<p>I'm a junior currently narrowing down which schools I want to apply to, and am need in a couple more matches/safeties. I've found a few that I really like, except they're on the west coast. They'd be financial safeties too. I don't have any problem whatsoever going away to college on the opposite end of the country, and neither do my parents, aside from travel costs. I have some extended family on the west coast, so for things like Thanksgiving, I could probably spend it with them, but it is pretty expensive to fly home, even if it is just a few times a year. </p>
<p>Worth it to apply across the country? Anyone who's experienced this like to share the logistics of it all?</p>
<p>I was considering some, but then I ended up dropping them because it would be too much of a hassle travel wise. There are many academic breaks (spring, thanksgiving, fall, winter, ect) and I didn’t want to be the lone wolf on campus so to speak. That said, there are plenty of great schools on either side of the coast and you seem to have a good plan regarding breaks. Are there any equivalents on the side of the country you live on or is the college itself unique? Have you visited? It’s good that they are financial safeties as well as the travel costs could add up, so te differences could make up for it. Likewise, it could be an interesting new experience, seeing a new side of the country.</p>
<p>Do it. It’s an application, not an indenture. If you go, and that’s a huge if, you may find it one of the best experiences you’ve had. I did. I loved the west and still do. I would live there again, and may retire there. It’s a very different “beauty,” and in some ways “way of life.” Give yourself the option to check it out.</p>
<p>Some colleges are more inclined to accept students who are outside of their region or zone. Consider two kids applying to Vanderbilt with the exact same stats and ECs. One is from Tennessee. One is from Alaska. They will prefer the one in Alaska</p>
<p>If the schools are near major air hubs they might not involve much more travel time than ones closer to home. The expense and stress of scheduling flights around finals before Christmas can be a deterrent, but some colleges will consider travel expenses when calculating your cost of attendance for financial aid determination. We live in NJ, and my younger son (Class of '14) was determined to attend college outside of the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region. You might find that family members will enjoy an excuse to visit you, and that friends and relatives in the region will probably step up to the plate when needed. My son decided to attend college in FL, but most of his final options were on the Left Coast. There are some great schools out there, beyond the obvious (ie. Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, USC).</p>