Gap Year - State Residency

[baltimoreman]

How do popular gap year programs affect state residency? For example if someone does Teach for America, Americorps, or NIH IRTA, do they become a resident of the state in which they are working, even if it is only for one year?

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[PreMedOrDead]

I don't think so, but as long as it's through, or near the school, I think the school looks very highly upon it (aka, more than just being an OOS applicant). But you wouldn't get residency.

 

[theseeker4]

How do popular gap year programs affect state residency? For example if someone does Teach for America, Americorps, or NIH IRTA, do they become a resident of the state in which they are working, even if it is only for one year?

I believe it is highly state dependent. There is no single answer to this, I believe.

 

[merde]

Any idea where to look to figure this out? I went to HS and college in different states than where my parents live and am hoping to take a gap year job in another state. So that basically means I've lived in 4 different states with my license and voter's registration in different ones. I was planning on just declaring the state my parents live in as my "home" state but I haven't actually lived there for long periods of time since I was 13. I'm still mostly financially dependent on them though so I thought that would be okay. I really don't care which state I end up in for med school, I just don't want to get in trouble.

 

[edmadison]

If you are not in school and are living independently and working, you cannot be a dependent of your parents. You ARE a resident of the state you are living in. There is virtually no wiggle room in such a case unless you are active duty military and a few other unusual exceptions.

Regarding car/voter registrations. These do not make you a resident of a state -- they are evidence that you are a resident when there is some ambiguity. Once again, if you are not in school, have a job and are living on your own, you are a resident of the state where your abode is. There's no ambiguity.

Ed