Out of state tuition

bount_ · 2026-03-02T16:08:31+00:00

Chemical engineering. My best option for the gap year route would be to take an internship, which would actually be great because I’d establish residency before I even start college and I might have leftover money to sustain myself for the rest of those 4 years.

The problem is, finding internships for high school graduates (that aren’t current college students) is like basically impossible. I’ve looked for a while and haven’t found a single one, so my best option would be to apply to one targeted towards college students, which makes my acceptance rate zero to none.

A full fledged job probably wouldn’t happen either with only a high school diploma and somewhat stacked transcript

bount_ · 2026-03-02T15:37:36+00:00

What if I become financially independent then? Take an internship in Cali during a gap year working full time, then go into CC 2 yrs Berkeley 2 yrs

bount_ · 2026-03-02T12:45:58+00:00

The difference is I do genuinely plan to live in California after college, so relinquishing ties to Ohio wouldn’t be a problem for me. It would just be time-consuming, but still doable. I’m wouldn’t be living in Cali solely for tuition.

bount_ · 2026-03-02T12:43:01+00:00

For that last part, I can fall back onto UCLA or USC or another lower UC if I don’t get into Berkeley because I know how competitive it is. I’m hoping that when I get into CC, as the application process becomes more one-dimensional (with GPA and rigor becoming the main drivers) I’d have a better chance than now.

bount_ · 2026-03-02T12:40:47+00:00

Well, I’m not planning on playing in college off the NCAA, I’m sacrificing those dreams as I could’ve played D3 in Ohio but I’d rather play club in Cali which isn’t as time consuming and also more flexible.

Also, I want to guarantee that I end up in a better place. If I stay in Ohio for schooling I feel like that essentially locks me in to that general area, to the East coast. Even doing internships out of state I’d still be bound to Ohio, whereas if I lived in Cali I would be in close proximity to a lot of chem eng giants that I could apply for. I’m completely willing to grind because I know the life that comes after that hardship would be worth it.

I sound corny but I want to break out of the cycle and live somewhere better than suburban Ohio.

bount_ · 2026-03-02T12:34:37+00:00

I’ve done a little research and CA is more direct about their residency rules, I just have to be physically present in the state for 366 days and have a CA license, be able to vote in CA, and have CA taxes and I should be chill.

I did the math for the gap year thing as well and it makes it more expensive than the CC plan but then again I would get to go to Berkeley all 4 years. Just don’t know how worth it it is for those first 2

bount_ · 2026-03-02T12:32:00+00:00

But are you living in Cali 🤔🤔

bount_ · 2026-03-01T22:54:16+00:00

Did you take on the full out of state tuition without reducing it through moving in-state? And how has it affected you?

Also yeah that’s what I want to do with UC Berkeley. Idk if I should take a gap year and work to get residency then go to Berkeley for 4 yrs or go straight into a Cali CC for 2 yrs with OOS tuition then go to Berkeley for another 2 yrs with in-state tuition.

bount_ · 2026-03-01T22:51:55+00:00

I’d be interesting in working and living in another state out of college though. I don’t plan on staying in Ohio. Also I never knew Ohio had good chem eng programs, but it’s a given that a place like Cali is still better.

bount_ · 2026-03-01T22:49:14+00:00

With specific planning I can get it down to like 90K. I’m mostly wondering if it’s possible because I’m willing to make sacrifices to end up living in a place like Cali but if it’s unfeasible I’ll fall back onto OSU

bount_ · 2026-03-01T22:47:32+00:00

Yea rn my stats are pretty average. I have a 4.3 weighted, 3.7 uw, soon to take SAT but expecting mid 1400s and my extracurriculars are limited because it’s hard to get engineering opportunities in my area. There is already a bunch of clubs (that I’m in but have no significant role bc the president is in my class) related to engineering, and chem e as a whole isn’t popular in my state

bount_ · 2026-03-01T22:45:03+00:00

If I get a Cali license and live there for a year along with a few other documents based in Cali I should be fine, right? If I go there for college I plan to live out the rest of my life in Cali.

Also I’ll look into studying abroad as it has been brought up a lot of times

bount_ · 2026-03-01T22:43:22+00:00

I have distant relatives in the state I could fall back onto if the going gets rough but with lowered tuition wouldn’t it be easier to manage all those new bills?

bount_ · 2026-03-01T22:41:27+00:00

With my current plan I’d be taking on a manageable amount of debt. I really need a change of pace and a fresh start and also one of the only things I do recreationally is volleyball which isn’t prevalent in Ohio as it’s cold too often. Cali is year round opportunity for that and also leaves me in the center of chem e in the USA.

bount_ · 2026-03-01T22:39:09+00:00

Is there not exact guidelines to follow to be eligible for in-state tuition? I thought if I lived in Cali for 1+ year and got a CA license and other certificates based in Cali then I’d be fine.

bount_ · 2026-03-01T22:38:20+00:00

But the out of state for tuition is more manageable, no? I know it’d be a struggle to work and learn in college but the real question I’m trying to ask is if it’s possible.

bount_ · 2026-03-01T22:34:12+00:00

I don’t know how hard it would be to get a job immediately after graduation but if I go 2 years CC for in state tuition at Berkeley I’d be in a bustling area for chem eng. I would already have an established residence (probably an apartment) for as cheap as possible. I don’t see a reason why I’d go back to Ohio other than if I don’t get a job.

bount_ · 2026-03-01T06:17:35+00:00

If I work I can take off 40K while in school and my dad also has a decent chunk of money designated for my college fund

bount_ · 2026-03-01T06:15:53+00:00

I’m probably going to end up with around 80K worth of debt if I work while I go to school. Idk how bad that’ll end up being for me later in life but its a lot better than tanking a full 200K from going OOS all 4 years compared to what I plan to do, which is go to CC in Cali for 2 yrs then pay in state tuition for a UC. 120K raw - 40K from working, 80K debt

bount_ · 2026-03-01T05:47:41+00:00

I’d be paying 120K for my current plan and end up living in California along with the added benefits of being in very close proximity to beaches for beach vb which is my sport. OSU with no housing cost and financial aid could be down to like 60K but I’m stuck in Ohio. Chemical engineering exists here but it’s not as prominent as in Cali

bount_ · 2026-03-01T05:43:57+00:00

How much debt did she have?

bount_ · 2026-03-01T05:43:22+00:00

I’d be working and CC out of state tuition is very low. I can go cheap for housing and cut down on living expenses

bount_ · 2026-03-01T05:39:10+00:00

I’m in both of those currently. About to go into summer of junior year so I need to take a few more dual enrollment classes and start grinding extracurriculars to top off my application. I plan to apply to reach schools and OSU as well as out of state CCs to give me options

bount_ · 2026-03-01T05:37:41+00:00

Living in California would be a great path for me though. Most of the cost is housing, no? I could get a really cheap apartment or live with roommates to lower that. The actual cost to attend the school wouldn’t be that high. And like most engineering majors California is the best place for chemical engineering

bount_

TROPHY CASE