<p>My entire life I dreamed about going somewhere new for college, somewhere far away, potentially the south or California. Living in the suburbs of Boston my entire life and going to school in the city, I recognized that this was one of the best cities in the nation and also one of the best to go to school in. I sort of got tired of this city however, and looked for a new beggining. I envied everything there was to going far awat to school: getting home sick, flying to and from you school, experiencing the holiday rush at the airports, packing up your entire life into suitcases, and even the Facebook posts about leaving home. This all came to a quick realization when I discovered that I would be attending Boston College's Carroll School of Management, one of the premier business schools in the country. </p>
<p>I will say that I am extremely fortunate of getting into that school, even more so of receiving a great financial aid package, but I'm suddenly realizing that my dream and my thoughts about going away to school are all coming to an end. I got accepted into UCLA, but could not attend due to finances and since I come from a low income family. I also got into other schools in other parts of the country, but coming from an elite prep school, I was not willing to sacrifice prestige and academics for the excitement of going away to school. I'm just sad, and almost depressed that I will be going to school 20 minutes away. It did not make me feel better when during orientation kids from all over the country were excited and amazed by the new adventures that they would experience. They were talking about faneuil hall, fenway park, back bay, and all the parts of Boston that just seemed old to me. I looked into their eyes with envy. I wanted that. We all shared the same thing, yet I felt like we would be receiving different experiences in college.</p>
<p>I feel like this is just the beggining. I go to this great business school, then at 22 get sucked up into the finance sector of Boston or New York, then find a girlfriend and stay local. I've been thinking all these negative thoughts, and I just find it to be pathetic and sad. I mean, I should be ecstatic about going to college but I'm not. I'm already thinking about transferring and I haven't moved in yet. The problem is that BC is a top 30 school, and it's really hard to beat that and get into a better school that's somewhere new.</p>
<p>Well, I get what you’re saying. It is kind of cool to experience a new part of the country. That said, homesickness is a very real issue as well and many of your friends are probably dealing with that right now.</p>
<p>You control your attitude. As you start your freshman year, you have the chance to try new things and have a great time. Stop thinking about transferring; if your first year sucks, you can always revisit that option later.</p>
<p>Is going away to college overrated? I just can’t help but envy my friends who are going to school in the south, DC, California, Chicago etc. while I’m stuck in Boston. I also can’t help but envy the kids from out of state that that were so happy to be at BC.</p>
<p>I hate to be rude, but you need to get over your disappointment and look at the positives of your situation. It is too bad that your ideal scenario didn’t play out – but you are not the only one who isn’t going to their dream school for financial reasons. You are fortunate enough to have a scholarship to one of the best schools in the country. Instead of moping, try to go out with your fellow college students and enjoy Boston in a whole new light – make new friends and show them around, go to places you never would have gone as a HS student, eat at restaurants that you never went to before. </p>
<p>My S went to college nearby our home (by choice) and he experienced NYC in a way he never did from our going in as a family. And next month he is off to grad school in the Midwest for what should be a very different experience. </p>
<p>Life is what you make of it. You will have the chance for travel, grad school, internships in other locations. Perhaps a year or a semester abroad will be do-able. You are in a better position than many people. Be proud of what you accomplished and make the most of the opportunities you have at BC.</p>
<p>I think what you are experiencing is very natural. Any big decision or life changing moment brings with it the potential for stress, anxiety, regret, doubt, and second thoughts.</p>
<p>Try to focus on things that will make Boston come alive again for you. All these kids arriving from far away places could use a tour guide - help them out and you will be able to experience familiar things through their unjaded perspective. </p>
<p>Boston is a huge, diverse city, there are bound to be lots of cool places and things that you have never experienced. Try them out, and intentionally avoid familiar places and activities.</p>
<p>Immerse yourself in your school - volunteer, join clubs, just explore every nook and cranny of the campus. Think every day about people around the world who would love to experience the same opportunity you have.</p>
<p>I actually can understand where you’re coming from. When I applying to schools during my CC transitional period, I was looking at so many out-of-state schools near my state of NC. I looked at colleges in VA, TN, SC, and GA just because I wanted to get out of my hometown. However, things didn’t quite work out and now I’m attending a college close to my home (about 15-20 minutes away), but I’m actually very excited for it. </p>
<p>It matched all of my criteria that the other OOS colleges did, especially the biggest factors: size (exceeded my 10,000 student minimum) and in a major city (I live in the largest city in NC). Not only is the school I’m going to a great school for my major of Computer Science, it’s affordable. I cannot wait to attend in the fall! :D</p>
<p>I went to college 20 minutes away from home. It was great. I still had the experience of moving in and away, just in a car instead of an airport. You still go home on the holiday and you still pack your entire life into suitcases when you move in. You still can post on Facebook about leaving home. The only difference is you don’t have to deal with the airport. I only went home on the weekends when I wanted to. It was nice being able to see my family if I wanted to, or when my mom came during my first semester when I was sick to bring me chicken soup.</p>
<p>I do think going away to college is overrated in the sense that people assume that if you are in the same city, you won’t have fun. You experience the city in a totally different way when you are 18 and independent than you did in college, just like the city will become different to you when you’re 21 and can drink or when you are 25ish and looking for an older, “young professionals” kind of scene. I grew up outside of Atlanta, but when I was in college I did so many things I never did in high school that it was kind of like going away, only better because my family was right there :)</p>
<p>Most college students stay local. Indeed, most commute to either a community college or local state university. And many others attend other in-state state universities.</p>
<p>Even if the college is nearby, residing at or near the college does give you a different experience from commuting while still living with your parents.</p>
<p>maybe you could study abroad for a bit? you’d still get a new experience without being stuck there foreverrr. and also although you’re staying close to home college life if living in da dorms will still be very different</p>