When students are shopping for prospective colleges, one of the main considerations is usually how far the school is from home. Some students insist on being within driving distance so they can visit often while others are ready to really branch out and taste freedom. When choosing a college, you should consider first and foremost what you want to get out of your education. Then find the college that will give you that, regardless of location. Here are some things to think over when you are trying to decide whether or not to attend college out of state:
Do you need a change?
Of course, attending a school that is very far from your home may increase your homesickness, but that will eventually fade. In truth, going home will be different regardless of where you attend college because you are becoming an adult. For some students, being very far from home forces them to become more independent and to really learn who they are as adults. If your parents are having difficulty letting go and are still trying to control your life, being out of state may help you to establish your independence.
Are you having trouble getting into college?
If you have been rejected by your choice of colleges in your own state, you may have better luck out of state. Since out of state tuition is a good deal higher than in state tuition, many colleges and universities are increasing admissions, financial incentives, and scholarship opportunities for out of state students. Colleges are also looking for greater geographic diversity in the student population, which makes you even more desirable as an out of state student.
Are you on a tight budget?
Many students never look at out of state colleges and universities because they know the tuition is higher. What they don’t realize, however, is that many colleges and universities consider the distance from your home when computing financial aid. If your financial aid package includes travel expenses, you may find that the tuition is actually less than that of a college in your state.
Are you looking for the perfect fit?
If you limit yourself to only looking at schools in your home state, you may not find exactly what you are looking for. If you are pursuing a less common major, you may find that looking out of state is the only way to find the school that exactly fits your goals. When you broaden your search to include out of state schools, you are opening a much wider variety of choices to yourself, making it much easier to find the one that is just right.
Would you like a change of scenery?
Maybe there is a part of the country that you have always wanted to see. Looking at out of state colleges allows you the chance to visit different areas of the United States and to completely immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle of a different region. If you want your college experience to truly be a major change in your life, there are few better ways to do so than to attend college in a completely different geographical area.