How is residency determined (in michigan specifically)?

[Wahed]

I've heard that most schools take a much higher proportion of in state residents than OOS, but I'm wondering how they determine who is a resident?

I grew up in Michigan, graduated from high school and completed my undergraduate degree there, and then left Michigan 4 years ago for a job in Colorado. I ended up doing a DIY post-bacc in Colorado, and my car is registered in CO, I'm registered to vote here, etc.

I am now preparing to apply for medical school and am considering a move back to Michigan to try and be considered by Michigan MD schools (all 6 of them) as an in state resident.

Can anyone tell me if this would work? Does the fact that I grew up in Michigan and have a lot of family there count for anything? Would 6 months of residency at time of application be enough?

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[Gilakend]

I actually have some personal experience with this,I grew up in MI but attended college outside of MI then went to take classes at UMich, they have multiple residency tracks. If you've lived outside the state you have to apply for them, for you I believe you could use the one that says something like "attended and graduated Form high school in Michigan and attended Michigan schools two years prior to high school". I was told that was the easiest one as you just send in some transcripts but since I was born in MI, moved, came back then completed 1 year before HS in Michigan and all of HS I had to do a different track that was a HUGE pain. Best option would be to call the registrar but I believe you should quality at UMich for IS.

@gonnif Not super important but you linked U of M registrar not MSU

 

[Wahed]

I actually have some personal experience with this,I grew up in MI but attended college outside of MI then went to take classes at UMich, they have multiple residency tracks. If you've lived outside the state you have to apply for them, for you I believe you could use the one that says something like "attended and graduated Form high school in Michigan and attended Michigan schools two years prior to high school". I was told that was the easiest one as you just send in some transcripts but since I was born in MI, moved, came back then completed 1 year before HS in Michigan and all of HS I had to do a different track that was a HUGE pain. Best option would be to call the registrar but I believe you should quality at UMich for IS.

@gonnif Not super important but you linked U of M registrar not MSU

Thanks for that info!

So, at what point in my application process would they consider my residency status? I am seeking Michigan residency for the preferential treatment schools give in considering admission decisions, not so much for a financial break (although that would definitely be nice).

 

[Siromas]

I had a similar issue with my residency- I grew up in TX and graduated from a TX high school, but the rules stated that I also had to have 12 consecutive months of actually living in TX up until the date of matriculation to qualify for TX residency.

Perhaps MI has a similar rule?

 

[Wahed]

By statute, Texas must have at least 90% state residents in the class and there are very detailed regulations for that. However, most states do not have such strict regulations for admissions; they only have them for tuition purposes

So for admissions purposes, outside of Texas, residency status is subjective and not clearly defined? For example: if my family lives in Michigan, and I graduated highschool and undergrad there, I am more a resident than someone with no ties to MI, but less a resident than someone who has been in MI for their whole life?

Am I understanding that correctly?

 

[@Hazel-rah]

You can only pick one state as your "home state" on AMCAS. You can't just randomly pick a state---it needs to be consistent with your address. That is the state that schools use when looking at OOS/IS admissions.

I know this because I specifically asked U of M's admissions director. I can qualify for IS tuition in Michigan, too, for similar reasons as you, but for admissions decisions, they see me as OOS because I put a different state as my state of residence on my AMCAS.

Furthermore, EACH SCHOOL is different. There is no blanket statement for the entire state of MI with regards to whether you qualify for IS or OOS tuition.

Your car or voter registration is irrelevant in this matter. If you want to have MI as your home state, you should move back there or use your parents' address as your permanent address, depending on your situation and your age. No matter what you decide, the admissions dept will see that you have strong ties to the state and will trust that you are genuinely interested in attending their schools. You can write about that in your additional essays. I think that will help your chances, nonetheless.

I got II at both the state schools in the state where I grew up and went to HS (which is not my current state).

Best wishes to you!!

 

[liveurlife]

Wayne state has a policy that if u do undergrad (maybe all 4 years) then u can get in state tuition for grad school regardless OF CITIZENSHIP status. Wayne state also said that only high school graduation is required in michigan for in state. Umich ann arbor has a policy that if u did middle school AND high school in michigan then u get in state tuition for undergrad. All grad schools have a citizenship policy that they must have a green card(permanent resident) or a citizenship. I would go for wayne state for undergrad just in case. Plus wayne state has a good program.