Hi all, this post is regarding gaining residency in Washington to attend UW:
I am a high school junior at the moment. 3.95 cumulative unweighted gpa (hopefully I’ll get that a in ap bio this semester!), 2080 sat, with a 1380 combined math and reading. I was born in San Francisco, but moved to Pittsburgh for 10 years. I moved back to the Bay Area at the beginning of this school year (all due to my dad’s job). So by the end of high school, I will have California residency and therefore qualify for instate.
However, my dad was raised in Seattle. He attended the University of Washington, as did his older brother and sister and his sister’s husband. My aunt and uncle and their spouses still live in Seattle, and my mom’s cousin’s son does as well. Since I just moved back to California, I really have no desire to stay there. I want to go to UW and after that live in Washington, preferably Seattle.
However, money is a bit of an issue. My parents have said that they are only going to cover what instate California tuition is, and help out with most of housing. However, UW is about $20,000 more per year. That would leave me with over $80,000 in debts before I even go to grad school. I feel like we will not qualify for any need based financial aid, but we will in an expensive area and I’m not the only child they need to put through college.
So here is my real question. Is it possible to establish residency? I calculated based on the estimated total cost of attendance that two years of UW oos and two years instate are about the same as four years instate at UC Santa Barbara. I have already read the long thing about all the points to establish residency, taking no more than 6 credits or working 30 hr a week in addition, registering for voting and license within 30 days etc. The only thing that confuses me is the idea of beginning financially independent. Does this mean I have to severe my ties legally with my parents? Or just for FAFSA purposes? (I don’t think we will receive any money from that anyway)
If I couldn’t do a two year oos then two instate, I would definitely consider taking a gap year, moving up here, and working. My cousin in law was a nanny on mercer island and she could hopefully connect me with a family there (I am working as a nanny now). I would also try to take a few courses at a community college in the area, but nothing that would take the place of my freshmen year.
Does this seem possible? I’d like anyone who has some knowledge about this to weigh in. Has anyone successfully established residency? Otherwise, how are you paying?? I will be on campus today and tomorrow and am hoping to inquire about this there also. Thanks!
