@RiceFarmer I haven’t been claimed as a dependent since I was 16.
Additionally, I wouldn’t be moving in with anyone, I don’t think I made it clear on the thread but I don’t have a relationship with my biological parents emotional or financial. And the only “support” I have received after 15 was my brother not charging me rent.
You can always ask, but if you direct a comment to me or about me, I reserve the right to respond.
I looked at your posting history because I was trying to get some added insight into why you were so dead set on Berkeley. And I found that insight, which would have been helpful to have at the top of the thread.
@BelknapPoint Don’t you have anything else better to do? I’m 19 and am dumb enough to stay on here messaging strangers trying to solve my problem, what’s your excuse?
Just trying to be helpful…
Remember, in order to accept advice, you first have to be open to it.
OP, don’t wax poetic about this. Here’s your problem, in your own words:
“So I was accepted to UC Berkeley as a spring 2017 admit.” And:
“I’m a 19-year-old living and working in Texas.”
To UC, you’re on record with an educational intent. Very iffy to get past that.
You should be digging into the lengthy online info provided by the college and UCOP. They don’t want to give one more dollar of discounts than they have to. No matter the lofty ideals you believe in, the UC system is public, supported by their state resident taxes and struggling badly with finances. They declare the right to summarily deny when something even hints of fishy.
UniqueNY, that might make you independent for tax purposes (supporting yourself), but usually for financial and especially for instate residency, there are other conditions like being a ward of the state before 18, a record of abuse, being homeless and having your h.s. counselor certify that. You’ve filed your appeal for FA purposes to be an independent, let us know if it works.
You’ve asked. The best information here is that it is unlikely to work and you’ll be paying OOS tuition. If you move to California and you do not get the approval to be a resident for tuition purposes, you’ve said you’ll just work and pay for the tuition. You’ve made your decision.
Thanks all! I think I found my solution. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/us/06bcmarriage.html?_r=0
If anyone has friends or relatives in Cali that are in a similar boat feel free to forward them to this forum.
Btw, years ago, I legitimately moved to CA, found a professional job, did the bank account, lived in an apt with my name on the lease, etc, applied to grad school, was there more than 366 days-and they still made me jump through hoops. I was lucky. And I did it in a different order than kids who get accepted first, then decide they need the tuition break, want to find the loopholes.
Marriage is not a one-two guarantee. Read what UC says, today, not the media.
@lookingforward So you’re saying with official financial independence approved from the college. Work history, living history, voting history, bank account history, driving history, and marriage, I still wouldn’t get residency.
I’ll hopefully actually learn something tomorrow from my call. If I actually succeed I’ll be sure to come back to this thread.
Moderators note
This is becoming a circular conversation and OP is becoming unnecessarily rude.
*Despite getting information from actual California residents, Op seems to know the answer to his question; and believes that he’s got this.
One of the things that Op should realize, is that becoming financially independent for California aid, will not necessarily make him eligible for federal aid.
In addition, the more OP makes, the less need based grant aid (if he even gets it) OP will receive meaning the more he will have to pay out of pocket.
I’ll let this thread go on a little while longer. However, if it starts gong off the railsI am just going to drop the mic on it.*
If this is a need based award, you very likely will NOT receive it. The decision by CA NOT to award need based aid to OOS students is starting NOW. It is very possible that their NPC has not been updated well.
Where I’m at, grants are need based aid…and the UCs are no longer offering need based grant aid to OOS students.
In terms of deferring your acceptance…it will be very clear that you are deferring because you need instate tuition status to continue to attend. That will NOT support your stance of becoming a CA resident for other than educational purposes. What I mean is…you were accepted as an OOS student. Then you defer and put in a request for instate status? I don’t believe that will be supported.
You do have options. It sounds like you have a decent job in Texas. If Cal is to costly for you as an OOS student, perhaps rethink your application list and apply for fall of 2017 to places where you might have a chance at significant merit aid (like full tuition).
Cal is a wonderful college, it is. But a computer science degree from any other school will enable you to work in that field…just like a degree from Cal. Once you have your first job, and experience in the field, the college name on your diploma won’t matter to future employers.
ETA: one more thought…and it’s important. In terms of need based aid anywhere…it sounds like you have significant savings (you have said you can fund OOS costs for a semester, at least). Keep in mind that any money in your savings will be assessed at 20% for FAFSA EFC purposes. Even IF you get independent status for financial aid, your income and assets will likely preclude you from getting any federally funded need based aid other than the Direct Loan.
http://financialaid.berkeley.edu/meeting-nonresident-costs
Is this the reference you are looking for. This is from the Cal website, and clearly states that OOS students will no longer be receiving need based institutional aid.
The only way I see for you is to work at the oil rigs in Texas for a year or two and you will have the money to pay for 5 semesters of UCB.
The plan of attending UCB and working to support yourself and being successful in your studies is not feasible.
You are also not sure how many credits transfer and lots of CA students don’t graduate in 4 years, what’s the 4 yr, 5yr, 6yr grad rate for UCB? And starting in the spring, is that going to align with the classes you need?
I am a California resident and work with underserved students on college admissions. Even if you are granted in-state status, I wanted to let you know that UC financial aid this year is not very generous. My students with an efc of $0 had the UC’s require them to take out between $8k to $11k in loans each year. For this reason my very low-income California resident students are not attending any UC this year. That amount was what we arrived at with taking any of the “fat” out of a student’s budget. The primary grant the UC’s give is Cal Grant A and the amount hasn’t kept up with the rising UC costs.
Second, I was just by Cal and was shocked to see what off-campus places cost up there so I don’t think you can get any cheaper than what it costs to live off campus. My youngest is working in Houston this summer and living in Texas is much cheaper than Cal.
Third, CS is highly impacted so plan it taking at least three years to get your degree because you are going to have trouble getting the classes you want.
I know that this may not be the news you want to hear but be smart by it. 90% of my students listen to me and just this past week I had the one family who did not. They had their child attend a college completely unaffordable to them when the student had good scholarships elsewhere. Well after one year they have no money to continue since the “magical money they hoped for never materialized and all the we can spend less failed”, now the student has to transfer to a cc and the little they saved is gone.
Corrected RDD dates.
Independent status for aid is different than qualifying for the “resident” pricing.
You’re on UC’s radar as out of state. They accepted you as OOS. It’s in their records. We know they’re dropping OOS aid. And they know you haven’t been living in CA. Marriage won’t change this. (It pertains to a different exception.)
No, you can’t start school in spring term and have those months included in the count of days you lived in state, then get the in-state rate that fall. It’s CA Residency 101.
In fact, the RDD/Residency Determination Date for your present start date, Spring semester 2017, is Jan 17, 2017- meaning your 366 clock started no later 366 days before that. For Fall semester 2017, it’s August 23, 2017, meaning you would need to be fully settled ahead of that date, this year. And, your start hasn’t been deferred.
There’s also the issue that they don’t allow an endless appeal cycle. They state the right to claim No Mas.
You’re a smart young person, but missed a key step in the research and considerations. What many of us are suggesting is you need a solid Plan B, one that works when all the reality is laid on the table.
@itsv did you mean, can’t get any cheaper than “on” campus?
edited to correct to the semester dates, not quarter.
The aid you were quoted was probably for a CA student who qualifies for Calgrant because $35k income would probably not give you much Pell grant as an independent student.
But you didn’t graduate from a CA high school and won’t qualify for a Calgrant.
Also the school decides if you are independent for FA. If you are under 24 and your appeal doesn’t go through, your residency would most likely depend on where your parents live.
OP might get independent, but it’s another ball of wax, doesn’t seem he officially “emancipated.” Still leaves the residency issue and the UC decision not to award OOS aid.
It’s complicated, but UCOP and each school lay it out and it’s just a matter of following, remembering the critical point is: they do not want to give away one more dollar than they have to, to true residents, as they define them. One of the toughest states for this.
The OP provided an aid award that is assuming that’s he’s instate and went to a Calif high school.
Also…
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wanted to let you know that UC financial aid this year is not very generous. My students with an efc of $0 had the UC’s require them to take out between $8k to $11k in loans each year.
[/QUOTE]
That’s not just this year. EFC 0 students have been expected to take out full Direct loans and often Perkins loans for awhile.
If you look at the full COA, there is an expectation that student self help cover at least the estimates for personal expenses, travel, books, and maybe some portion of R&B.
Oh boy - I am going through this situation right now with UCLA, but it is the different scenario than OP.
First, @BelknapPoint is right in every way but OP is trying to ignore and believe what he wants to believe.
I immigrated to California in 2013, join community college, my parent went back to the country. I am pretty much financially independent since 2014 …i;e. I work, pay taxes, file taxes (Fed and CA) for two years now, paying rent , have my own car etc. Well, at least I think I am financial independnce but UC does not.
UCLA rejected my residency, I appealed no result yet.
OP, Just so you know Financial dependencies very hard to prove for residence fee purpose.
You need to show you live here for not only educational purpose but settling down here and show the intention that you are going to live in CA.
To prove financial independence, you have to show your income and expense (budget) how you did and how you are going to do. Also show CA file tax return for 2 years.
Bottomline, IMO, OP will be not qualified for residency for tuition purpose. It means he has to pay $26,000 through the private loan or work and pay. Furthermore, it is hard to get the private loan,nobody will give you loan unless someone with high-income ready to do cosign the document. So only option is to have that money ready.
UPDATE: I qualified for in-state tuition, was declared financially independent on the FAFSA, and received enough financial aid to cover all four years plus living costs. I am graduating this May from UC Berkeley debt-free!! 