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How do you choose what state you are a resident of? Can you choose a school that you've attended for undergrad for 4 or more years but don't necessarily have an actual home in?
What determines in state residency?
- Thread starter Narmerguy
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I think it's different for each state. In washington, if you just came here for school, you need to work 30 hous a week for a year and get a washington state license.
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Agreed. Every state has their own laws. Look up each individually.
I believe in TX you have to work full-time for at least 1 year without attending school - not positive though. You'd want to look this up to be sure.
I believe in TX you have to work full-time for at least 1 year without attending school - not positive though. You'd want to look this up to be sure.
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Wow each state has its own laws...
Well, is there some central place where this information could be found? And is it the same for all levels of education (so, if you are considered in state for a medical school there you would have been considered in state at any of the other professional schools there too)?
Well, is there some central place where this information could be found? And is it the same for all levels of education (so, if you are considered in state for a medical school there you would have been considered in state at any of the other professional schools there too)?
Just go to the website flagship university (easiest to find) for whatever state you might have a residency claim in and search "resident" or some variation of it. You should be able to find a link to the laws fairly easily. As for a central database, I don't think such a thing exists. Also, unless the law states otherwise, it applies for all levels of college education.
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You can search the myriad of threads on this topic, but I'll give you a quick run down. The definition of "domicile" (the law's word for residency) states that your domicile is changed whenever you are present in a state with the intent to remain there indefinitely. Because people have a motive for lying about this, a person's actions are examined to show there intent. In other words, what did you do to show that you intended to remain -- buy property, register your car, get a new driver's licenses, get a job....
Now states know that people will try to change their domicile in order to qualify for instate tuition. So they have enacted laws that deny new residents instate tuition. Each state set's its own rules for this. Some are quite easy, while others, like Massachusetts are downright draconian. That's the bad news. The good news is that the school itself interprets the rules and may be more genorous than technically allowed by state law. Believe it or not, it is possible to not qualify for instate tuition (or admissions preference) in any state.
For most med school applicants who have gone straight through, they will continue to be residents of the state where they graduated high school. There are many many many exceptions to this, however.
As earlierly advised, you should check with the school.
Good luck,
Ed
Now states know that people will try to change their domicile in order to qualify for instate tuition. So they have enacted laws that deny new residents instate tuition. Each state set's its own rules for this. Some are quite easy, while others, like Massachusetts are downright draconian. That's the bad news. The good news is that the school itself interprets the rules and may be more genorous than technically allowed by state law. Believe it or not, it is possible to not qualify for instate tuition (or admissions preference) in any state.
For most med school applicants who have gone straight through, they will continue to be residents of the state where they graduated high school. There are many many many exceptions to this, however.
As earlierly advised, you should check with the school.
Good luck,
Ed
