I’ve read a lot of forums regarding this issue, but my situation is a little unique and I need some help. I am a student from Iowa and I want to live in California in the future. UCSB seems like the perfect school, but there are some catches. Firstly, I am OOS, so I cannot afford to simply enroll in a UC. I would have to attend community college in CA (probably SBCC), establish residency, and complete the TAG program for guaranteed transfer to UCSB. So, I have some questions:
Would I be able to complete TAG in one year with 9 APs? Would I be able to complete TAG in one year AND study abroad 1 semester at SBCC? Would I be able to establish residency in CA for tuition purposes at UCSB? Would I hinder my overall college experience by going to community college for the first half of my college career?
My alternative option (financially) would be Alabama. Alabama is offering free tuition and honors college which are obviously intriguing. However, it is located on the other side of the country and is not nearly as well-regarded to begin with, let alone in CA.
As far as fit goes, the two colleges seem similar, but UCSB wins out. Private schools would end up costing about 90k while the UCSB route would probably end up costing about 80k if I could finish in 3 years. My parents told me college would need to be about 90k, so even though I am willing to work through more debt, a fourth year probably won’t be doable. UA, on the other hand, would cost about 36k.
Which would be the better route to take for living in CA? Which would be the better route to take if I don’t end up living in CA?
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I would have to attend community college in CA (probably SBCC), establish residency, and complete the TAG program for guaranteed transfer to UCSB. So, I have some questions:
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Are your parents moving to Calif? If not, you won’t be able to establish residency there. Calif publics have VERY strict rules… Calif has long realized that kids want to “try” what you’re suggesting, which is why they’ve closed all those loop holes.
You would be OOS the entire time for Calif schools…including the UCs. So your costs would be very high for your time at a CC and then extremely high at a UC
Hi! Unfortunately @mom2collegekids is correct and unless your parents move to CA for two years, you would not be able to establish residency yourself by moving so the UCSB option might be unaffordable. In response to SBCC, kuddos to you for doing your research. SBCC is unique in that kids can have the true college experience attending SBCC for two years because the dorms in Isla Vista are private, so although it’s mostly UCSB students, SBCC students can live there also. My sister was initially denied UCSB entrance and opted for SBCC with a UCSB tag. She would tell you she had every bit the college experience. She lived in the dorms her freshman year, and then in a house with 4 UCSB students the next several years in Isla Vista. The SBCC route may still be unaffordable because housing in Isla Vista is very expensive (because you’re living within steps to the beach), but in response about “true college” experience, the answer is likely yes. Good luck to you!!
I should add that the dorms on campus at UCSB are university owned so you wouldn’t be able to live “on-campus” but many UCSB students opt for the private dorms in IV because some enjoy some of the additional amenities (and it’s still a close bike ride to campus). Good luck!
As detailed above, you will not be able to manipulate your way to in-state tuition in California. Your total cost for UCSB will around $250K. You can remove it from your list.
Keep in mind I will be 19 (legal adult in terms of residency) by the time I apply to UCSB, so wouldn’t I be able to establish residency on my own?
“To be eligible for resident status adult students must maintain a physical presence in California, show intent to make California his or her permanent home, and be a US Citizen or be granted and maintain an allowable immigration status for one year prior to September 20 for the fall semester, and one year prior to January 25 for the spring semester.”
"When a student first comes to the CSU as either a first-time freshman or as a transfer, the student must have legal capacity to establish residency. If a student is under the age of 19, he/she cannot establish residency on their own; their status derives from their parent or legal guardian’s residence.
The two requirements to be considered for initial classification are:
Physical Presence: A student must be physically present in California ONE YEAR PRIOR to the Residence Determination Date (in which enrollment is contemplated).
Intent: A student must intend to remain in California ONE YEAR PRIOR to the Residence Determination Date."
I have not. I will be checking out California schools in the next year but I don’t think I will be able to visit AU. If I were to visit schools in CA and love them, would it be better to attend Pepperdine, USD, or Loyola if I was able to get the costs down to 90k total vs 36k at AU? I do want to try and live in CA after college, but I also may move somewhere else.
University of Alabama is pretty good academically, you would get free tuition (so a much better deal than any of the UCs) and it is well-respected. If you are set on living in California, you could try living in California during the summers when school is out.
Bama is indeed a decent school, and there’s nothing wrong with going there. You would be able to get a good education at an affordable price, which should be the goal of college anyways. If you have to stretch yourself THAT far just to get a cheaper deal at the UCs, I’d pick Bama.
@Chardo, I don’t think UA will preclude me from living in CA, I was just wondering if living in CA would be easier with a degree from a fairly prestigious school that the area is familiar with as opposed to UA which no one will know much about - enough so to make up for the cost difference. @GreenTeaFanatic, I may actually end up spending summers in CA as my brother and sister are moving out there this year, but I’m referring to life after college
The California public schools are PUBLIC schools. They are also extremely competitive and tough. Your presumption that you can get into classes and complete them in three years is a dream. Don’t forget that these are public schools; there is no requirement that says that a course has to be offered every semester or quarter. Some courses are offered every other year. Don’t assume that you can breeze your way through.
California is very strict. If you enter any secondary institution upon arrival to California, it will be presumed that you are here in California for educational purposes and you will automatically be labeled as OOS for any and all of your future education. Yes, even at the Cal states and the CCC’s.
Oh and just being physically present doesn’t mean you’ve met the tax requirements of the state. You also have to pay taxes and show that you are self-sufficient. That means no help from siblings, no help from parents. No one can use your ss# to file taxes. Your rent receipts have to match your income with only your name on the receipt. Your rent has to be market rate (In San Diego that means ~$1500 per month no split) and you have to have your own receipts-no sharing, with your bank statements showing transfers of rent from your personal income w2 statements. Your budget has to account for all of your living expenses.
If you try to get into the privates, you will have a LOT of stiff competition. Some of them don’t meet need and will gap you.
@Chardo, I will likely major in economics and minor in psychology.
@“aunt bea” I’ve given up on Cal publics, and judging by posted stats I should at least be in top quarter of applicants, if not top 10%, which I think is required for scholarship to Pepperdine. I will have to see what offers I get, if any, from each school when I apply.