Birth city - increases chances for funding?

[sheer]

Hey guys,

Noob here.

I'm trying to figure something out and hope the forum might be able to help.

I was told that if I'm applying to a university in the city where I was born, it may increase chances for funding even if I am not currently a state resident.

I can't find any corroboration for this. Is that a myth?

Thanks and good luck to all applicants out there!

[rockbender]

What????

Sounds like a myth. I can't see how applying to a school in your birth city would translate into better funding. Who did you hear that from?

[emmm]

Nope -- total nonsense.

[SeriousSillyPutty]

Haven't ever heard that.

Don't know where you're applying from (or to) but this is the closest I've heard:

In the U.S., public universities have different tuition rates for in state and out-of-state students, because schools are funded at the state level. I have heard of students applying to schools where they used to live (and perhaps still have family), and talking their way into offers of in-state tuition. (But there is a difference between paying less and getting paid, so I doubt this is what you're looking for.)

[PsychGirl1]

Agreed it's a myth :-) Residency foms have to be filled out and it's pretty strict who will get in-state versus out-of-state.

[runaway]

I know on the Berkeley application, there's a section where you check off if you fit some pretty obscure criteria, which relates to what scholarships you're qualified for. Some are obvious (researching from XYZ) while some seem fairly random-- it's possible that at the school you're considering, an alum has endowed a scholarship for people from your hometown.

[sheer]

Ok, thanks everyone. I thought it didn't sound right.

[dendy]

I have heard something somewhat similar for the NSF grad fellowship. Priority is given to people born in low populations states, so you would be more likely to get it if you are from Wyoming as opposed to California.

[juilletmercredi]

I'm pretty sure that's a myth, too. I don't remember the NSF asking where I was born, anyway, and if they do it's just to verify your status as a U.S. citizen. The NSF is granted based on your merit and impact your potential work; geography doesn't factor into it.

[dendy]

I just filled it out and it asked what state I was born in and what city I went to high school in, in addition to the normal citizenship questions these apps always ask.

[staceyjo]

That's funny that you asked that, because the school I was just accepted to and decided to go to (Georgetown), could care less where I currently reside (Michigan), the only info they cared about was where I was born (Virginia). Since my dad was military I only lived there til I was about 2 years old. I do know my undergrad institution had scholarships for students born in the city where the school is.