What You Need to Know About Going to an Out-of-State School

Enrolling in an out-of-state school can be an exciting experience to look forward to. For some, it’s the chance to start over and build your reputation from the ground up, with no worries of running into issues from your past. Before making this major decision, though, you should examine the pros and cons of going out-of-state:

Pros

Farther from Home

If you are looking for a school far away from your roots, going out of state will always be the first option. It is always good to pursue a change of scenery.

Independence

When you’re far from home, you obtain the most independence of your life. You have no need to ask anyone (especially parents) what you can and can’t do every day. This is a big perk for the sheltered students of high school.

Experience in a New Environment

Moving out of state is an amazing opportunity to experience people from different backgrounds, especially if you decide to enroll in a larger school which has people from all cultures, interests, and upbringings.

So Many Choices

Once you decide to look out-of-state for your education, your options become vast. Looking to stay close to home may be limiting your choices on schools and areas of study.

Cons

Higher Tuition and/or Fees

As I have found firsthand, the cost of leaving the state is exceedingly more than staying in-state. If you are looking to save money while in college, going out of state probably isn’t the best option.

More Expensive to Travel Home

Since you are farther from home, it could cost an arm and a leg to get home for a visit depending on how far away you are. In the event your school doesn’t provide mass transportation, as some do, then visiting home during the year may not be feasible.

Lose Out on Perks of Being Close to Home

There are many perks that you could receive from being closer to home. Free laundry, home-cooked meals, and even the opportunity to live at home and commute to school are a few of these assets. Plus, you’ll likely have to spend more in gas, insurance, and a parking permit if you take your car to school with you.

May Feel Lonely

Even though most of us won’t admit it outright, it is common to have a sense of loneliness or becoming homesick while away at college. This is amplified when you are an out-of-state student with no easy way to get home.

Not Having as Much Support

While commuting from home, or even being a few hours away, it is easy to phone a friend (or family member) for help as needed. In some cases, you are only a short drive away to get the support from home you need. Once you leave the proximity of home, the “pro” of being independent can become a “con” if you do not have the support you need to be on your own.