<p>I'm a senior right now trying to make a decision about attending college. SMU and St. Olaf are my top choices (I'm gonna be a music major). SMU could offer me just about everything I want in a college (size of student body, clientele of students, great music school, large city, etc.) However, I've lived in Dallas my whole life and I've always wanted to leave for college. Could anyone offer me advice about getting over this (especially as one who wants independence from her parents, great as they are)?</p>
<p>Hello @christas - I am a current SMU undergraduate Meadows major from Frisco, TX and I also wanted to go out of state for college! I was not sure how I would feel “going away” to college only a 30 minutes drive from home, but was pleasantly surprised. In my experience, SMU becomes its own little world, from which you venture out into the Dallas community. Living on campus your first year helps, since you make a ton of new friends in your dorm and come up with fun things to do exploring Dallas on the weekends. It’s nice because you’re actually ahead of the curve - you know fun restaurants and places to try and can give directions! And being closer to “home” means I was hardly ever home-sick and went home less. I was like you, ready for some independence and adventure, so fully immersing myself as an SMU student in organizations and clubs and social events meant I was too busy to go home!</p>
<p>LOL… My D attends SMU and is a “Local”. We established a rule that I cannot visit her unannounced AND she cannot return home on a frequent basis to do wash, eat a meal or for any other reason. Also, returning home takes my approval and advanced notice. It is working great and she is way too busy to ever get home yet alone call! She is experiencing things she never did when living at home such as visiting home’s of new friends from other cities, trips to Austin and seeing concerts at new venues. So there is absolutely no issue being a local if you and your family set the ground rules to make it happen. Good luck</p>