<p>True 2boysima, proximity can make a difference in travel time but not necessarily in costs. We are 10 minutes from DCA and DD is even closer to SAN; but the cheaper +/or direct flights are often out of IAD or BWI!</p>
<p>
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one concern is whether there would be someone around should he get sick, need help in an emergency or the like
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Realistically, the kid wouldn't need a parent around if they get sick. For the most likely sicknesses, cold and flu, there's nothing to do but wait it out anyway. For more serious conditions they need a doctor instead of the parent. For very serious conditions it's handy to have a parent or other advocate around but that's a rare occurance. What IS iportant is that the student learn to fend for themselves regarding their health. This means they need to take the initiative of when to go to the emergency room, urgent care, doctors, etc. They also need to find out where the emergency rooms and urgent care places are BEFORE they need it. Major universities are likely to have a top notch hospital located on campus. Health insurance logistics need to be determined beforehand as well - where the insurance is good at, how to use it, etc.</p>
<p>All of the points above apply equally as well to a student living 2 hours away vs. cross country so there's no point in letting this concern hold one back from heading far away to college.</p>
<p>And, most reasonably capable 18 y/o (or 17 y/o) college students are fully capable of handling the above health concerns themselves. Parents may be surprised at the initiative they'll take when given the responsibility. I did have a discussion with both of my kids regarding the above points before they went off to college (one 1/2 hour away and the other 2 hours away) with the most important point being that 'they' were fully responsible for taking action regarding their health, including knowing when to go to the appropriate urgency level of care. They've both done fine .</p>
<p>
[quote]
True 2boysima, proximity can make a difference in travel time but not necessarily in costs. We are 10 minutes from DCA and DD is even closer to SAN; but the cheaper +/or direct flights are often out of IAD or BWI!
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I think it's mostly due to the nonstop Southwest flights SAN-BWI. In addition to the proximity to large airports one needs to check which airlines fly there and whether any of them are the more economical airlines.</p>
<p>Jolynne...we would do it again. I'm sure there are colleges closer to home, but truthfully, the school DD is attending is meeting all of our expectations and hers...and then some. And as I said earlier...the she has the opportunity to live in a VERY different part of the country than where she grew up...in a somewhat protected situation. I just wish the airfares were lower...but gas costs are high for the kid we drive to see.</p>
<p>Re: those "alternate airports"...there is a free and convenient shuttle bus from DD's school to the San Jose airport. She would have to arrange transportation to the other airports in the bay area, and that added cost (unless a friend was going that way) could equal the difference in ticket costs. Southwest flies from San Jose to Hartford, and that's how she's getting home at Christmas. But even Southwest is more expensive (by double) than when she started two years ago. The best deal and flight was Jet Blue into Boston...a red eye. BUT that flight has been cancelled.</p>
<p>Both kids went to college in SoCal, and we definitely would do it all over again! Fortunately, we can fly into any number of airports (LAX, ONT, LGB) out of Boston (or Providence if totally necessary). Yeah, they don't come back East all that often, but I'm lucky in having a job where I go out there at least once a year. Plus, H and I enjoy traveling out there for vacation - there's so much to see and do.</p>
<p>As for illness, S had mono, wisdom teeth extraction, and tonsillectomy all as an undergrad. He managed to get through it all with the help of his close friends and a really good health dept. (UCLA). But I must admit calling after the tonsillectomy and speaking with the recovery room nurse just to make sure he was okay.</p>
<p>Creating a network of family and friends out there prior to S's arrival for school helped less the anxiety. By the time D went west four years later, we were pretty laid back about having them so far away.</p>
<p>"We are 10 minutes from DCA and DD is even closer to SAN; but the cheaper +/or direct flights are often out of IAD or BWI!"</p>
<p>That actually illustrates my point...since Regan, National and BWI are within an hour of a number of people in the DC area. It's better if there are 2 or even 3 airports near both home and school. For New York area (or DC area...including BWI) to San Fran or LA there are usually a number of options - including a few direct flights with enough competition to get a decent fare. </p>
<p>Something like New York to Portland OR has less options...and Boston to Portland OR even less options.</p>
<p>Living in the NY area has meant we have 3 -4 airports...within an hour.... to fly out of to go to San Fran...where there are 3 options for Silicon Valley. Ground transport is a little more expensive from 1 of the airports....but public transport and friends with cars have made it so we've never had to use expensive ground transport.</p>
<p>Since I don't know where on the East Coast the OP is...and where on the West Coast the S wants to go....I thought it was just something else they might want to consider.</p>
<p>2boysinma, you explained it perfectly. Not only is proximity to major airports something they might want to consider, if they don't take that into account, they will be in for a shock, financially and practically.</p>
<p>We are trying go get S from No. California to sister's house for a wedding. Unfortunately, sister lives in one of those 'you can't get there from here' cities. When S was applying to colleges, he had several schools in that kind of city on his list. I'm so thankful he ended up within close proximity to SFO airport, so he can easily get home for Christmas.</p>
<p>My D is almost a country away, her choice, and we gave her that. My sister is in the same city, and that's a good thing, becaause there has already been one shopping emergency! She had us buy the Thanksgiving ticket before we confirmed her acceptance. Price was okay, but we get emails weekly about changes. We are going for family day, but with the financial situation of the nation in turmoil, I AM wishing she had wanted to accept an offer to our public "flagship". Oh well, serves me right. I did the same thing to MY folks.</p>
<p>D is seriously intent on going to school in Florida. Luckily, we too are within an hour of Atlantic City, Newark, and Philadelphia Airports. In Florida there are many to choose, from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando, Fort Myers, and Tampa, many flights per day.</p>
<p>Cost is a factor and inconvenience. I would factor in the trip from departure point (college) to arrival point (your house) assuming all goes as planned. Then add time for delayed flights and add a potential day if there are connecting flights. DD went across the country -- it seemed to become increasingly less common for flights to take off and land on time over that four year period. But it was worth it. She felt she was more independent and mature than her peers who stayed close to home. My die-hard California girl became an East Coast girl who came to value the features of life on that side of the country. She did get sick in a complicated and long-term manner and the distance was not a factor so much as trying to coordinate care (between both coasts since she was home for certain periods of time.) It was far more important that she was in a town with excellent doctors to choose from than that she was far away. Sometimes it was hard, often I ached for the chance to give her a hug, but it was worth it in the end.</p>
<p>Juniper--</p>
<p>I agree with ucsd and **Little Mother **that most medical treatments don't require parents and/or the student to travel. </p>
<p>The expense of the greater distance and the hassle with flight connections concerns are legit, but if your student doesn't really come home that often it may not out weigh what the student sees in the college or university.</p>
<p>My S is a soph this year. He said that the lack of time off at Thanksgiving and the fact that a friend of his has an apartment and wants to do a "feast" for those who don't travel means he is going to stay in his college town.</p>
<p>Winter break? He's not coming home. He and a buddy have jobs at a ski resort to cover their expenses. Spring break? He's not coming home. He and another friend are going to visit some girls they know in Mexico City. He's using air miles and his earnings.</p>
<p>A point to be considered is whether your student is really going to be making a lot of trips home.</p>
<p>I think the hardest part would be the knowledge that going home might not be that easy, even if in most cases they rarely need to. I lived less than 3 hours from my college, and still went home only when absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>Am browsing this thread since S1 is talking about not only a semester abroad, but a whole YEAR abroad. Cost would limit it to one visit home. Am not so much worried about him being homesick for us, but for his school.</p>
<p>lspf72 -</p>
<p>Your comment resonated with me since I went to a college that was only about ten miles away and yet went home only sporadically. Now D has applied for a traveling fellowship for after graduation that requires that she spend an entire year outside the US. Now, if we can only persuade to spend the winter holidays in a warm climate that we can visit! :)</p>
<p>RE: Semester/year abroad. It never occured to me that I would have gone home during my semester abroad! I spent my vacations traveling through Europe! (Family wouldn't have been able to afford the airfare anyway!)</p>
<p>And...if my kids went abroad...I don't think it would occur to me that they would come home until the semester/year was done!</p>
<p>I've heard of parents going to visit kids, but is it common now for kids to come home sometime in the middle if they take a semester or year abroad?</p>
<p>Re: coming home...DS went to school about 2 hours away. We saw him less than we see DD who is on the opposite coast. She comes home in the summers. He never did. It was easier for us to go see him...but him traveling here...it just didn't happen, except at Christmas break.</p>