My concern is your budget.
Let’s say you go to Santa Monica CC. You like that because you think of UCLA next and based on previous discussions, you love the highly ranked name.
But UCLA is approaching $80k out of state. So if you can’t afford the schools you got into, how will you afford UC anything - even for two years after two years of expensive community college?
As you don’t have a home state, you are not a resident.
Now if you became a resident, doing what is required to become one, then you may have a strategy.
But that is going to require a gap year, if not longer by the time you get there, and it doesn’t seem realistic to move and get a job very quickly. And how do you afford to live during that gap year? You need to be financially independent.
Please please please put budget ahead of name. You will be much much much better off in accomplishing your goals.
And please don’t pick a school without ChemE like Holy Cross or Loyola because if you cam’t afford four years, how will you five ? And that’s with those schools mean in regards to engineering.
You can already go to great schools (yes in the south where you don’t seem to want to be) - all four years for the price of one at a UC.
You know there are still colleges taking apps for the Fall. Tennessee Tech is a GREAT engineering school - $31k all in. If you’re looking at a PSU branch, this would be so much better. And there’s likely more out there. You are too late fir aid but the price is right.
You can meet your goals but you really need to get realistic about how to make it happen.
Read this for a start:
In order to meet the University of California residency requirements, undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 23 must either be:
- Financially dependent on California-resident parents
OR
If you are dependent on California-resident parents, both you and your parents must be in an eligible immigration status and satisfy the “Physical Presence” and “Intent to Remain in California” requirements.
If you are not dependent on California-resident parents, you must be in an eligible immigration status and satisfy the “Physical Presence,” “Intent to Remain in California,” and “Financial Independence” requirements.
Eligible Immigration Statuses
- U.S. citizens
- Permanent residents of the U.S. who have been in that status on a continuous basis for at least 366 days immediately prior to the residence determination date (the first day of instruction)
- Qualifying nonimmigrant visa holders who have been in that status on a continuous basis for at least 366 days immediately prior to the residence determination date (the first day of instruction)
Physical Presence
- You and your parents must be physically present in California on a continuous basis for at least 366 days immediately prior to the residence determination date (the first day of instruction).
- Residence may not be established in absentia and the prior residence must have been relinquished.
- You and your parents must be able to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that you have been continuously physically present in California.
- During the 366-day period, you and your parents can be absent from California for a total of six weeks. If you and your parents exceed six weeks of absence, a resident classification will not be granted.
Intent to Remain in California*
You and your parents must establish legal ties to California by acquiring all applicable governmental evidence of intent by the relevant deadlines, and relinquishing ties to your previous place of residence:
- Obtain a California Driver’s License or State Identification card by the deadline. Please refer to the UC Residency Policy for each semester’s specific grace period deadlines.
- Register a vehicle in California (if vehicle is owned and used in California) by the deadline. Please refer to the UC Residency Policy for each semester’s specific grace period deadlines.
- Register to vote in California (if registered to vote in previous state of residence) by the deadline. Please refer to the UC Residency Policy for each semester’s specific grace period deadlines.
- File California state income tax returns as a resident or part-year resident on all taxable income earned in or out of the state after arriving in California
- File out-of-state income tax returns as a nonresident or part-year resident on income earned prior to arriving in California
*Intent is not limited to terms listed here.
Financial Independence
You must demonstrate financial independence (total self-sufficiency) for one full year immediately preceding the residence determination date of the term for which a resident classification is sought. This means you must have supported yourself with your own resources (employment, commercial/institutional loans in your name only, financial aid, and savings from earnings, all of which require official documentation) for one full year prior to the residence determination date.
You should be able to cover your basic expenses, which include tuition, rent, food, and vehicle (if applicable).
You also must not be claimed as an income tax dependent by any individual for the tax year immediately preceding the term for which a resident classification is sought.
The financial independence requirement will not be a factor in the residence determination if you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- You are married or a registered domestic partner
- You are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces
- You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
- You have a legal dependent, other than a spouse or registered domestic partner
- You are or were a ward of the court, foster youth, or both parents are deceased
- You were declared by a court to be an emancipated minor
- You have been determined to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless pursuant to federal financial aid rules
- You reached the age of majority (18) in California while your parents were California residents for tuition purposes and your California resident parents left the state to establish a residence elsewhere, and you continued to reside in California after your parents’ departures
