<p>You have another thread that discusses this. I am reposting what I put there. This is what you should do:</p>
<p>You need to read the rules the Mich State has for instate qualification for tuition. Then you need to find out exactly who makes the determination at the school and directly contact that person and make sure you do not go out of compliance to what the exact rules are for the status. This can differ from state to state. In NY, I know that anyone who has been here 3 consecutive years and other stipulations gets in state rates but what happens if, say a parent moves out of state? I don’t know. In some schools, many schools, that’s a deal breaker. But if a kid graduates from a high school, spent 3 consec years in state, AND his parents were out of state even while he did so? That is a whole other category that could fall between the cracks.</p>
<p>In the last few years, in state status has been redefined for those kids who are illegally here and/or whose parents are. When wording those changes in status, a lot of other kids fall into that category,when that was not the intent of the new rules. It also creates conudrums where those who are legally doing their thing get penalized while those who are illegal don’t. A lot of these things are still in the process of being sorted out.</p>
<p>The fact that student’s parent was a MI resident when she graduated HS is very relevant. You should read all MSu regulations related to instate status. Somewhere there they mention 10 year residency and also that having only one parent instate is enough. It seems MI has some provisions for parents who moved out-of-state during kid’s HS and college years. So potentially they may decide that OP’s family paid enough taxes to MI to qualify her for instate tuition. But maybe not. They may not have specific regulations to cover your exact case so the resolution will depend on what a particular finaid person had for breakfast.
We can probably assume that when you applied for transfer you indicated that your mother is a resident and everything looks kosher now. If she filed federal tax return with a MI address in 2013 you may survive this year’s fafsa but when they ask for her 2014 tax return the residency issue may still come up, be resolved negatively and even become retroactive.
Can your parents apply for home equity line of credit or refinance their MI house instead of you taking loans? You can promise to pay them back.</p>
<p>This student needs to get this clarified ASAP with Michigan State. Really, they are the only ones who can give her the answers she is looking for. </p>
<p>Hi everyone. I’ve asked the school several times about my situation and they told me they don’t look any further to what I put on my application as far as classification goes. They told me since I put I graduated from a Michigan high school and lived there for 18 years that’s what they went off of. They told me to leave the situation alone pretty much. As for fafsa, the school told me that fafsa info does not impact residency status, that is a whole different thing. Thank you everyone for your input I appreciate it :)</p>
<p>@Erin’s Dad, I saw that. That is why I said that spirit of the rules supports instate status but technically the OP can be reclassified as OOS. @OP, if you are sure they will not reclassify you then just file FAFSA with true information. Your family paid MI taxes for 10+ years and you deserve instate status. </p>
<p>I think this is what has qualified you. Are you applying as a freshman? Your situation is alittle sketchy since it’s not fall after your high school graduation or if you aren’t applying as a freshman - but good luck and hopefully for continued status as a resident.</p>
<p>No worries. The school is right. You graduated from Michigan, your family still owns a property in Michigan, and your mom is still paying Michigan state taxes even though currently residing in another state. There are reasons to justify her presence in another state, such as temporary job assignment, extended family needs etc.
So you will be considered instate. Also for future years, as long your mom continues to pay taxes there, and the house is still there in her name, because she has to pay property taxes on that anyway, you will be fine.
Bets of luck to you.</p>