Establishing California Residency? Is it possible, special circumstances.

[Pizzagirl]

Does UMKC still have a 6-year med program? I know they used to. That might be worth investigating. Good luck to you.

[thumper1]

you see no special circumstances, would you mind reading please? I said my parents are leaving to MEXICO, out of the country so I'm trying to establish residency in California where I will have somewhere to live and not be out in the street like I'll be if I stay here.

This is not a special circumstance.

What people don't get is that while KU allows me to pay instate tuition they hardly ever meet the Full Need of students.

None of the public universities in CA meet full need for the students.

If you want to go and live in CA with your aunt rather than go to Mexico with your parents...that is fine. And it makes sense. I just don't think your plan for instate residency will fly...but hey...who am I? Give it a whirl and maybe you'll make it work. If not, you can work in CA and save some money for when you do return to college.

[Andorra409]

UCLA is a very difficult 30 mile plus commute on I-10 from Whittier. Google maps suggest 2 hours in traffic, a very plausible estimate many afternoons. UC Irvine is also about 30 miles from Whittier in the other direction. I don't know if that commute is better.

Cal State Univ Fullerton is one of the closer options to Whittier. From their website:
Financial Aid - Cost of Attending CSUF
lists the tuition costs (called Fees in CA) for 2008-9 and 2009-10. Note that the in state tuition cost has risen from $3382 to $4662 since last year - a 37% increase in one year.

Under Financial Aid they give the following info
You are considered INDEPENDENT if you:

Will be at least 24 years of age by December 31 in the application year (for example, December 31, 2009 for the 09-10 school year).
Are an orphan, ward of the court, or both of your parents are deceased.
Are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Have legal dependents other than a spouse.
Are a graduate student.
Are married at the time you sign your FAFSA.
Are currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training.
Homeless as designated per federal aid guidelines

[TrinSF]

BTW, it's not just that housing is more expensive here (and $900 a month for rent is *low*) -- you can't rent a studio apt in much of CA for that much). Every. Single. Thing. Costs. More. Think about anything you spend money on in a day; it costs more here. When I moved here, I took a job making 30% more than I'd made elsewhere, and I thought would be fine. But simple things like milk and bread cost more. Gas costs more. Even the fast food costs more! Take every expense you have, and increase them by 50%, and that'll get you in the ballpark.

[somemom]

Housing near UCI is very pricey, DD's rent was about $800 per room in the house plus utilities, food, transportation, etc, and that was years ago. UC Riverside might be a cheaper housing as Inland Empire housing is cheaper than the OC.

Another caveat, if you earn enough to support yourself you will not qualify for Pell, SMART, ACG, CAL grant, UC grants etc as need based; this is true even if you can show you get no help from your parents.

Community Colleges in CA have traditionally been much cheaper than some other states, I was surprised at the prices in my newer state when DD took classes here.

DD has a friend from our state who went to a CSU campus last year with no help from parents (one parent in jail) and she was fully self supporting, no family near by or anything. She was unable to get residency for this fall and has moved back to her home state and is attending community college this fall in hopes she can transfer to the state flagship. Maybe it will work out for you, but just remember, being a legal tax paying state residenct does not make you a resident for tuition necessarily. Check out all your options and make sure you plan very well; if you need to move to CA as the best thing for you, do it and go meet with local residency office reps and ask humbly for help and advice as to how to make your situation work best for you within their rules.

No one on this board wants to quash your dreams, they just want to open your eyes to the inequities inherent in bureaocracy.

[my-3-sons]

Annual instate tuition, fees and R&B at KU is $16,000.00, not $30K. I have a kid at KU and even paying OOS tuition, we are well under $30k. As I said earlier the tuition is a 4 year fixed rate and R&B can be fixed for 2 years, great for budget minded students. KSU costs are less. No one is saying you have to go to KU or KSU. If you want to go to CA for personal or family reasons fine, but don't cite KU's high tuition or inferior academic quality as the reason, neither are true.

[kayf]

If your stats are good enough for one of the better UCs, IMHO, you should qualify for the Honors Program at KU, which has much to offer.

No one hear wants to squash your dreams, but it is important to remember that state schools are supported by taxpayers, and they have an obligation to enforce reasonable residency rules. Many parents move after kids graduate HS. If I retire to Mexico, should my kid get in-state at UC just becuase Mexico is closer to Calirnia than my state. I do not think so -- and my guess is your situation is not unique. Some parents do not support kids in college. IMHO you should not plan on getting Calif residency. Peace.

[jc09jr]

Does UMKC still have a 6-year med program? I know they used to. That might be worth investigating. Good luck to you.

Yes they do. I'm also looking into their program. I've also considered staying put here in my state for a year and manage it out then apply for transfer to Washington University and see I can get accepted. Their Medical program is out standing and If I can accepted that would be great. But California, I've been thinking about it and I've realized that I would be going and I would end up in more initial debt. Lets just see how this goes. I think I'll apply for WashU for next fall and UMKC which are far better schools then KU.

I have a kid at KU and even paying OOS tuition....

How is that? Umm from where I come from here are the stats.

$8,500/year tuition
~$7,000 roam and board
~5,500 books and supplies and other expenses. That is around $21,000.

In-state

out of state is a whole different story. $21,000 for tuition, 7,000 for R&B and 5,000 for other expenses How does that add up to less then $30,000? If you managed to get under $30,000 then you got a great deal and someone messed up.

Also not to break it to you but you child if out of state most likely went their for the parties and not academics. But IDK that's just me. I wish it wasn't like that but what can you do. XP

Let just hope I can get into Washington University or UMKC which have better medical programs.

[thumper1]

How are you going to pay for Wash U?

[Nester]

I'm not sure how long parents have to live in California to establish legitimate residence for their college-aged children, but is there any chance of your parents moving to California for whatever period of time is necessary for you (and them) to establish residence there? This will save you (and them, if they are at all involved in paying for your college) a great deal of money. Do make sure that you will remain an in-state resident at the point that they move to Mexico, though, should they agree to do this.

[TrinSF]

Nester: I know the time is measured in years, not months. Like, 3 years, or something ridiculous like that.

[Nester]

So much for that!

[Pizzagirl]

Your snobbery towards KU is still apparent. KU isn't Harvard but plenty of people who have gone there, become doctors or other professionals, and been financially successful. The wealthier suburbs of KC are chock full of KU grads who could buy and sell you. Stop acting as though a good education and life success can't be had there.

[my-3-sons]

The costs I quoted are those paid to the school (tuition, fees, r&b as I listed). You will be paying for books and personal expenses wherever you attend and can be as frugal or lavish with those expenses as you see fit.

Also not to break it to you but you child if out of state most likely went their for the parties and not academics. But IDK that's just me.

As you said, that's just you. If your main motivation for attending KU or KSU would be to party then you're right, these schools are not for you. Perhaps no college is until your motivation changes. Kids with a goal of academic success will find opportunities to help them achieve their goals wherever they attend and not be deterred. If you choose not to believe that KU is a well respected, USN top 100 national university, so be it, but that is its reputation.

You are obviously not interested in considering the advice being offered and are primarily looking for people to agree you deserve CA instate tuition. The parents here are only trying to help point out your options for obtaining a degree in a timely and cost efficient manor, but I guess you know best. Good luck.

[Pizzagirl]

Also not to break it to you but you child if out of state most likely went their for the parties and not academics.

So what, though? You could still study and get a good education there. Clue: You can get a good education anywhere if you put your mind to it.

Off the top of my head, I know 3 KU grads well (2 were out of state, 1 was in state):
One is an executive at a major company, easily well into six figures
One owns his own company, again easily well into six figures
One is a lawyer (KU undergrad and KU law) and is extremely successful as well

Really, they don't walk around going "Party on, dude; hey, what's 1+1 again?" as you seem to think.