Residency Question!

[TwistinD]

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Hey all,

So I'm trying to figure out the fine print of claiming residencies for med school apps. Texas v Virginia.

Texas: Born there, grew up there, highschool there, listed permanent address there throughout college and grad school (as of Aug this year), and my parents live there currently (and will live there during the 2013 app cycle for sure).

Virginia: Working here and will reside here for the next 2 years before I *hopefully* matriculate in 2014 🙂xf🙂

I'm going to apply to state schools in both states regardless, but technically what residency am I? I dont live in Texas anymore, and I pay Virginia state tax now...

Can I claim TX residency for the TX app and then VA residency on the AMCAS? Baylor would then pose a problem I guess. Confused 😛

Thanks for the insight!

 

[davidbm95]

Hey all,

So I'm trying to figure out the fine print of claiming residencies for med school apps. Texas v Virginia.

Texas: Born there, grew up there, highschool there, listed permanent address there throughout college and grad school (as of Aug this year), and my parents live there currently (and will live there during the 2013 app cycle for sure).

Virginia: Working here and will reside here for the next 2 years before I *hopefully* matriculate in 2014 🙂xf🙂

I'm going to apply to state schools in both states regardless, but technically what residency am I? I dont live in Texas anymore, and I pay Virginia state tax now...

Can I claim TX residency for the TX app and then VA residency on the AMCAS? Baylor would then pose a problem I guess. Confused 😛

Thanks for the insight!

I'm guessing it's where you reside currently. You can call the medical school, they can give you a direct answer.

 

[Stumpyman]

Hey all,

So I'm trying to figure out the fine print of claiming residencies for med school apps. Texas v Virginia.

Texas: Born there, grew up there, highschool there, listed permanent address there throughout college and grad school (as of Aug this year), and my parents live there currently (and will live there during the 2013 app cycle for sure).

Virginia: Working here and will reside here for the next 2 years before I *hopefully* matriculate in 2014 🙂xf🙂

I'm going to apply to state schools in both states regardless, but technically what residency am I? I dont live in Texas anymore, and I pay Virginia state tax now...

Can I claim TX residency for the TX app and then VA residency on the AMCAS? Baylor would then pose a problem I guess. Confused 😛

Thanks for the insight!

Going to HS in TX is a pretty big thing. I'm fairly certain that'll qualify you for in-state.

 

[b-real]

Well, paying taxes in VA is a step in establishing residency there. What state is your driver's license issued in? Also, you can't claim different states between AMCAS and TMDSAS.

 

[Stumpyman]

Going to HS in TX is a pretty big thing. I'm fairly certain that'll qualify you for in-state.

OP- here's your answer for certain: http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/medical/residency.html


Yep, you'll qualify for TX residency because you went to HS in TX, however, you need to have lived there for 12 months prior to applying. Another option would be, have your parents owned a house in TX for over a year?

 

[TwistinD]

Thanks everyone! My drivers license is also issued from TX.

Edit: Hmmm the 12 months prior is a problem, and no my parents dont own property as they live in an apartment. I feel like I'm in no man's land. Looking at the "rules", they say something about the census year... when was the last census again? I think I'm also a dependent on my mom's tax return too...

Ugh so confused!!!

 

[NYCMS2]

Sounds to me like you are a legal resident of Virginia.

 

[TwistinD]

Haha well I'm definitely not a legal resident yet because my lease officially starts in August and by the time I apply to AMCAS, I'll have only lived in VA and paid state taxes for 9 months. And if my mom (TX resident) claims me as a dependent...

The more I look into this matter the more it seems like I really have a choice of which residency I want to claim. The better question - whats more advantageous? TX or VA residency for med school apps?

 

[Lexicon0]

Haha well I'm definitely not a legal resident yet because my lease officially starts in August and by the time I apply to AMCAS, I'll have only lived in VA and paid state taxes for 9 months. And if my mom (TX resident) claims me as a dependent...

The more I look into this matter the more it seems like I really have a choice of which residency I want to claim. The better question - whats more advantageous? TX or VA residency for med school apps?

Texas, hands down. Also, if you do intend on applying to VA schools, UVA and VCU are fairly OOS-friendly. Conversely, most Texas schools (excluding Baylor) are required to have a large majority of their students (I think around 90%) be Texas residents.

 

[Stumpyman]

Haha well I'm definitely not a legal resident yet because my lease officially starts in August and by the time I apply to AMCAS, I'll have only lived in VA and paid state taxes for 9 months. And if my mom (TX resident) claims me as a dependent...

The more I look into this matter the more it seems like I really have a choice of which residency I want to claim. The better question - whats more advantageous? TX or VA residency for med school apps?

Obviously TX. The bigger question is if one of your parents owns property in TX? If so, then you're a TX resident (combined with the license and the HS in TX).

 

[TwistinD]

Nope, no property owned by my fam in texas. I guess I can list myself as a resident, provide all my documentation (birth certificate, highschool diploma, tx drivers license, voters registration, permanent address in houston) and if the schools deny the claim, I can appeal based off the fact I have been a resident for all but the past 6 months of my life at time of application. This limbo is really strange.

 

[NYCMS2]

Haha well I'm definitely not a legal resident yet because my lease officially starts in August and by the time I apply to AMCAS, I'll have only lived in VA and paid state taxes for 9 months. And if my mom (TX resident) claims me as a dependent...

The more I look into this matter the more it seems like I really have a choice of which residency I want to claim. The better question - whats more advantageous? TX or VA residency for med school apps?

You really don't have a choice of state residency, not in the way you think you do. Oh, you can claim a state on AMCAS, but ultimately the med schools in each state will be the final arbiter, and from personal experience I know that that comes pre interview in Virginia. Claiming the "wrong" state can really foul you up; you really need to do your research and make sure you know which state you will able to claim under their rules before submitting AMCAS.

There is a chance that VA will reject your claim of state residency (not instate long enough). As an applicant, you want to manipulate the system to wrangle the best instate chances of admission. All the med schools care about is your proper classification for tuition purposes, and they will interpret the rules to their advantage, not to yours.

Playing this the wrong way could have really bad consequences; I have heard of applicants who don't have legal residency (for med school purposes) in ANY state - they fall between the cracks - and I would not rule out that possibility in your case. In other words, VA med schools may reject your claim of residency (not instate for long enough period), and TX med schools may do the same since in their eyes you live in VA, pay taxes there, etc.

Rather than assuming you have a choice, I recommend finding out in which state you can make the strongest case (after talking to med schools) and do everything you can to bolster that claim.

 

[Mjolner]

My residency is pretty clear cut so I never considered people being able to choose which way to tip their residency status.
Do med schools really do this kind of research? I don't believe I've ever had a school question my residency beyond asking for a mailing address.

 

[TwistinD]

Thanks for the advice NYCMS2! I definitely didnt mean to say I can "choose" as freely as it may have sounded - I really do feel like I fall through the cracks on this one. I'm going to call schools in both TX and VA and see what they tell me. But from my understanding, you have to claim a residency somewhere, so technically you cant be out of state everywhere, you know? I have some family ties to a couple of TX med schools, so maybe that will help them accept my claim in the end. I mean the only reason I'm living in VA now is because I accepted the first job I got after graduating from undergrad, and it wasnt TX. But I dont necessarily intend to stay here - its temporary until I matriculate into medical school. Besides, my ties to Texas are much stronger.

Also, according to VA law, after 90 days of living instate, you have to change your drivers license and car registration - but I dont have a car. So I dont feel the need to rush off to the dmv and do this when Im not driving or ever using a car here. I'm still going to see if my parents can claim me as a dependent, because that would really fix this whole situation.

I'll let you know what the final advice ends up being!

 

[NYCMS2]

My residency is pretty clear cut so I never considered people being able to choose which way to tip their residency status.
Do med schools really do this kind of research? I don't believe I've ever had a school question my residency beyond asking for a mailing address.

Med schools don't do any "research." They can, however, require documentation. Virginia med schools required signed affidavits, and a lot of sworn info, including copies of tax returns (EVMS required this, don't remember if the others did). But all of the VA med schools had a process to establish eligibility for instate privileges. I assume other states do something similar? Regardless what other states do, for this thread, what VA does is relevant to the OP's questions.

 

[NYCMS2]

Thanks for the advice NYCMS2! I definitely didnt mean to say I can "choose" as freely as it may have sounded - I really do feel like I fall through the cracks on this one. I'm going to call schools in both TX and VA and see what they tell me. But from my understanding, you have to claim a residency somewhere, so technically you cant be out of state everywhere, you know? I have some family ties to a couple of TX med schools, so maybe that will help them accept my claim in the end. I mean the only reason I'm living in VA now is because I accepted the first job I got after graduating from undergrad, and it wasnt TX. But I dont necessarily intend to stay here - its temporary until I matriculate into medical school. Besides, my ties to Texas are much stronger.

Also, according to VA law, after 90 days of living instate, you have to change your drivers license and car registration - but I dont have a car. So I dont feel the need to rush off to the dmv and do this when Im not driving or ever using a car here. I'm still going to see if my parents can claim me as a dependent, because that would really fix this whole situation.

I'll let you know what the final advice ends up being!

It is 30 days; 90 days is a grace period for military personnel returning to the state. But if you don't have a car, then it won't matter.

Your parents can only claim you as a tax dependent if they provide at least 50 percent of your living expenses (consult a cpa).

There are people who have posted on SDN claiming to have been denied residency in any state - your legal residency for tax purposes and other legal purposes is not necessarily enough for you to establish residency for a med school. For instance, to claim residency for UMass med, I recall that you have to establish the previous 5 years as a resident, not counting attending college there as an OOS student. This is why it is possible, though not likely, to slip through the cracks in certain states.

Good luck.

PS I just looked at th TMSAS (or whatever it is) website, and it looks like you should have no problems. The only thing that would concern me, though, is their pointing out that determining residency for application vs tuition purposes is different. Different how?

 

[JABWS]

I don't have too much knowledge of the specifics of declaring residency, but in terms of medical school, if you are harboring any ideas of attending a Texas school, then it is almost imperative that you claim residency in the state. I'm a bit partial in this matter, but I don't think there are many better states to be in than Texas with regard to medical school. While Baylor is fairly receptive to OOSers, a majority of their class is still comprised of state residents. UTSW is a top 20 school that is nearly impossible to get into without residency, and there are several other good schools that operate similarly.

I do know that simply residing in a state temporarily does not preclude the possibility of having residency status in another. For example, the schools in the UT system are required to meet a 90% resident quota in filling their class, but somehow they still manage to pull students from undergraduate institutions all across the country because those students, while residing in a different state during undergrad, are still able to identify themselves as a Texas resident due to their parents, high school, or some other tie to the state. I will be going to UTSW and I can tell you that more OOS undergrads are represented than IS. This isn't exactly applicable to your situation, but it does indicate that there is some flexibility that extends beyond what state you reside in currently.

 

[TwistinD]

Okay the results are in!!!

I called a bunch of TX med schools and they redirected me to the TDMSAS people who gave me really really helpful advice. They were definitely amused about my situation so at least my application will be unique in this regard 😉

They basically said that I need to proceed with all applications as IF I'm a non-resident (i.e VA resident), HOWEVER, because I have such strong (and recent) ties to TX and because they review every single application to determine residency for each student, there is a great chance they will rescind my non-resident status and grant me TX residency for admissions purposes. There are a few tasks on my part in order to achieve this, but I'm optimistic it will work out this way.

Since I do not want to be dishonest or confusing with regards to residency on both TDMSAS and AMCAS (and since you really shouldnt try to claim a different state for each), I'm going to initially claim VA for both, and then update my AMCAS to TX if given eligibility by the TDMSAS service. This is the most ethical way, after all. I also think this could be a great opportunity as I have better chances being instate for TX and still maintain strong ties to VA through both my undergrad and current employment - best of both worlds I think!!

So confusing, but I'm so glad to have figured this out! 👍👍

 

[NYCMS2]

Okay the results are in!!!

I called a bunch of TX med schools and they redirected me to the TDMSAS people who gave me really really helpful advice. They were definitely amused about my situation so at least my application will be unique in this regard 😉

They basically said that I need to proceed with all applications as IF I'm a non-resident (i.e VA resident), HOWEVER, because I have such strong (and recent) ties to TX and because they review every single application to determine residency for each student, there is a great chance they will rescind my non-resident status and grant me TX residency for admissions purposes. There are a few tasks on my part in order to achieve this, but I'm optimistic it will work out this way.

Since I do not want to be dishonest or confusing with regards to residency on both TDMSAS and AMCAS (and since you really shouldnt try to claim a different state for each), I'm going to initially claim VA for both, and then update my AMCAS to TX if given eligibility by the TDMSAS service. This is the most ethical way, after all. I also think this could be a great opportunity as I have better chances being instate for TX and still maintain strong ties to VA through both my undergrad and current employment - best of both worlds I think!!

So confusing, but I'm so glad to have figured this out! 👍👍

Only one problem: even if you apply as a VA resident, VA med schools may determine that you are NOT a VA resident because you will not have lived in the state long enough - I think it is at least 12 months. Realize that these schools are looking for any justifiable reason to deny instate status; this is opposite from taxing authorities who are always trying to mark a person as a resident to get their money.

I hate to be overly cynical, but you really don't have the best of both worlds; you may have the worst.

If your goal is Texas, I think you should do everything possible, including applying as a TX resident under the high school rule.

Why not move back to Texas and get a job? That would simplify everything...

Again, best of luck, but be very careful how you proceed; I know you think you have received sound advice from Texas, but I would be very careful relying on what you were told over the phone.

 

[TwistinD]

Well, I was told all of this information by someone who helps review the apps for residency status, so she obviously knows exactly what she's talking about. Also, by the time I matriculate, if I were in a VA school, I would definitely have lived in VA for 2 full years and would be in state for tuition purposes no problem.

I dont want to move to TX right now because I have an amazing research job and have the opportunity to get published multiple times - who would give that up?

My goal is any med school, but I want to optimize my chances and being a resident from my home state helps does that. Besides, my claim for TX residency will get rejected right away if I go under the high school rule because I have to satisfy all THREE core residency questions (highschool is not the only requirement) . TDMSAS told me that claiming TX and not satisfying all three questions could hurt me, and it is better to proceed as a non-resident but appeal my situation at the same time.