Going far away..please help me!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Ever since I knew what college was, I've been wanting to go to California, because that's where I was born, and I've always wanted to go back.
I now live in New Hampshire, all the way accross the country.
Now that the pressure is on to finally pick some colleges to apply to (i'll be a senior this fall), I'm having some doubts about my lifelong dream.
What if the school I pick is full of CA natives? I know that can be prevented by doing my research, but what if I get my heart set on a school (such as Pepperdine University) that has a reputation for being a "suitcase school"? (all the students head home almost every weekend)
And what about the people I meet in college, the ones that are supposed to be your friends for years to come...I don't plan on staying in CA once I graduate, so when I come back to New England to start my career I'll have to make a whole new set of friends.
And then there are my parents. They want to be able to afford to get me home for every vacation and holiday, and if I go to CA they wouldn't be able to. They reeeeeally don't want me going so far away.</p>

<p>So with all these reasons, I'm wondering if it's all worth it. This has been my dream my whole life, but is it really just too far? Is there anyone out there reading this who went to college far from home that could give me any advice? I'd actually take advice from anyone, because all I hear from my parents and other family is "don't go" and from everyone else it's "go".</p>

<p>please help me!
-Shalyn</p>

2

<p>Hmmm, well I'm from NJ, and after some research when applying to colleges I thought that Harvey Mudd was the school for me, like everything I ever talked about was Harvey Mudd this and Harvey Mudd that, but when I finally got my acceptance I just realized that it was just too far for me, and that in reality I wouldn't like such a small school. So, if you're keen on going then nothing should stop you, but you should think about yourself first when attending a certain school because it is the next four years of your life after all, so good luck with that.</p>

3

<p>The academic migration is definitely stronger West --> East than vice versa. As a West Coaster going to school in the Northeast, you would probably meet many fellow Californians who would traipse back after graduation. Less so for the far fewer easterners (especially New Englanders) going to California.</p>

4

<p>It's common to long for something you've left behind, but when the option to actually regain it arises, the reality is that we've moved on with our lives and don't really want to go back. Perhaps California should just remain a happy memory for you. It sounds like there are too many reasons not to go back.</p>