual a couple of times previously as well, but would like some clarification as to being dependent on FAFSA vs Dependent for residency. Since someone mentioned the being over 24, having a child, married, or vet part, I would like to understand a little better of the difference. Those listed would be for independent on FAFSA which seems more conservative than residency. Residency allows for independency if one is self supporting in the state for 12 consecutive months. Correct? So one could be dependent for fafsa while independent for residency & be classified in-state.</p>
<p>Triny, as an UNDERGRADUATE, the FAFSA rules including that of age 24 hold. Not necessarily when you become a graduate or professional student. Going to Emory, a private school means that your state residency is not going to matter while you are there since you are not a GA state resident under any situation. What state for which you will be a resident will depend on the rules of individual dental schools, or really any graduate programs. It can differ widely and it can even differ within schools of the same university and for tuition and admissions reasons. Look at several of the requirements as you get closer to graduation.</p>
<p>Most of the time, for those going into grad/prof school right out of college, the same rules of residency continue in that you will continue to be a resident of the state of FL since your mother is a resident of that state. Whether you aunt or whoever claims you as a dependent on her tax returns does not enter the picture any more than they do in establishing residency in NC while you were living with her. That is a whole separate issue. I am not qualified so I cannot give you any info as to the legitimacy, legality, advisablitly of your aunt declaring you as a dependent on her tax returns. But simply being declared a dependent there is not likely to give you NC residency for school reasons when you are going to college in GA with a mom in FL. </p>
<p>What will take precedence over any general rule or advice is the exact policy and enforcement of that policy of each school.</p>
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<p>Not likely, although in some situations it may be possible.</p>
<p>For example, you’re 23 years old and are have not been a full time student for the past 2 years. During those past 2 years, you have been fully self-supporting and living in a state different from your parent.</p>
<p>In this particular case, you could be classified as a dependent for FAFSA, but a resident of state different from that of your parent.</p>
<p>However, you’re currently a full time student. As a full time student you cannot establish state residency independent of your parent or legal guardian. </p>
<p>It’s not uncommon for young adults attending professional school to end up with NO legal state of residence for tuition purposes.</p>