<p>hi, i'm a high school junior, and i've decided that i want to go to school outside of massachusetts, since i've lived here for 17 years and i just want to experience living in a different part of the country. i love massachusetts, but i hate the idea of living in one place for my entire life. however, there are a lot of great schools in MA, all of which i haven't considered because i want to get out. so far, no school in MA has made me fall in love with it despite its location, but, for example, i might consider tufts or one of the amherst colleges if i was open to staying here. so i was wondering, do you guys think it's a good goal to move to another region? or do you think i'm limiting my choices?
thanks for your feedback! :)</p>
<p>I felt the same way as you in High School. I wanted out of MA and only applied to one school even in MA. It turns out that BC has grown on me and thats likely where I’ll be going. Really though, you don’t have to go home from college any more often then you would if it were across the country if you don’t want to.</p>
<p>Theres pro’s to each. If you stay in MA, you know the area, you’ve probably been to Boston and know the city a bit, and your family is close if you need them.</p>
<p>Going out of state will give you new scenery and could be very fun, and its always good to try something new.</p>
<p>Going to school in MA and dorming WILL feel like you are away. No parents or family to annoy you, doing whatever you want, but you can still go back home if you ever want to. Definitely apply to SOME schools in MA</p>
<p>Don’t limit your choices. You never know- the perfect school for you might just be in-state.</p>
<p>This is kind of eerie. I’m in the same situation as smwhtslghtlydzed. I always wanted to go away for college but now I’m realizing how many great schools there are in Massachusetts and starting to change my mind. I’d also appreciate any feedback anyone has!</p>
<p>Also remember that you’ll likely be surrounded by people from all over, giving you a much different experience than you have now. I would say consider schools in-state, but don’t feel that you MUST go to one in MA. At the very least, visiting a few schools in the area will help you define what you like in a college.</p>
<p>If you haven’t talked with your parents about how much they can pay, this would be a good time to do that. You might find out that your most affordable options would be the public universities in your home state. Even if you would end up at one of the U Mass campuses, unless you deliberately choose to live with a friend from high school, chances are that you will go weeks (if not months) without running into anyone you knew before you enrolled there. Happykid is at our local community college, and other than one HS pal who is in her same major, she’s only had one class all year with anyone in it who she knew from high school!</p>
<p>D felt the same way junior year. She didn’t want to look at anything west of the Rockies. 
But as she visited schools and found out more about them, and about herself, as the year went on, she fell in love with the Northwest again. I’ve heard similar stories a few times. My take is that many kids feel like spreading their wings when college is still a distant goal, but become more realistic (or less adventurous) as the date gets closer.</p>
<p>In any case, I recommend you keep a couple of MA schools on your list.</p>
<p>thanks for all your feedback everyone! happymomof1, i am considering umass amherst; my only issue is that it seems way too big, and the other, smaller umass campuses aren’t as strong academically, so i don’t really know what to do for a financial safety :(</p>
<p>anyone else have opinions on this?</p>
<p>Is there any kind of exchange program with the other New England colleges? I’ve heard of something where you can get a break if your home college doesn’t have the major program you want. Try googling, or ask with that as the topic in your subject line. There are a TON of threads on indecision now and not everyone is reading each one.</p>
<p>smwhtslghtlydzed,</p>
<p>You need to identify some Academic Safeties (where you are either certain of admission based on your stats, or almost certain) as well as some Financial Safeties (that your family can pay for out of current income or with nothing more than the federally determined aid). Out of those two sets, be sure there is at lease one that is both Academically and Financially Safe, that offers your major(s), and that you would be happy to attend if all else goes wrong next year. </p>
<p>Many of the places that will be Academic Safeties will not appear to be particularly strong academically, however there are excellent professors and smart classmates to be found just about everywhere. Look long and hard at the potential safeties on your list, and try to find one or two that you can love at least a little bit.</p>