Move to VA for in-state college options?

[Anonymous]

I would imagine this question must have been asked before (maybe in real estate...), but my spouse and I are thinking about a move from Capitol Hill DC to VA (Arlington, Alexandria?) with in-state college tuition/acceptance rates as the primary driver. We love Capitol Hill and have a good community and great house here, but will be full pay for college and want to have good in-state options. We have 3 kids currently in middle school. Oldest is at a private that we really like, and younger two are at a charter that we would be fine with through 12th. Oldest could stay at the same school if we moved near a metro station, but other two would presumably switch to a VA public school for remainder of middle school/high school. All kids are good students (mostly As with an occasional B), reasonable extracurriculars (play sports but are not amazing, very active in Scouts, Mathcounts, etc.), and are likely to be good if not amazing test takers (if I had to guess, they will probably get mid-high 1400s on SATs).

Anyone thought about this/done this and have any words of wisdom? Any pitfalls that we might not think of? How long does it take to establish VA residency for the purposes of applying for college as an in-state resident? Will the more selective VA schools (UVA, WM, VT) not like seeing DC schools on their high school transcript if we wait to move?

[Anonymous]

I think you need to give it at least 2 full years of high school to be safe. I'd be worried about trying to move for just senior year. UVA is especially strict about residency requirements.

[Anonymous]

We moved to VA (I'm from here) when oldest was 2, youngest was in my belly. Partly, for this reason but also more house. We were lucky to be just a mile from DC/walkable so it wasn't much change.

Ironically, my kid did get in UVA, WM, etc. but is going to a T10 private with no aid (best fit). So- we aren't even using the in-state option--but it is good to have.

You do need minimum 2 years prior as a full-time resident. Might even have stricter requirements now because this is something everyone tries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to give it at least 2 full years of high school to be safe. I'd be worried about trying to move for just senior year. UVA is especially strict about residency requirements.

Moving senior year will not qualify you. Too late.

[Anonymous]

My kids go to a private DC HS, but we live in VA. They don't care about seeing DC on the transcript--not sure what you mean by that? Got into UVA and WM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to give it at least 2 full years of high school to be safe. I'd be worried about trying to move for just senior year. UVA is especially strict about residency requirements.

Moving senior year will not qualify you. Too late.

I assume perhaps you are not considered in-state for admission purposes, but you will get in-state tuition (if accepted) after the 2-year waiting period, no?

[Anonymous]

Be prepared for sticker shock. The desirable close-in neighborhoods appreciated much faster than many DC neighborhoods. We have a home in NW and one in Arlington. Our home in Arlington has appreciated $700k since we bought it in 2009. The one in NW appreciated $400k since we bought in 2004.

[Anonymous]

Good idea. The cost of College is just ridiculous.

Move before your oldest start his/her Junior year.

[Anonymous]

I believe the only two schools that would REALLY benefit from cost ($80k+ OOS) and acceptance rate are UVA and WM. What if your student isn't accepted to either? Would you still be happy with the move?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe the only two schools that would REALLY benefit from cost ($80k+ OOS) and acceptance rate are UVA and WM. What if your student isn't accepted to either? Would you still be happy with the move?

W&M is a $25k difference between in-state and OOS, so with DC TAG it's a $15k delta. Not nothing and I guess if you multiple by 3 kids and 4 years...it adds up.

UVA is like a $35k delta for non-business / non-STEM, and like a $40k delta for business and STEM, so again subtract $10k for DC TAG. Definitely adds up quicker.

[Anonymous]

Check your math before pulling the trigger--it usually doesn't work out. Transaction costs now plus moving costs now generally outweigh potential reduced tuition costs later (need to discount those both by the likelihood that they won't happen, e.g., private school, and to account for the time value of money). Even more likely when UVA and/or W&M aren't givens. JMU, for instance, currently costs $17K more per year OOS than IS, but DC TAG gives back $10K of that. Assume for back-of-napkin purposes 12 years of a $7K difference and you're only at $84K--probably less (even before any discounting for likelihood or time value of money) than you'll pay in fees and taxes to sell one house and buy another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe the only two schools that would REALLY benefit from cost ($80k+ OOS) and acceptance rate are UVA and WM. What if your student isn't accepted to either? Would you still be happy with the move?

Even outside of UVA/W&M, IS/OOS difference is about $20k per year so $80k overall is not something to ignore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check your math before pulling the trigger--it usually doesn't work out. Transaction costs now plus moving costs now generally outweigh potential reduced tuition costs later (need to discount those both by the likelihood that they won't happen, e.g., private school, and to account for the time value of money). Even more likely when UVA and/or W&M aren't givens. JMU, for instance, currently costs $17K more per year OOS than IS, but DC TAG gives back $10K of that. Assume for back-of-napkin purposes 12 years of a $7K difference and you're only at $84K--probably less (even before any discounting for likelihood or time value of money) than you'll pay in fees and taxes to sell one house and buy another.

It's not just cost though. OP was also talking about admit rates for in-state vs. OOS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved to VA (I'm from here) when oldest was 2, youngest was in my belly. Partly, for this reason but also more house. We were lucky to be just a mile from DC/walkable so it wasn't much change.

Ironically, my kid did get in UVA, WM, etc. but is going to a T10 private with no aid (best fit). So- we aren't even using the in-state option--but it is good to have.

You do need minimum 2 years prior as a full-time resident. Might even have stricter requirements now because this is something everyone tries.

Unbelievably irrelevant Brag.

[Anonymous]

We are in a similar boat but aren't planning to move. Partly because I feel like college acceptance competition from NOVA is so tough. Like DC, there are a lot of people and many top students, but they are all trying for the per capita instate slots. Acceptance seems like it could be easier from DC.