<p>I applied to a total of 8 schools so far, and the only school that is within an hour in driving distance and that is close to home is my first choice, which is an ivy league and a tremendous reach. Every other school I applied to is at least 8-10 hours away in driving distance.</p>
<p>If I don't get accepted into my first choice, I don't know what it'll be like to be so far away from home. I have lived in NJ for all of my life and was just having second thoughts on going to a college that is so far away.</p>
<p>I'm also thinking about applying to one more school that is in PA just in case I change my mind later on. I won't know a single person at any of the other schools and it'll be a huge lifestyle change. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Well I can tell you I went from Massachusetts to Virginia and it was a huge mistake...I'm looking to transfer someplace closer to home...but your experience might be different</p>
<p>I went from New Jersey to Rhode Island..even though its only about 3 hours from home it just wasn't for me...if you are having second thoughts I would try to apply to more schools around home if you still can</p>
<p>i am trying to get up into ma and ny. there is nothing wrong with wanting to move away. moving to a new place and not knowing naybody forces you to grow up. i have moved a lot since i was a kid (5 elementaries, 2 jr highs, 1 high school, 6 cities, 4 states) and i am actually moving in a month only to be transferring elsewhere 6 months later. moving away is not as big of a deal as it seems. i suggest moving if you dont get into the ivy (im assuming its princeton) especially since you live in the landfill known as new jersey. in actuality, the people in the midwest and especially the south are nice people so it should be something to look forward to.</p>
<p>I went thousands of miles from home and I have had all good things to say. It is what you make it. Distance isn't a factor once you pass the 3 hour mark.......I mean is your mom gonna drive 6 hours round trip to see you? Are you gonna drive 6 hours to go home? NO</p>
<p>hazmat's right about the 3 hour mark. I'm about 3 hours away from home, so technically it's feasible to go home every now and again, but I haven't been home at all except fall break and Christmas. However, it might be wise to add a few schools close to home. If the only nearby school is a huge reach, that doesn't leave you with many options about distance! You have plenty of good schools to choose from in the NE.</p>
<p>tracemhunter- Since I assume the OP is a transfer, I don't think the reach is Princeton (they don't accept transfers :)). I'd guess U Penn.</p>
<p>I live in Maryland, I go to school in Plattsburgh NY, which is as far upstate as you can get. BAD choice, it's hell trying to get home, especially during breaks that aren't worth the trip, because they're only two or three days long. </p>
<p>There's a 4hr bus ride from Plattsburgh to Albany,
an hour and a half plane ride from Albany to Baltimore,
and an hour drive from Baltimore to my home town...</p>
<p>Or I also have the option of taking a 13 hour train ride on Amtrak... </p>
<p>so do reconsider if you want to be that far, it has its good parts, but the bad can be annoying.</p>
<p>I hate to say this, but if you're afraid to leave home, chances of getting into an ivy are really slim. Successful ivy candidates are likely to have really stretched themselves and been places and done things. If you are already in college and the thought of leaving your home State is frightening, you are unlikely to strike out and conquor the world in the way ivies are looking for their grads to do.</p>
<p>Nonsense. The OP (and you) are under 20! Colleges don't expect you to have traveled the world (or even the US). You're not Alexander of Macedonia, after all. Many people find college the perfect place to grow into an adult- which is one of the roles of higher education. It's perfectly normal and acceptable to break out of your security zone while in college.</p>
<p>I agree with warblers, that is nonsense suze. Colleges aren't expecting people to be superhumans who don't have any fears, especially at a young age. A lot of people, and colleges know this, are just leaving home for the first time, of course they're going to be apprehensive.</p>
<p>moving AWAY to college is part of the college experience. you are taken out of your comfort zone and placed into a new element, forcing you to "grow up" and become a mature adult.</p>
<p>suze, just because i haven't been to places and done "things" should not reflect my admissions decision to penn. i'm not saying leaving my home state is frightening, and i'm pretty sure i will make the best of whichever college i do attend. i was just wondering and having second thoughts on going so far away. like i said before, the midwest schools i applied to are all huge state schools and unc-chapel hill is very big also. i also don't mind leaving my home state. i wouldn't mind going to school somewhere in pa, ny, or even boston.</p>
<p>nope, i was going to, but i heard they were very stingy with their financial aid and i didn't think it would be worth the money.</p>
<p>i applied to upenn, umich-ross, unc-chapel hill, and indiana-bloomington. </p>
<p>i also applied to ohio state, purdue, umd-college park, and RIT, but i don't plan on attending these schools unless they offer a substantial amount of scholarships.</p>
<p>i will be in the dorms as well. i am the typical candidate for bu and i am looking foward to getting in. i am just not sure if i am going to be considered a sophomore or what at the end of this semester since i will have 42 hours and this is my first real year in college. </p>
<p>on a side note, i am thinking about driving up to purdue in the next couple of months. i know you got accepted there so i can let you know what i think of everything.</p>
<p>yeah, we're both in the same boat. i will have 42-45 credits by the end of this semester, and we'll both be considered sophomores for fall 2006. </p>
<p>i honestly love BU. boston is a great city and i visited BU a couple of times and all my friends seem to love it there also. if it was a public school, i definitely would consider it. and all the schools i applied to are in the earlier post.</p>
<p>i have never even been to new england yet the two schools i want into most (nyu and bu) are there. i checked out the bu myspace groups and i must say, even if i get into nyu i will probably go to bu because of the attitude of the students and the girls are pretty hot. best of luck.</p>