I live in North Carolina and was admitted to UMD’s class of 2020 starting in the fall of 2016. UMD is my top-choice school over the other 4 schools that I was also admitted to. I love everything about it, including the campus, location, and school spirit. I feel that it is the perfect college for me and my heart is set on attending all 4 years there. However, there is one significant issue…affordability. UMD is around $20k more expensive each year for out-of-state vs. in-state students. I am the first of three children in my family and UMD’s cost per year being around $50k is much more than what my parents can afford to pay. This being said, I have done so much research surrounding the establishment of residency in the state of Maryland to hopefully save money my sophomore, junior, and senior years. So far, I have been completely unsuccessful even while speaking directly to the office of residency reclassification at UMD over the phone. According to them, aside from being completely financially independent, one must have a Maryland address that is not the address of the dorm. However, in addition, this contradicts the requirement that freshmen must live on campus, therefore making it almost impossible to formally establish Maryland residency. Although I do plan on switching my drivers license, registering to vote in MD, and having a part-time job, this strict and competitive system gives me little chance in successfully achieving in-state tuition for 3/4 years. Because of this, I will likely be unable to attend my top school and am posting this as a last resort to see if anybody has any other ideas or suggestions. There has to be a way around the system, or some sort of technique that has allowed other out-of-state students in the past to pursue reduced tuition by their second year. Do any of you know of a way around the strict residency guidelines, or even know of anybody- a friend, relative, or older sibling- that has successfully gotten through this tough system? This is the only way that I will be able to attend UMD- my last hope. Thank you for any insight that you can provide me.
Why should a state school supported by that state’s taxpayers allow OOS students move in and get in state rates? There is no way around it. I hope you have affordable options.
I completely understand, but do plan on living in Maryland for a long time. It would not be a come and go situation… @intparent
That is what everyone would say… move to Maryland after you graduate, and your kids can get in-state tuition.
I’m not sure if this applies only if a student is going to be living with parents but I know of freshmen who lived off campus
Whether or not you live on campus is irrelevant.
@GMTplus7 oh I know, I was just addressing the fact that the op said its required for freshmen to live on campus
You would need to renounce your current admission, find an address and a job, work full time for 12 months, and then PERHAPS you can be considered instate. Anything else is fraud and someone’s dad in jail because they did it so don’t even think about it.