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I completed my masters at NCSU. My program specifically required (except for international students) anyone on assistantship to start taking the steps to get in state classification immediately so they could be considered in state for their 2nd year of the program. So SFspiderman is correct.
I've always been in state but I will say my graduate secretary (more knowledgeable than my advisor even) was a huge help for me on getting me answers or putting me in contact with the right person on various issues. Every grad program has one, I would contact them and perhaps they can direct you to someone who will help: Graduate Services Coordinators of Graduate Programs
I agree that the "confidential" nature of this is the oddest part. It's like getting a ticket from a traffic cop who said "the reason I pulled you over is confidential". How can you possibly construct a defense/appeal without knowing what aspect of your status is questionable?
In the meantime, change everything you can to NC--car tags, driver's license, register to vote, join a civic group and/or church. Do everything you can to show that you really do consider yourself "here for good". Also, if your department has a students' association, they may know about that (I was in my students' association--like student government--in grad school at UNC and the biggest question we got asked was all the things to do to expedite in-state tuition. I couldn't help with that since I am a lifelong resident of NC, but these are tactics I heard from the other members of the group). Then again, without knowing what you have to "prove" it' is hard to proceed!
If they refuse to tell you "why", I would contact student legal services; this is absurd and Orwellian.
When I was at NCSU from 1994-1998, there was a lawyer in Chapel Hill who did consulting work for NCSU and UNC-CH out of state students looking to get in-state residency. He had a small book that assisted with getting residency. I can't remember his name, but maybe someone else from then can remember?
When I was at NCSU from 1994-1998, there was a lawyer in Chapel Hill who did consulting work for NCSU and UNC-CH out of state students looking to get in-state residency. He had a small book that assisted with getting residency. I can't remember his name, but maybe someone else from then can remember?
I think it was Brad Lamb. I googled his name and came up with the following out of print publication:
I wish I had used him when I was at UNC, as I had a friend who did and was re-classified. I didn't try until my last year and was rejected (and my parents didn't push it too much as they were paying for most of it - also at the time the savings was not nearly as huge as it is now)
I think this is just like applying for Social Security disability. They are going to turn everyone down at first because it is a reduction in revenue to the university. They force you to jump through hoops to weed out those people who were applying on a lark because it is part of the process. OP, do you own property in the area - that would make it a slam dunk to claim you are a resident.
I just got my UNC in-state residency. Remember what sort of people are dealing with these applications, and focus on what they might consider a real community member. Do you vote? Are you a member of any local organisations? Most importantly, do you church?
You are not limited to the info the form asks for. Just send everything you think might be relevant.
cheapdad00, that's the guy. My sister and I consulted with Brad Lamb and did everything he recommended, and got in-state tuition the next semester.
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