Any tips on moving away for college? Possibly going from one coast to the other and if not I’ll be a good few states away. Making friends? Being in a total new area? Maybe a list of things I should make sure are a priority before making the move?
If you are not getting university healthcare make sure that there are providers in the area of your school.
I moved eight hours away for college. Make sure you have a way to get back and forth via bus, train, plane, or whatever and a way to get from campus to the transportation station if necessary. It’s a good idea to check out when breaks are and if you can’t get home, to have friends or relatives you can stay with instead.
The friends thing kinds of happens naturally. Everyone is looking for new people to meet and loves cool people with interesting experiences. Unless you are going to a heavily public school, it is likely that people are going to be from all over. Even then, I go to the College of William and Mary, which is 65% public and I have had very little trouble acclimating or making friends.
However, do check out if you have any allergies that may conflict with the environment you are in. I have recently found out I may be allergic to the swampy environment covered with moss that is found on our campus, so I have been prescribed medication to prevent coughing sprees.
Ask about the surrounding city, things to do, and above all visit make sure the college is a good fit before attending. I chose my college because it was a good fit, but there are many colleges I visited that I realized were not good fits despite having brochures that suggested otherwise. Good luck in your journeys