So I just started senior year, and I’ve spent nearly every night crying or feeling awful. I’m very close with my family, and I really love living at home with them. I spent all my time thinking about how much I don’t want to move away next year, and I’m just really sad all the time, almost like I’m homesick in advance. Every day, I feel like I’m one day closer to when I have to abandon this life and these people who I love. I used to be excited for college, but now I just dread it. Any tips on how to deal with this? Has anyone felt this way? Can someone just tell me that it will all be okay?
Everyone feels some ambivalence about growing up. Everyone should have the pleasure and the struggle of transitioning from a dependent child, to a semi-dependent young adult, to an independent adult. Becoming independent does not mean that you lose attachments - the attachments mature and the bonus is that you find types of attachments of which you cannot conceive as a child. Enjoy the anticipatory ambivalence but steel yourself for the inevitable. But never let ambivalence undermine your path forward.
Good advice from the previous poster.
I can only add to be sure to live in the present. You are not going to college today, this month, next month or even in six months. Many of us worry about the future and rehash the past. Its important to be mindful and live right now. Enjoy your senior year, your classes, your activities and your friends & family.
And yes, it will all be ok.
I think you need to talk to someone. Have you spoken to your parents about how bad you feel? Maybe you need a gap year or maybe to commute for a year. Or maybe someone to help you transition to living away from home. Don’t suffer in silence you may need help with this situation maybe even a counselor.
Don’t go away a to college. There are many students who commute. I was one. My life has turned out fine. So that’s one problem solved.
Having said that, I think you would benefit from seeing a therapist. You shouldn’t be reacting like this at the start of the school year.
^^^^ or stay close. We have daughters who have stayed within 45 mins of home, and it’s been great. Enough distance to gain independence while being close enough to grab dinner on the weekend or attend their games/performances.
Agree with the above. First, I think seeing a therapist is a good idea – hopefully the therapist can help you deal with your feelings (and maybe help you to get a handle on if the root cause is wanting to stay close to family or nerves about going away.) And secondly I’d apply to a range of colleges including some that are close and even commutable so you have those schools as options in case you feel the same way at the end of the year. In the end make the choices that are right for you.
I’m entering my senior year as well, and started feeling similarly towards the end of my junior year. I am very close with my family and didn’t want to think about leaving them. I knew that going away to college would be a great experience, but I was just so anxious. I decided to go to a summer program at Brown for 3 weeks to try to experience life away from home. The first day or two was really tough, but after that I was able to adjust and ended up having an amazing time. It’s totally normal to have anxieties about going away from home. I would advise you to try to go away from home for a little while and see how you feel (ex: doing an overnight at a college, etc.). In my opinion, it’s not worth it to let your anxieties get the best of you and get in the way of receiving a great education. College is about learning academically, of course, but it’s also about social development and learning more about yourself. Even though you might go away to college, your family will always be there for you. A therapist was very helpful for me, and I think you could benefit from one as well. I agree with EyeVeee, it could be nice to go about 45 min away so that you’re not right at home but are still a quick drive away in case you feel like you need to come home. Best of luck 
Start by commuting, and then see how much you get sick and tired of your family!
I am a mother of grown daughters and all of us busy professionals still miss the busyness of end of summer/school starting/excitement of school supply shopping, etc… but life moves on and you adjust to the next step as you get there. For us we are busy with bridal and now baby showers, weddings, etc.
For some students especially those without a car picking a college where they have some public transportation ability to get home helps put them more at ease. I know for some just knowing they can go home on occasion is comforting though that doesn’t mean they actually go home much other than when colleges close.