<p>How is it going to college out of state? I recently got off the waiting list at a top 20 university, that is 12 hours away(by car), my other choice was going to my local state school(1 hour away)....I am trying to decide because it just hit me that I will be in completly new state/new city/and new school....The tranistion is going to be huge...I have also never lived away from home for more than 2 weeks.....I am also afraid that my homesickness will prevent me from doing well in college....If I had gone to my local state school than the tranistion would have been easier because for the first couple of months, I could have come back every weekend....The other thing is, I don't know anyone at my new college, nor do I know anyone in the state where I am going to school(have no relatives or family friends in that state)....At least at my state school, I would know people who went there from my high school......I plan on flying back home at least 5 times a year....My support system in high school consisted of my parents/my siblings/my friends/and my church....none of which will be at my new school.....I also grew up in a very sheltered neigherhood, where everyone knew everyone(it was like a bubble)...the top 20 university will have kids from very different backgrounds.....I don't know if I should go.....</p>
<p>My local state school has no prestige, and it is not well know, even in my state.....</p>
<p>When I visited the top 20 university, I found it hard to imagine myself at that school....</p>
<p>anyone?..I also hated the city the school was located in…and the state seemed kind of weird too…(I don’t know if I felt this way, because it was a new place and everything felt different…)</p>
<p>Honestly it sounds to me like you would not transition well anywhere you go. You should never come home every weekend when you go away to school because it will keep you from making friends, getting involved on campus, etc. Especially in the first months. So if you do that you are pretty much setting yourself up for failure. Also going to school with high school friends keeps you from making other friends. It sounds to me like you do not want the out-of-state experience at all, because you are too attached to your hometown. College is about leaving your comfort zone and not knowing anyone, and you make that sound out of the ordinary.</p>
<p>Honestly I can’t provide advice because I think either way you are setting yourself up for trouble. I think your best option would be to go somewhere not so far away as 12 hours, but somewhere far enough where you wouldn’t be tempted to come home all the time. But obviously it is too late for that option.</p>
<p>From what you have posted here, you clearly are not ready to venture so far from home. I have to agree with chuy: If you can’t picture yourself at the university, you are already setting yourself up for failure. </p>
<p>Go to the state college where you are more comfortable. But I would encourage you to at least expand beyond your comfort zone by taking some beginning steps – for example, do NOT go home every weekend. Try to stay on campus at least until Thanksgiving. Do not room with anyone you already know. Join a club or sign up for some activity without your friends, so that you meet some new people.</p>
<p>Sounds like you should go to the far away school BECAUSE it is far away. You need to get over your social inhibitions and going to a school that will allow you to come home every weekend is not going to do it.</p>
<p>A lot of people end up moving away at some point in their lives. Whether it be for a job, school, retirement, or whatever. You can do it too.</p>
<p>Go to the top 20 university. You need to get away from home sometime and it sounds like you need to face change. If you end up really, really hating it, you can always transfer to your local school - doesn’t sound like it would be difficult to.</p>
<p>Oh wow, your state school isn’t even well known within your own state? Well I would attend the top 20 university. Though if you think your not ready to be out on your own, you should really re-think. Now since you mention you have about a week to decide, try challenging yourself. Maybe drive out to a city about 4 hours away, stay there for 4 days. Do not call your parents at all, unless emergency ( let them know what your doing) and venture the city by yourself, go to the hotel when you want and just try to get a different view/ opinion. You really don’t want to put away a top university, so try the challenge and see what you decide. </p>
<p>If your going to do the challenge, probably should start today.</p>
<p>Go where you’ll thrive. If you think you’re going to be extremely unhappy at the 12-hour school, then it’s probably not the best idea to go there. Sure, it’s better to be open to new situations, and being away from home shouldn’t cause severe anxiety. But at the same time jumping into a situation you’re not ready for is not the way to get over it.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s sad to not want to move away from home. 12 hours is a long way compared to seeing all these people every day. It’s a tough transition, and you still have plenty of your life left to spend not living with your parents.</p>
<p>The hour away school might be for you. Is that the only state school you looked at?</p>
<p>I myself may likely be attending a university for my undergraduate out of state due to:
Michigan State University is no longer my top choice, as I no longer have one ( due to family issues, local hospital etc…)
Now I’m not saying if I would get accepted into any university in Michigan I will not attend, but:
Michigan State University is hard to get accepted into.
University of Michigan- Ann Arbor is even more difficult to get accepted into.
On that note, only two universities in Michigan I plan to apply to while I have interest in 10+ other universities out of state, it’s more likely I would get into a university out of state, than one in state since I’m applying ( well plan) to more out of state.</p>
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<p>Relating to the OP, I think it would be actually interesting to experience a different city and accomating from a different state may be a little more easier since you’ll be supported by the university in the change ( well depends on the university). Going to the top 20 university for a semester, get good grades and decide you would like to attend the university you mention ( as you say it’s not well known in your own state either) you may be able to get accepted.</p>
<p>Going to a top 20 university is a great opportunity. It is hard to pass that up for the security of friends and family nearby. I would give it a shot and see how it goes. You can always transfer but give it at least the first year. It takes time to acclimate to a new college. Figure that you will feel homesick as most kids do but it gets better as you get adjusted, make friends and make the best of what the school has to offer.</p>
<p>thanks for the help guys…I guess I don’t know how I will react being so far away from home, because I have never lived that far…I am just assuming the worst(that I will get homesick and won’t focus on studying)…</p>
<p>if the top 20 is private (which it is, since the #1 public is like 22 or 23 or something), others will be going thru the same thing you are, so I’d say go for it.</p>