<p>This is my major dilemma at the moment. I live in Alabama but my two top colleges I want to go to are the University of Alabama and Michigan State. I have family in Michigan,so I will still have somewhere to go during breaks, but it will be an experience moving so far from my mom and grandmother. I just want to know some advantages and disadvantages of staying close to home and moving away.</p>
<p>I’m from CA and currently a first-year at Brown University in Rhode Island, so I definitely know what it’s like to go to college across the country. In my opinion, it’s great. I definitely miss out on things near home, but I figure that I’ll probably end up living somewhere in California or somewhere similar once I finish my schooling. Why not live somewhere completely different right now? It’s much easier than moving later because Brown offers me all the resources to appreciate Providence.</p>
<p>In the '70s, my mom moved from California out to Massachusetts for college all alone with two bags and could only communicate with her parents once a week by an expensive phone call, and through letters. It’s so much easier now! I Skype with my family once a week and keep up by calling and texting all the time.</p>
<p>If you have the chance and it’s not a financial hardship, I would go to Michigan State. If it doesn’t work out, you can always come home. It’s much harder to do it the other way around.</p>
<p>I figure it will never be as easy to just pack up, move somewhere else, and experience what life is like in another part of the country. You’re only going to get more tied down. Sure you might be lonely at first, but once you make some friends you’ll be fine, and it’s a great way to become more independent. Assuming it’s not a financial hardship, I’d definitely advise going out of state if you can.</p>
<p>I agree with RoxSox, you ought to experience other parts of the country. I made a rash last minute decision to stay instate, and although I love my college, I still regret not leaving across the country as I planned to since middle school. I am now attempting to transfer.</p>
<p>I suggest to move to Michigan and experience the state, only if it financially reasonable. You can always move back to Alabama but from experience, it is harder to leave the state afterwards.</p>
<p>Thanks guys I appreciate the feedback. I still have a couple of more months to decide, but come this fall hopefully Ill be going to MSU.</p>
<p>Is it financially affordable to attend MSU? It can be very expensive compared to Alabama schools. Not too many out of state students attend Michigan State University, Umich, etc…</p>
<p>Im not sure yet actually, I need to complete the FAFSA and apply for some scholarships. If that goes well for me, then maybe with student loans Ill be set.</p>
<p>Try not to get too much in loans, and if you do, make sure you TRULY like MSU during your first year. You don’t want to get stuck with a bad experience and lots of loans as my high school friend has.</p>
<p>Yeah Im hoping I wont have to take out too much, but I heard MSU is a good school with great people. Not having the chance to visit and see what its like because its so far away is the biggest thing that makes me nervous.</p>