Dear parents: A perspective on the pros & cons of having your child stay at home for college

One option when a student attends a nearby college that is mainly residential is to live on campus the first year, if that is financially doable. First year on campus at a college that is mainly residential may have some academic and social advantages. However, many students at mainly residential colleges live off campus in later years, so such advantage of living on campus is less in later years, so a student who wants to save money can return home and commute in the later years.