Since out-of-state tuition is getting pretty expensive lately (well, college in general is getting pretty expensive), I know a few people who postponed going to college by a year or two so they could work in the state and gain residency. This is a great option for those who really want to go to school in a different state but can't afford the out-of-state costs.

I don't know about your state but my state (WA) makes very very diffilcult for non-residence to get residency. They ask that while you are full-time in college, you also have to work full-time & also have to be living in an apartment or on your own & yaddi yaddi yah. If you think about it, it's almost impossible because you should be concentrating on school yet they want you to work full-time. That's just crazy! I know so many kids who tried to get residency here but gave up in the end because it's just balony.

Residency can be an issue, but it really isn't as big as it seems at first. Most schools offer some sort of resident scholarship for good students, and it can be fairly easy to establish residency, despite the rules they try to impose.

For example: I graduated from high school in CA, but then decided I wanted to leave for a while so I went to school in Nebraska for a year. A few friends I met out there decided that they would like to go to school in California, but non-resident tuition was too high. Now, this method is less than honest, but my parents and I allowed them to use my parents' house as their permanent residence.

As long as its a plausible amount of time after high school graduation, make some friends and you can establish residency in the eyes school pretty easily.

I agree with you on that one. Sometimes it is best and who knows they may end up with a pretty decent paying job depending on the location they choose.