<p>I applied to a lot of schools, the farthest from me (in Florida) being in California. I know that if I get into a school that far away, even if it is Stanford, I'm going to have a tough decision to make...</p>
<p>So I'm curious to hear from others who ultimately did choose to attend a college far away and see what it's like, how you felt and handled being so far away from family, etc. Any input is appreciated.</p>
<p>It partially depends on how many kids at the school are also far from home. If a high percentage of students are also from out-of-state/far from home, then you will not feel as overwhelmed. It is hard to frequently hear from friends about their weekend trips home, and know that you will not be going home anytime soon.</p>
<p>You will also want to consider how long you have been away from home prior to college. Have you spent a month or more away from home before?</p>
<p>Hey!
I am also looking at going out of state- Moving from Minnesota to Pittsburgh. I do have a few people I know from the area, which helps, but Pitt is an outstanding school in general. My best advice is to really pick a school that gives you a good feel and that you could actually envision yourself at. Don’t choose it just because the campus is pretty or you enjoy the hot Florida weather. I also considered Florida, but toured a few campuses and just didn’t get that perfect feel- just a personal experience though!! Research the colleges for what they are, make sure they have what your intended major- if you are undecided make sure they have many things available that interest you. Consider out of state/in state costs as well!</p>
<p>You need to make sure you find the money/time to visit a school if you are seriously considering it as an option. I went 900 miles away to school, so a 13-14 hour drive. I absolutely love it, but I was very financially independent in high school,so being far from home wasn’t too much of a shock to the system. Realize that it is harder because you don’t have anyone to fall back on (car breaks down, medical issue,etc) but that it can be so rewarding and worth it if you are ready for that big of a change.</p>
<p>I went from MN to Boston University and loved it. In fact, after going home my freshman summer, I’ve been in Boston ever since. Things that helped:
<p>If the school has a top program and/or you’re interested in travel, I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>Opposite coasts for me - from Los Angeles to MIT. It means I didn’t visit home every weekend like my friends back home often did. Maybe it was a harder adjustment, but I suspect it was a quicker one that teaches you how to be a bit more autonomous.</p>