<p>I am dying to leave the state I'm currently living in, and I am excited for college, but a few of the schools I'm interested in are on the other coast and I'm unsure about going so far.
I'm wondering, if anyone else has gone to school far from home, how did you do it? Did you get a chance to visit the campus beforehand? It seems daunting, going out on your own for the first time and literally being alone in a new state.</p>
<p>I went from Dallas, TX to Boston, MA. I didn't visit Boston or the school beforehand, though. I thought I was ready to leave home and I was so pumped up, but once I got here I felt so lonely and depressed. It went away now, though. I feel tons better. Homesickness will hit everyone no matter how ready you think you are I guess.</p>
<p>You've probably just got the adventure bug and I'm sure you'd be let down after you found out that going to school in another state isn't as exciting as you thought it'd be.</p>
<p>I agree with Russell. I felt the exact same way. I'm from Michigan and I was all set to go to school in either California or Virginia because I though it would be great to be so far away and that I needed my space. My parents talked me in to going to school in Wisconsin, which is about four hours from home, and I can tell you this is plenty far away. Unless the school on the other coast offers some specific program or they're recruiting you for sports, there's no real need to go that far away. If you still want to that's fine, it's not a bad thing, but you can have the same amount of freedom and be just as happy at a school an hour or two from home as you can on the other side of the country.</p>
<p>I went from NJ -> California and haven't looked back. If you think you want to do it and are ready, you are. Just do it and be willing to brave any unforeseen hurdles.</p>
<p>After I graduated from high school, I moved away in one direction and the rest of my family moved away in the other direction. We ended up a long way apart. I'm really glad I did that.</p>
<p>I'm a lot older than you, though. Specifically, I am enough older than you that I didn't have a cell phone, and therefore a whole lot of growing up meant having less and less contact with parents. So my experience may not be relevant to you.</p>
<p>I agree with hyakku, don't look back. My first week I was all set to go back home. As much as I liked the school, I really wanted to be home because I felt so lonely and scared. I just stopped overthinking it and being so nervous. I'm having a much better time now.</p>
<p>I went from the South to the West Coast and lovin it. Everything is so much more different and im enjoying it. I definitely recommend leaving home in college because you need to learn to live out on your own. Even if it means living 20 minutes away from your house.</p>
<p>I went 1000 miles way for college (California-midwest) and I do love SOME of it. I go to a large public university, so i would say 95% of students are from the midwest (and 80-85% are from in-state.) Be aware that if you're looking at a school like what I've described, it can be hard making friends. Most everyone I know knows 5-40 other people from their HS. Apart from that, I think going OOS was/is a great experience although there may be a huge culture shock. Good luck!</p>
<p>I would just do it. You meet people later on who always wished they had made the move. What's the downside? You move back if you don't like it.</p>
<p>I did it. I'm from the South and couldn't imagine staying local. You have to remember the world is far too big to stay in one place for the rest of your life. College is the perfect opportunity to experience that, even if for a short four-years.</p>
<p>Everyone and I mean everyone (even the kids who live an hour away from home lol) gets homesick. You just deal.</p>
<p>700 miles from Baltimore to Atlanta....best decision I ever made. Def. go away for school</p>
<p>go to the school that you want to go to...</p>
<p>a school that fits you perfectly and is your number 1 shouldn't become last on your list b/c it's in the same state that you live in.</p>
<p>This spring I'm moving 1500 miles from the awesomeness of New England to Georgia for college. I have been down there, stayed a bit more than a month so I know how backwards it is from my home, but I never really ventured to the city my college is in (Athens) or visited it. I just applied, was accepted, and decided, why not? They have a pharmacy school (which is where I will be headed) so I just figured their advisors would be able to direct me better in finishing my bachelors to get in. No other reason really, but sometimes one just needs to get far far away from home. (then again, I'm 21 and have been out of high school for 7 years, and already did the away from home living in a dorm thing at age 16, so I've been there, done that, came back, gone local, all if it and I'm ready to move on again).</p>