How long is an academic year at university?

Residency for the University of Washington and Academic Year definition?

• I am applying for the University of Washington. If I get accepted, I plan to move there and get residency in during the summer (I am visiting there during spring break. I should know then if I got in anyway ). When managing my budget, it it safe to say that I am a resident and therefore my tuition will be lower? Or should I be safe and go with the non-residency and be sure I have the money I need to get through at least the first semester? I am very new at this, and could use all the help I can get. I want to be ahead and on point on these prices. By the way, I will be living with relatives the first academic year. What does it mean for an academic year? A semester or a certain number of them? I applied for Autumn 2012, and it doesn't have Winter 2012 available. Is it a problem that I didn't apply for winter? Or can I apply for after the Autumn semester is done? This is very confusing :( I'm trying to figure it out on my own as much as possible because my dad is a single parent and he has enough to think about as it is. I need help. Please be merciful in your responses, I'm not stupid, just naive. I can use all the help I can get from you guys!!!!

• Answer:

  Unless your parent has a zip code that is within Washington state, you are *not* a Washington state resident for tuition purposes. It doesn't matter if you move there now, on spring break or this summer; when you apply you will be considered a resident of your current home state, and will be charged out-of-state (OOS) tuition rates. Don't get hung up on the "Autumn 2012" wording. That simply means you're applying as a freshman entering in the autumn 2012 term. If you're academically successful your first semester you'll be considered a continuing student for each semester thereafter. Let me suggest you visit a site like "College Navigator" http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ and look at the information listed for the University of Washington. Tuition/books is over $26k annually for OOS students. As of 2009 (latest year for which data is available) UW only admitted 58% of all applicants who applied (I suspect the figure is lower now), and of the freshman class only 15% were OOS. Also on the "College Navigator" site under the UW listing for "Admissions," you can see the 25th/75th percentile rankings of SAT/ACT scores for accepted students; you can judge for yourself if you're eligible for consideration based upon your own academic profile. If you're accepted to UW and remain there, keep in mind that you'll be considered an OOS student for your entire undergraduate career; going to college in a particular state does not qualify you as a resident of that state. Good luck in your pursuit!