Do I go to a college near my boyfriend or do I choose to move away

<p>I feel like this is a question asked by many but I need some opinions on my situation. I have been dating my boyfriend for over a year now and it's been great, I could see myself with him 10 years from now. He's currently 21 and in the military but he's stationed close to my home. As most people know, relationships in the military move pretty fast but I've been sure to move at a steady pace. My boyfriend is accepting of wherever I choose to go to college, but I'm not sure which would make me happier.
As of now my two college options are George Mason and Virginia Commonwealth. Both schools have great nursing programs, which is what I want to major in, so academically for me they are equal. The social scene at GMU is a bit dull compared to VCU & I'm not sure if that will affect my college experience.
So here's my dilemma, GMU is super close to my boyfriend, I'd be able to see him all the time and still have fun with him and his friends. On the other hand it's very close to where I live and I'm not sure if I'd enjoy that. VCU on the other hand is about 2 hours away from where I live. It has a pretty vibrant social scene and I'd be able to make new friends. I think I would enjoy either school, but I really am stuck on which one to choose. I believe our relationship would last long distance, I just don't like the whole aspect of it, I'd rather see my boyfriend more than twice a month.
So when it all comes down to it, I'd choose GMU to stay close to my boyfriend, and VCU to get away from home. People always say don't choose where to go to college based on a relationship but it's not like one school is better than the other. I'm just not sure what to do? Advice please!</p>

<p>Ugh… you can NOT be serious…</p>

<p>Go to community college. No point in wasting your or your parent’s money on a university education since, to you, it’s just highschool 2.0. </p>

<p>Choose VCU. If your relationship is meant to last, this will show you. </p>

<p>Even with the BF deal aside, I would say GMU. I think GMU is a little bit better with a much nicer campus in a much better area. A lot of people go to college close to home; it’s what you make of it that determines how that plays out. Being close would just be a plus. </p>

<p>You need to assess both schools as if having a BF close was a non-factor.</p>

<p>Choose your school without considering the boyfriend. Chances are good he will be moving sometime while you are in college anyway. As MYOS said, if it was meant to last it will.</p>

<p>Choose the best school for you, regardless of boyfriend. And for you, I think it sounds like you think it is VCU.</p>

<p>Why?

  1. He could be deployed/restationed at any point and then you would be stuck somewhere else
  2. You are starting a new phase of your life, and may meet other people in that same phase (e.g., guys at college). many Many many people break up the first semester of college. You could have fun with him and his (military?) friends, but now is the time for you to make friends at college. By hanging out with him, you will lesson your chances to form social relationships with your classmates. Then he could be deployed…
  3. Let’s say you do stay together…if he is in the military, he will be deployed at some point and you will have to be doing a long distance relationship anyway.
  4. Also he is 21, he is older than you. Why is he going out with a high school student? He is old enough to be a college senior…why would he want to be with a high school senior? Also, since he is 21, his “hanging out with friends” will probably involve drinking with friends. Is that what you want? (hint: no it’s not)</p>

<p>I would say now is not the time to yoke yourself to someone who has no control over where he works/lives.</p>

<p>I think you know all the above. Perhaps your real question is how do I explain to him why I chose another school?</p>

<p>Then you say that college is your chance to gain some independence and you think that going to school not next door to home will help you attain that.</p>

<p>A lot can change at your young ages.</p>

<p>I am from the camp that marriage is even more important than what career you want; easier to change careers. I view marriage as a life time commitment, and even if you know your own heart, hard to know boyfriend’s.</p>

<p>What do your parents think about the colleges and the BF?</p>

<p>I met my H during college (different colleges in a big city). We waited until almost a year after graduation to marry due to family circumstances.</p>

<p>Do not, do not, do not choose your college because of a relationship. There’s a high probablility that you two will break up before graduation rolls around, and you’ll be unhappy with your choice (“dull social scene,” etc). If the relationship truly is a strong one, it will be able to survive the distance.</p>