2 answers
Evangeline
Student
Lincoln, Nebraska
1
Question
Asked
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What are the pros and cons of going to college out-of-state?
I am a senior in high school applying to many colleges, both in-state and out-of-state. The furthest away I've applied is a 25 hour drive and the closest is 15 minutes away. What are the major differences?
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2 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Advisor | Freelance Writer | TRIO Program Director
1061
Answers
Tacoma, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Attending college away from home can sometimes be a very daunting experience, especially for people who are going to be away from home for an extended period of time. Attending college away definitely requires balancing your newfound independence with common sense values, to assist you in surviving the experience.
I always recommend prioritizing exploring your campus environment, creating a familiar living space, and campus activities like joining clubs to meet people, while also setting healthy communication boundaries with family to manage your homesickness. Transition do take time so attempt to be patient with the transition, manage your resources and money, and keep an open mindset to new experiences.
Here are some of the things that I recommend:
Explore Early: Not only go on a campus tour (which can be arranged online), but also walk around campus and your new college town to find study spots, coffee shops, and regional parks.
Get Involved: Join student life organizations like campus clubs and organizations to find friends with shared interests.
Don't Go Home Too Soon: Avoid returning home every weekend; it can hinder your ability to build lasting connections.
Be Open-Minded: Embrace new perspectives, other countries and cultures, and people, and consider taking classes outside your major (utilize your electives part of your college degree).
Create a safe and comfortable space: Decorate your dorm with pictures, posters, and familiar items to make it a comforting refuge.
Master Life Skills: Practice doing your own laundry, cleaning, cooking, and doing minor repairs.
Respect Your Roommates: Set clear expectations early regarding cleaning, visitors, and noise.
Manage Homesickness: It is normal to miss being at home, but avoid over-communicating with relatives and others at home. Schedule regular, but not daily, check-ins.
Be Patient: Transitioning into new environments takes time, so be patient with your adjustment.
Stay Healthy (take care of yourself): Find the campus health services, physical education, intramural and activity centers, and find a local doctor if necessary (in case of an emergency).
Budget Your Resources and Money Wisely: Create a budget and understand how to manage your own bank account and financial resources.
Get Organized: Keep important documents (identification, like drivers license, insurance cards, social security number) secure and accessible.
Use Resources: Don't hesitate to use campus support groups, tutoring centers, libraries, or counseling for academic anxiety or stress.
I always recommend prioritizing exploring your campus environment, creating a familiar living space, and campus activities like joining clubs to meet people, while also setting healthy communication boundaries with family to manage your homesickness. Transition do take time so attempt to be patient with the transition, manage your resources and money, and keep an open mindset to new experiences.
Here are some of the things that I recommend:
Explore Early: Not only go on a campus tour (which can be arranged online), but also walk around campus and your new college town to find study spots, coffee shops, and regional parks.
Get Involved: Join student life organizations like campus clubs and organizations to find friends with shared interests.
Don't Go Home Too Soon: Avoid returning home every weekend; it can hinder your ability to build lasting connections.
Be Open-Minded: Embrace new perspectives, other countries and cultures, and people, and consider taking classes outside your major (utilize your electives part of your college degree).
Create a safe and comfortable space: Decorate your dorm with pictures, posters, and familiar items to make it a comforting refuge.
Master Life Skills: Practice doing your own laundry, cleaning, cooking, and doing minor repairs.
Respect Your Roommates: Set clear expectations early regarding cleaning, visitors, and noise.
Manage Homesickness: It is normal to miss being at home, but avoid over-communicating with relatives and others at home. Schedule regular, but not daily, check-ins.
Be Patient: Transitioning into new environments takes time, so be patient with your adjustment.
Stay Healthy (take care of yourself): Find the campus health services, physical education, intramural and activity centers, and find a local doctor if necessary (in case of an emergency).
Budget Your Resources and Money Wisely: Create a budget and understand how to manage your own bank account and financial resources.
Get Organized: Keep important documents (identification, like drivers license, insurance cards, social security number) secure and accessible.
Use Resources: Don't hesitate to use campus support groups, tutoring centers, libraries, or counseling for academic anxiety or stress.
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1093
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Evangeline,
My first focus would always be the program I want to apply to and the university, second the location.
The major issue about going out of state is cost! Out-of-state tuition can be massively more expensive than in-state tuition. Also, at some schools, out-of-state admission is much more competitive than in-state admission.
For that reason, unless money is no concern in your house and/or there is a very special program that you MUST have and that's not available in your state, I would recommend to stay in your home state.
Distance: I would recommend to bring some distance between your hometown and yourself. If you need to live at home because to save money, it's of course a different story. But it's difficult to grow up and become your own person when you still live at home and your family still sees you as a child. You need that growth spurt in your development.
I would also recommend to move to an area different from your own as much as possible. If it was not for the cost problem, out-of-state would be great to see a different part of the country. If you are from the snow, move to the beaches. It you are from the desert, move to the swamps. If you are from a small town, move to a city. Widening your perspective is a great side effect of a college education.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
My first focus would always be the program I want to apply to and the university, second the location.
The major issue about going out of state is cost! Out-of-state tuition can be massively more expensive than in-state tuition. Also, at some schools, out-of-state admission is much more competitive than in-state admission.
For that reason, unless money is no concern in your house and/or there is a very special program that you MUST have and that's not available in your state, I would recommend to stay in your home state.
Distance: I would recommend to bring some distance between your hometown and yourself. If you need to live at home because to save money, it's of course a different story. But it's difficult to grow up and become your own person when you still live at home and your family still sees you as a child. You need that growth spurt in your development.
I would also recommend to move to an area different from your own as much as possible. If it was not for the cost problem, out-of-state would be great to see a different part of the country. If you are from the snow, move to the beaches. It you are from the desert, move to the swamps. If you are from a small town, move to a city. Widening your perspective is a great side effect of a college education.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Thank you so much, Karin!