<p>I'm addressing this to you (and the other students like me who frequent this board) because I need a few suggests. I'm a junior, so I'm still fleshing out my list of schools. Originally I had self-imposed an eight hour driving time limit to any school. This was fine because I want city schools. I'm definitely not going to the West Coast and the East Coast has plenty to offer (plus I'm right in the middle). However, I've been seeing Washington University at St. Louis over and over and over again. It's a reach for me regardless, but I have two options:</p>
<p>totally ignore the school from now on because it's 14 hours away</p>
<p>OR </p>
<p>potentially fall in love with the school by looking at it more.</p>
<p>The reason I have a limit on distance is money. My family is low-income (<$25,000 / 3 people). Most of the money I make/have saved will go toward books and personal expenses. There will be money, but it's small. What are cost-effective ways of sending my stuff that far a distance? What about trains and plane tickets? Has anyone else overcome this problem cheaply? Any other advice? Should I stick to the schools I'm already looking at (American, GW, BU, Pitt, etc.)?</p>
<p>Don’t ignore it if you think it’s a good fit, but don’t fall in love till you know that you are in, and got enough FA to make it affordable.</p>
<p>You can check the approximate cost of plane tickets on Travelocity. Check also Southwest Airlines - it is often cheaper and more flexible. The cost depends on which city you are flying from, not on the distance.</p>
<p>You don’t need that much “stuff”. In any case, I would not worry about it untill it becomes relevant.</p>
<p>You are likely to get more FA from a far away school because they want geographic diversity, so that might more than help with transportation costs. I’m not sure how good Wash-U is with merit aid though. You might want to cast a wider net.</p>
<p>IMHO if you are any farther than 6 hours away (more or less) it is going to be more than a days’ round trip to get there and back, and it will cost–wear and tear, expensive gas, possible tolls, possible hotel room. So, you may well end up flying–and if you are flying, time wise or cost wise it is really not that much of a difference–it is going to take a fair part of a day (coast to coast or part way across the country), and to MOST places, if you hunt around enough, you can find round trip flights for around $250. (I deal with low income students going farther away a lot). For instance, it is fairly often possible to find a RT plane ticket from Chicago to the NYC area for $170 or less, and sometimes it costs that much to take the train or the bus (during holiday times and if you book at the last minute). </p>
<p>I would plan on budgeting $600 for any school that is more than 6 hours away, as that would cover 2 round trips home, maybe 3, and if you get a cheaper car ride, so much the better. It can often be cheaper but plan on that. And DON’T eliminate farther away places, as bethie said, becuase that is part of what college can also be, the chance to immerse yourself in a different part of the country (without it being a permanent decision).</p>
<p>This is really good advice. Thank you. $600 in fall/spring and then to come home for Christmas isn’t nearly as bad as I was thinking. I did check out some airfare, but I have never traveled by anything but car, so I didn’t really know how to factor in luggage or fees or those sorts of extra costs.</p>
<p>As far as your “stuff” most college students bring more than they need! (Check the packing threads on CC in August!) It really does not make sense in this era of using less of the world’s resources, for us to be bringing refrigerators, laundry deterg., whatever, hours and hours away in our cars, when many things can be purchased in the college town. And clothes can always be shipped by UPS or the post office–just pack’em in a big plastic bag in boxes that are not too big. Some colleges that have many students from all over the country, will give specific instructions on when and how to ship stuff. It just does not make sense to drive or rent a car to transport lots of stuff that can go in a more environmentally friendly way on UPS trucks or whatever. I think a parent at my son’s college in Maine said that FedEx ground was a very efficient way to ship stuff. Don’t let distance be a limiting factor–students go far places all the time, and the Walmarts and Bed/Bath/Beyond LOVE it when students move into town!</p>
<p>As a student your time is more flexible, as far as taking unusual flights, and (not to be insulting but)your time is not worth as much, so if you sit in an airport for 4 hours to save $100 on the plane ticket, that is really OK at this stage in your life. Enjoy it!</p>
<p>Amtrak and Greyhound bus both sell a Student Advantage card (I think that is what it is) that is interchangeable bet. the 2 of them. It gives you 15% off or something like that, and usually by 2-3 tickets you will have made up the price of the card. Get a wheelie duffle or something collapsible (to fit in small dorm rooms) and MOBILE (backpack is even better) so that you can travel easily for those breaks.</p>
<p>Last summer there were lots of hilarious and very helpful threads on getting students to far away colleges. One step at a time, but DON’T let distance limit the adventures you are heading into!</p>