<p>I'm so jealous of people who get to go across the country, or to another country, for college next year. I want to be able to expand my horizons a little bit (I know it sounds cheesy, but its true). However, I'm going to a local state school next year for financial reasons. Basically, am I going to feel this way for all four years? I'm already looking at study abroad options, which I think will be great for me. Also, do colleges really affect where you live and work after you graduate? For example, if you go to an east coast school, are you really only going to get a job on the east coast?</p>
<p>It depends on the school. Statistically, graduates are more likely to work in the region that their school is. Some schools will allow you to move anywhere in the country, while others are pretty much exclusively regional schools. I live in Pennsylvania. If, for example, you were going to Penn State, you would be able to get a job anywhere in the country. PSU’s reputation is, of course, best in Pennsylvania (where it is extremely highly regarded), but it is still well-known internationally as a legitimate school. On the other hand, graduates of a school like Kutztown are going to have less mobility. Their job prospects will be much better in Pennsylvania (and probably even more so eastern PA) than anywhere else. A KU grad would be able to find good emplyment in this area, but may have a lot more difficulty somewhere else (until they have significant work experience, at which point college becomes pretty much irrelevant).</p>