Location. Location. Location. Turns out it’s a key factor when deciding where to go to college. Choosing a college far away from home can be a tough decision, especially if this is the first time you’ll be living away from home. On the other hand, why compromise on quality just to stay close to home? If the college of your dreams is not in your home state, there is no need to be apprehensive. It’s important to be well-informed and see both sides of the story before making this crucial decision.
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a college away from home:
Independence
Living on your own can be the most thrilling and frustrating time of your life. Learning to be self-sufficient takes time and patience. There are challenging and life-changing lessons to be learnt but the sense of independence you gain is irreplaceable.
A Fresh Start
Starting a new chapter away from home can be like a clean slate for you. No need to look over your shoulder all the time, it gives you an opportunity to blossom into the kind of individual you’ve always wanted to be.
New Perspective
Meeting new people who are distinctly different from yourself can have a positive effect on your perspective of the world. Being exposed to so much diversity teaches you to be more open-minded and accepting of cultural and regional differences.
Expenses
On the down side, your expenses increase substantially when you’re not living at home. Travel will compromise a major part of your budget. Just moving at the beginning of every school year can be a painstaking task. Look into storage options near your campus. Moreover, choosing a college in your home state can save you tuition fees as well.
Culture Shock
When things seem frighteningly foreign it can be quite overwhelming. Everything from the weather to the accents takes time to get used to. What’s normal to you may appear odd to others and vice versa. But this is part of the thrill of discovering a new place and it the long-run it helps to gain a new perspective.
Long Distance Support System
You may not be able to be home for your mom’s birthday or your sister’s recital and your parents may have to miss out on some of your landmark moments in college as well. This can get stressful especially if you’re the kind of person who feels homesick more often.
Emergencies
In unforeseen circumstances, you may find yourself struggling to keep afloat as the support system you are used to is not close at hand. The worst part about living on your own is having to take care of yourself when you fall ill.While making this decision, the most important thing to keep in mind is whether the college offers the best academic program to further your career. Venturing out of the safety and familiarity of your home can turn out to be the best decision for you.
Aditya Singhal is the co-founder of Transtutors, a leading online tutoring help for college students. Having graduated from prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), he worked briefly with American Consulting firm, Kurt Salmon Associates before taking the entrepreneurial route. Outside the work ambit, Aditya has a personal interest in helping students in their career aspiration and skill development. He is also actively involved in giving back to the society by contributing a part of the revenue towards education of poor students in India.
