Move to VA for in-state college options?

[Anonymous]

Curious how you can guess their SAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Virginia also has GMU and JMU as strong in state options, if UVA, VT and WM don't work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

With those stats, and assuming admissions are similar to what they are right now, your kids are not guaranteed in at those three schools. I think it's far more likely they would NOT get in-especially if they want engineering at VT.
Are they open to going to a community college first, then transferring?

[Anonymous]

We moved here from MD for in state tuition and more importantly residency for admissions. All three kids chose Ivies instead at 2x the Cost LOL.

2/3 got into UVA
3/3 William and Mary

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for all the input! Spouse and I will review it all thoroughly, research some more, and think about our options. More thoughts welcome too.

In response to some of the questions, yes, we would be sad if we moved and our kids couldn't/didn't avail themselves of some of the better VA public college options. So the pressure to do so is a consideration. And two of the kids have very mild special needs and have done WISC testing in addition to in-school MAP and PARCC/DC CAPE testing. I'm sure there will be surprises, but we have a decent sense of their scholastic aptitude and testing ability.

[Anonymous]

Isn't DC Tag 15k now?

[Anonymous]

Dont under estimate merit aud from private schools. They know they are competing with in state numbers.

[Anonymous]

UVA, WM, etc., are great for liberal arts courses like poly sci or French lit but if you place a higher value on STEM, I'd consider MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't DC Tag 15k now?

Nope. Might jump there at some point, though. And the optionality of being able to use it all over the country is pretty valuable--especially for kids who might well Just Miss UVA and prefer Wisconsin or Washington or Georgia or wherever to JMU.

[Anonymous]

Don’t you have to live in the state 5 years to qualify for in state?

[Anonymous]

Look at the requirements closely. I think it’s two years but they are tough so don’t miss it by a hair.
I personally am surprised more DmV families don’t make this choice. The colleges here are incredible and even beyond UVA and WM - a way deeper bench than MD. But we also love living in Arlington as it’s well run and has good services for low taxes and some good schools. Join us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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?

Maybe treat SUNY schools as your in-state options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginia also has GMU and JMU as strong in state options, if UVA, VT and WM don't work out.

+1
So many great in-state options in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA, WM, etc., are great for liberal arts courses like poly sci or French lit but if you place a higher value on STEM, I'd consider MD.

Um... Virginia has VT for STEM. And VT is also great for the humanities. Why would they need to move to MD?

[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.

Virginia is very strict about residency requirements for in-state tuition. You should move earlier if that is the goal.