<p>I have a question regarding out of state, college-bound, minors. For example: A 17 year old is going to college out of state, specifically Texas. The student will attend 4 years of college and then four years of medical school. Firstly, how do parents claim the child on their taxes? Do parents get a tax discount. Will the student have to file his or her own taxes? Also say the child will have a car. Will the car be registered under their home state, or Texas? Also how about health insurance? Will the student be allowed to use the parents’ insurance until a certain age? Lastly, the biggest topic. How do students claim residency for medical schools? When do they apply for residency? What is needed to apply for residency as a student? Does living in a dorm count? I highly doubt it, though. I would prefer he become an instate resident for various reasons. Any help would be appreciated. Mothers and fathers with students in out of state students are welcome. Also I would appreciate if a lawyer could also give their 2 cents. Thanks. </p>
<p>The schools’ web sites should include state residency rules. Check each one for details.</p>
<p>Do not be optimistic about a dependent-for-financial-aid-purposes student gaining residency merely by attending school there, unless the parents also move to that state and stay there beyond the waiting period (typically at least a year).</p>
<p>Typically the family needs to establish residency for a full year PRIOR to enrolling in college. But the best place to check for residency requirements is on each college website.</p>
<p>If you really want to be guaranteed instate status for Texas…then move to Texas…the family!</p>
<p>Re: medical school. There is no guarantee he will even be accepted at an instate public medical school in Texas. </p>
<p>As long as the child does not provide more than 50% of his/her own support, the parent can claim him/her on their taxes. </p>
<p>With few exceptions, children are allowed on their parent’s health insurance until the age of 26. </p>
<p>For residency, that will depend on the school. </p>
<p>Student will legally be a resident of his parent’s state. The car would stay registered in your state, but make sure the insurance agent knows that it is “garaged” in TX, as that MAY change the rate for that car. Kid will have to file his own tax returns if he has any income (and any scholarship money that is not spent on tuition and books is taxable; room and board are not considered as qualified educational expenses even for out of state students). If he has a job or work study in TX, he will need to fill out a TX state income tax form. If he is home for the summer and earns money at home, he will file that income with your home state.</p>
<p>The car is registered to his permanent address. The child pays taxes and files federal tax returns if his income over a certain level as determined by the IRS. State requirements vary, so check with the DOR of the state(s) in question. Depending on the home state, TX earnings may be subject to taxation at the home state as well.</p>
<p>So every school has different residency requirements? So the student is considered a resident only at schools? He can’t apply for auto registration as instate and other such amenities? </p>
<p>Also say that money isn’t an issue. What are benefits of students being classified as TEXAS residents. I was thinking it would give him a better chance during the admission process. I expect his grades to be stellar, he currently has a perfect GPA and a plethora of ECs, so he has a pretty good chance to start with. </p>
<p>Yes, every school has different requirements (I think a few states have state-wide requirements for their public state universities but I don’t think Texas is one of them). </p>
<p>Schools charge out of state tuition for a reason. If everyone could just get instate rates automatically somehow, what would be the point of charging OOS tuition? </p>
<p>Your college student’s PERMANENT address is his parent’s address. So if you do NOT live in Texas, your kiddo’s permanent residency will NOT be Texas. It will be the state in which the PARENTS reside </p>
<p>Most students who take cars to college continue the registration in their HOME state. Why would car registration be considered an “instate amenity”?</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you really want to know. </p>
<p>If your family does NOT reside in Texas, it is HIGHLY unlikely you will get instate residency for your kiddo at any time during his undergrad years…unless the family all moves to Texas. </p>
<p>You HAVE instate status in the state in which you reside. That is where you will get instate tuition for undergraduate school.</p>
<p>Additionally, my son wants to live in TEXAS permanently, so there’s a chance he won’t return to his home state NJ. What happens after graduation of medical school, say in 10 years. If the school considers him a state resident, Is he automatically considered a normal resident, even after graduation does he keep this status? If he is not considered a TEXAS resident, what must he do at the age of 25 to claim residency?</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies so soon. </p>
<p>I’m not sure what you’re asking. You can be defined as a resident of the state for state purposes (taxes, registration, etc) and still not be a resident for tuition purposes. </p>
<p>If he never returns, he can establish himself as a Texas resident by changing his license and whatnot but it’ll be up to the school to decide whether or not he’ll be a resident for tuition.</p>
<p>Kostqvogi…are you the student or the parent? Some of your posts are from a student and some from a parent. Very confusing.</p>
<p>If he lands a job right after medical school and then can afford a small apt, he will be considered a TEXAS resident right, even if he is 25 and without parents in that state? How long does residency take, and is it necessary to be a resident in TEXAS to work as an MD?</p>
<p>I use the same account as my child, thumper1. I only have one post to make and will not make a separate account. </p>
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<p>Yes, of course. If he’s living and working in Texas (changes his license to Texas, etc) he’d be a TX resident. </p>
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<p>You’re a resident when you move. If Texas had a rule that you had to be a resident to practice there, that would be a rule I’ve never heard of. </p>
<p>No it is not necessary to be a Texas resident to work as an MD. BUT he will NOT be an MD at age 25. He has four years of undergrad, four years of med school, and at least two years of residency which will take him at least to age 28.</p>
<p>What IS your question? I’m very confused.</p>
<p>Thanks, all my questions were answered, and in under an hour. </p>
<p>Here is the confusing part: you can be a state resident for some purposes and not for others. You can register to vote, you can change your car registration to the state, you can get a driver’s license for a state, all with a simple evidence of residence in the state. My one son did register to vote in the state where his college was, and got a driver’s license for that state, and then registered his car there. But he filed taxes as a dependent of ours, as he could and filed in our state. He got his own car insurance, and it was cheaper for him to do so in a state other than ours, and he also got an on street parking pass for which he needed the car registered in state. So he did have reasons for getting in state residence. </p>
<p>But getting in state tuition rates is a whole other story, and has its own special requirement. You may have to live in a state for a full year, before considering in state, and students are often excluded unless they can prove that they are independent, and also often if they are in state for another reason other than for college. Even then, some states require a parent to be a resident of the state. Some colleges even have different requirements for different types of courses and divisions in the school. So it really can vary as to what the requirements are. </p>
<p>As for admissions for med school purposes, call the medical school admissions offices of the schools that are possibilities to find out what constitutes state residency for their purposes. Most med students are considered independent from their parents, say for financial aid purposes. But get the specifics. It can make a difference for admissions to public state medical schools as to whether or not you are a state resident. Also, public med schools do have lower tuition rates for their own state residents. So, do find out what the requirements are for instate admissions and tuition purposes.</p>