Changing Residency Status

[CharlieMagz]

---

Members don't see this ad.

So I know that several veterinary schools allow you to change your residency after a year but many (Mississippi state, Penn, Auburn) do not. If you start as an out of state resident you must stay as an out of state resident even if you change you car tags, license, taxes, and voting status. However these schools for the most part allow their undergrad students to change residency. My question is how do they get away with this legally and has anyone ever challenged them on it. It seems wildly unfair especially if you're paying taxes in that state and it's a public university.

 

[twelvetigers]

My guess is... You sign papers agreeing to pay OOS tuition for all four years. If you don't like this, well... Don't sign the papers. Go to another school.

I have no idea on the right/wrong of it. You are always allowed to move to a state and gain residency first, then apply as a resident.

 

[Chkntree4]

Most state schools (the ones that expressly don't allow you to change your residency status) usually state in their registrar policies that as long as your sole purpose in the state is education and you have no family living in the state (this has a time requirement as well) because then you won't obtain residency via the school. You can obtain it from the state, however the school won't grant you IS tuition.

 

[JaynaAli]

In my home state, the only way even for undergrads to get instate tuition is marry a resident or work full time for a calendar year and take no more than 6 hours a semester. Therefore, vet students cannot earn residency status because they aren't allowed to defer a year for a reason like that and you can't just take 6 hrs of vet school for a year like you could for undergrad. It's not a case of "mean vet school ripping off students" it's just that vet school happens all day every day when you'd need to be working if you were trying to gain residency. If you want to move there a year before you apply and work you're allowed and encouraged to do so but once you apply it's too late to fulfill the requirement for residency. I used to recruit for our animal science department and we actively encouraged OOS undergrads to get residency while it was possible.

 

[schnauzergirl]

Does anyone know what schools allow you to get IS tuition if your spouse becomes a resident or is working full time in that state?? I know Mizzou and Tenn allow this does anyone know about Purdue?? Thanks!

 

[beatles1964]

Mizzou gave us a paper that listed only 5 schools that allow students to change residencies after 1 yr (Mizzou, Ohio, UC Davis, Washington, and NC), but maybe Tennessee or others do as well. They explained it pretty well. For an OOS-er to receive IS tuition, they need to meet certain criteria- like applying for an IS drivers license and voter registration card, living at least 12 months in the state while paying rent and maintaining an IS bank account, and earning at least $2,000 in the first yr while living there (and if you're married, it's a combined income of $2,000 I believe). Most of the students at Mizzou have jobs, both at the vet school or on the weekends off campus, but it's mostly just to meet the minimum income requirements without losing focus with school (one girl who's a 1st yr said she works in the ICU 3 days/shifts a month and it's not an issue at all). So because they're working and living in the state, they file taxes and it works.

 

[schnauzergirl]

Mizzou gave us a paper that listed only 5 schools that allow students to change residencies after 1 yr (Mizzou, Ohio, UC Davis, Washington, and NC), but maybe Tennessee or others do as well. They explained it pretty well. For an OOS-er to receive IS tuition, they need to meet certain criteria- like applying for an IS drivers license and voter registration card, living at least 12 months in the state while paying rent and maintaining an IS bank account, and earning at least $2,000 in the first yr while living there (and if you're married, it's a combined income of $2,000 I believe). Most of the students at Mizzou have jobs, both at the vet school or on the weekends off campus, but it's mostly just to meet the minimum income requirements without losing focus with school (one girl who's a 1st yr said she works in the ICU 3 days/shifts a month and it's not an issue at all). So because they're working and living in the state, they file taxes and it works.

Thanks for the info, I didn't mean that anyone can get residency at Tenn I just meant that if your married and your spouse becomes the resident that you may apply for IS tuition for them. I know it's different for every school and I keep getting re-directed to different departments when I ask and can't get a straight answer!

 

[beatles1964]

I know it's different for every school and I keep getting re-directed to different departments when I ask and can't get a straight answer!

haha I know what you mean... I asked a similar question at Iowa about changing residency and the panel just sorta looked at each other and said "uhh...I think that's close to impossible."

 

[Rainheart]

It is super easy to gain residency here- basically everyone who wants to get it (no reason really not to) does. It saves me almost 100k in tuition. I personally don't work, so I'm looking into a summer job here- doing the VRSP, a research program. We don't have long summers, anyway, so I don't mind staying and working when it saves so much money!! I love the fact that Mizzou allows us to do it.

 

[wolfpackprevet]

Tennessee is a no go. Unless you marry a Tennessee resident or your entire family moves to Tennessee maybe according to the admissions discussion on interview days.