<p>I am currently in a difficult position.</p>
<p>You see, U of M Ann Arbor is the perfect school for me. The only issue is the very high out-of-state cost. </p>
<p>I know many of you will say that the high cost and potential debt isn’t worth it, and I am aware of these views. However, that is not what this post is about. This post is for trying to find ways to lower the cost. (Besides obvious and/or common financial assistance such as FAFSA or scholarships)</p>
<p>I am currently a Wisconsin resident. Does this give me any financial advantage when applying to this school?</p>
<p>Also, here is another situation I had in mind. I would (hopefully) get accepted into U of M, and then would take one or two gap years. During these gap years, I could become a Michigan resident (by registering my license and filing appropriate income taxes and all that fun stuff). I also would be productive during my gap years, like gap years should be. After my gap years, I attend U of M, and since I am officially a resident by U of M’s standards, I get in-state tuition. Could that potentially work out? Or would I have to apply to the university AFTER my gap years, AFTER I became a resident?</p>
<p>I grew up in Michigan. Avoid that state like the plague.</p>
<p>You may look up the Mid-west exchange program.
Your way of thinking to get MI residency would not work unless you are independent and over 24. It would be easier if you come to Michigan and attend high school at grade 10, then you will be qualify for in state tuition when graduated from HS even without MI residency.</p>
<p>Here’s the deferment webpage regarding your gap year plan: <a href=“https://umich.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/41/~/deferment”>https://umich.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/41/~/deferment</a></p>
<p>Depending on how far you are willing to go to come to Michigan you could always look into joining the Reserves or National Guard. The University, starting just this year, has begun offering in-state tuition to all military service members (<a href=“http://vets.umich.edu/content/university-michigan-veterans-and-military-state-tuition”>http://vets.umich.edu/content/university-michigan-veterans-and-military-state-tuition</a>). This also opens up more aid in the way of the GI Bill, grants & tuition assistance from the military. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions regarding the service. It’s a truly incredible opportunity and I truly enjoyed the years I spent in. And our veteran community, although quite small, is awesome! Either way, good luck!</p>
<p>The U of M does not participate in the Midwest Student Exchange Program, so there’s no reciprocal tuition agreement/discount.</p>
<p>Also, if the university thinks that your establishing residency in Michigan was for the purpose of education, they will not grant you in-state tuition. </p>
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<p>I live in a different state boarding one of the Great Lakes. Trust me, you could be in a worse place. </p>
<p>Not sure about other area in Michigan, Ann Arbor is one of the best place to live in the country.</p>
<p>The rest of Michigan is pretty awesome, too. Of course, it has a few rough spots, but so do all states. </p>
<p>Sorry to be blunt, but there is no remotely quick or convenient way for you to get in-state tuition. Every loophole has been closed. You are going to have to come up with the $40k + or end up going elsewhere.</p>
<p>“Every loophole has been closed.”
There’s not remotely true. That statement assumes that the bureaucrats at Michigan are competent.
I know of more than one friend who have used different loopholes but I am obviously not posting it for the mass to copy cat.</p>
<p>^bearcats, I didn’t know you had any friends who couldn’t afford Michigan! ;)</p>
<p>Bearcat’s friend notwithstanding, Michigan has indeed made a concerted effort to close every loophole. As such, unless you actually had the money, its far too risky to pit yourself against the bureaucracy when what’s important right now is that you find a suitable and affordable school and move forward and enjoy your college years unencumbered by crippling debt or fear of discovery.</p>
<p>That said, if I were in your shoes and only wanted to go to Michigan, and perhaps was off my rocker…
I would first MOVE there BEFORE applying, emancipate legally from my family, financially support myself wholly, then work AND take some cc courses that transfer to Mich (it has a compact with state community colleges) and THEN apply to Mchigan and hope it was not all for naught :)</p>
<p>I’m NOT recommending this in any way. Emancipating is difficult legally without cause. Working as a wage slave with only a HS diploma sucks. Subsisting at all is challenging in itself, and it will age you.</p>
<p>But these factors – emancipation, residency established Prior to demonstration of intent to apply, academic pursuit elsewhere in michigan, etc. are what it would take to garner legit in-state status. </p>
<p>The other way to go to Michigan at a greatly reduced OOS cost is to do fab work undergrad at another institution and garner a fellowship for graduate studies 
Much easier in my book :)</p>
<p>What if I were to, for example, attend a community college in Michigan (for two years, possibly with a gap year), become a resident, make my own money, sustain my own living, and cut off all ties with my family. Could I get in-state tuition in that case?</p>
<p>No. Michigan charges OOS tuition for a reason. The rules at U of M for getting instate residency are some of the toughest in the nation. If there were obvious loopholes, way too many people would use them (like going to a Michigan CC for two years). </p>
<p>In fact, that is explicitly one of the ways you CANNOT become a MI resident: </p>
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<p><a href=“Residency | Office of the Registrar”>http://ro.umich.edu/resreg.php</a></p>
<p>Just want to clarify that becoming Michigan resident is one of the 3 ways to be eligible for in state tuition. To attend 3 year high school and graduate from it is the second, and perhaps, the easiest way.</p>
<p>The University of Wisconsin is an excellent school and an excellent in-state value. </p>
<p>^^^^I agree. If I were a Wisconsin resident, I wouldn’t pay that much more to attend Michigan .</p>
<p>If cost is not that large of a factor, for certain programs it may very well be worth it to many applicants.</p>
<p>Honestly, Michigan is a great school, but I don’t think you should be willing to go to such lengths just to get in. Even with going to Comm College, there is no guarantee and you would be wasting 2 years of your life. I know someone that had to pay OOS tuition even though they went to high school in Michigan due to parental circumstances, so they are strict.</p>
<p>Going to a CC is NOT “wasting 2 years of your life.” Community colleges are a great way for many students to save money. Not all students and their parents can afford what universities expect them to pay (whether that be with or without financial aid). </p>
<p>Note that the in state tuition for students attended 3 years of high school is a new policy this year.</p>