kaitlynnw

**Please don't leave any comments about going to college in my current state. Thank you.**

I am looking at going to community college, and then a 4 year university.. in Washington State.

Here is the residency form for the community college I wish to attend:

http://new.shoreline.edu/forms/Washi...cationForm.pdf

Regarding the duties, I will be able to provide documentation of my presence in Washington for 12 months, get my voters registraion card (not quite sure, I am not old enough to vote in my current state), and attach a letter from a future employer.

For the other duties, my questions are:

1. If I do not intend to drive at all, do I not need to get my Washington drivers license and vehicle registration? Or would I need to get those anyway?

2. And, although it does not state it here, I have read that most colleges want you to prove that you are independent and have intentions to stay in the state. I plan on renting and apartment and paying for my tuition all with my own money that I have saved up. However, I think I have to recieve child support from my father until I am out of college. Would that count as money I would be recieveing for college from my parents? In other words, would that count as not being financially independent?

I know these are questions I should probably ask the college itself. This is just my first step. I am still a junior in high school.

Thank you!

katiesmith

Most states you can get just an ID as far as I know, not for driving or anything but I think you still get it at the DMV and if you don't plan on driving or owning a car that would seem a reasonable way to prove residency instead of the liscense and registration. If you plan on living in a city it would make sense to just use public transportation too so they wouldn't really have any way to fight you on it. Also I think all states you need to be 18 to vote, so assuming you turn 18 before you need to apply I don't think it would be a problem to get your voter registration. Good luck!

Waverly

Is the child support taxable? If it isn't and you make at least $9500, you're fine.

kaitlynnw

Thank you!

The two responses I received here were much more optimistic than the other two responses I got when I posted this in another forum.

They said that I would not be able to gain independency with child support, so my resolution would be to use the money now, or save up for after college, but not have it go to me, maybe my mom instead. I could have her save it up for me to use after college.

Again, thank you!

entomom

^Before you DO anything, you should call the Residency office at Shoreline or UW and confirm your plan. With all due respect to CC members, when contemplating something like a residency change, you begin by asking at a place like this, but your next step is to talk to the people who will eventually be making the decision.

One more thing about being independent, that means neither of your parents can count you as a Dependent on their income tax for the year you are trying to gain residency.

Erin's Dad

^ And they don't contribute to your support.