Moving to VA from DC for in-state college consideration

[Anonymous]

We currently live in DC and have two Middle Schoolers in private Middle School. We want to move in the next few years before the kids are in high school - we currently live in DC far away from the kids school and moving to NW DC would be most convenient. However, we want to consider all options.

Are kids from Northern VA considered in-state for purposes of admission or are they evaluated against others at their DC private school? Asked another way, if they apply to UVA or W&M, is there a better shot of admission if they have a VA address vs a DC address? Or does high school matter more?

I understand there is a financial benefit to being in-state, I'm specifically asking about admissions.

[Anonymous]

They take many more kids from VA than they do out of state. Plus, you will save a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

If you are a Virginia resident you get in-state tuition and an easier admit than oos — regardless of where kid goes to private high school.

[Anonymous]

Intriguing question...so you are asking do the DC resident Sidwell kids have a better shot at admission vs. the VA resident Sidwell kids (as an example)?

My gut tells me the former.

Are you full pay no matter what (i.e., won't receive any need-based aid regardless of domicile)?

[Anonymous]

I don't think there's an in-state boost to admissions for W&M, but I could be wrong. My MD kid was accepted to W&M even as a last minute applicant, Regular Decision. He filed a few minutes before the RD deadline! He had great stats, though.

If you're not looking for a financial benefit, and you're happy with your children's current school, then just move to NW DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Intriguing question...so you are asking do the DC resident Sidwell kids have a better shot at admission vs. the VA resident Sidwell kids (as an example)?

My gut tells me the former.

Are you full pay no matter what (i.e., won't receive any need-based aid regardless of domicile)?

OP here - Exactly - my gut also tells me the former but the responses above would indicate that's incorrect. We are full pay at both the private school and would be full pay for college, but that's all (we wouldn't be big donors).

To be clear, we are going to move anyway, I'm curious though if we should consider Virginia. We would if there's a benefit to college admissions. I'm not as concerned about the money.

[Anonymous]

If you're not asking about finances, it would seem like you can afford $$$$. You're better off moving close to campus and saving everyone the commute time. More study time, more fun time, everyone's happy. We moved right next to my kid's private school and it was the best decision we ever made. My advice is move close and then apply widely nationally.

But to answer your actual question, yes. If you have an irrational fixation on UVA and W&M, it will be easier to get in if you move to VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're not asking about finances, it would seem like you can afford $$$$. You're better off moving close to campus and saving everyone the commute time. More study time, more fun time, everyone's happy. We moved right next to my kid's private school and it was the best decision we ever made. My advice is move close and then apply widely nationally.

But to answer your actual question, yes. If you have an irrational fixation on UVA and W&M, it will be easier to get in if you move to VA.

Thanks, appreciate this perspective. There's definitely a tradeoff in commute time (which is why we're planning on moving anyway).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Intriguing question...so you are asking do the DC resident Sidwell kids have a better shot at admission vs. the VA resident Sidwell kids (as an example)?

My gut tells me the former.

Are you full pay no matter what (i.e., won't receive any need-based aid regardless of domicile)?

OP here - Exactly - my gut also tells me the former but the responses above would indicate that's incorrect. We are full pay at both the private school and would be full pay for college, but that's all (we wouldn't be big donors).

To be clear, we are going to move anyway, I'm curious though if we should consider Virginia. We would if there's a benefit to college admissions. I'm not as concerned about the money.

Since your kids are young...you should consider going to the upper school and asking a counselor this question. I don't see why they would not provide an honest answer.

Understand of course that most schools will probably be back to test required by the time your kids are applying and any advice is only based on what they are seeing today.

[Anonymous]

VA kids definitely have a boost in admissions--they are compared to other VA students from their HS even if the school is in DC or MD. You can tell from the scattergrams.

[Anonymous]

Of course in-state residents (regardless of where they attend HS) have an advantage on admissions to a state school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think there's an in-state boost to admissions for W&M, but I could be wrong.

The much higher in-state acceptance rate suggests that there is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: If you have an irrational fixation on UVA and W&M, it will be easier to get in if you move to VA.

There is nothing irrational about wanting to be a Virginia resident to get into these schools.

[Anonymous]

For the class of 2028, the instate and OOS acceptance rates were the same at 34%.

[Anonymous]

Stats for William and Mary