With the new year just weeks away, high schoolers everywhere are eagerly waiting on college acceptance letters to weigh out their options regarding their next big steps into adulthood. At this point in time, it is important to truly weigh out your options. College or University? PWI or HBCU? In-State or Out of State? The possibilities are endless. While some may plot and plan on only applying to institutions thousands of miles away from home, others stay on the fence to deliberate what option suits them best. No matter what side of the spectrum that you’re on, this article will lay out the real deal pros and cons of being an out of state college student.
The Cons
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Missing Your Loved Ones
This is a no-brainer but it is something I underestimated when I made my huge decision to go to school in a completely different region of the country. This is something that eats me up because I love having a strong presence in people’s lives and being away from them makes it harder to maintain that presence. The love is always there of course, but, college students are super busy, especially during their first year. With that being said, it has been a challenge for me to find time to simply make calls to everyone that I feel the need to catch up with consistently.
2. Family Events
Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, Sunday dinner, you name it. You 9/10 will not be there. Missing out on this bonding time is something that makes me particularly homesick because you see all the fun everyone is having over social media.
The Pros
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Developing Independence
In your time away from your main environment and family, you will discover yourself in ways you never imagined. Uprooting yourself from home is a liberating and educating experience. It allows you to freely grow into the adult you are meant to be.
2. Discovering a New Location
I love love love being able to explore Atlanta. Discovering a new city was one of the most important aspects of my decision-making process. Finding new places to eat, shop, etc. is super exciting and one of the best parts of being an out of state student. Being able to dive into a different culture is rewarding both informally and entertainment wise.
Making pros and cons list is one of the go-to methods that I resort to in making any decision. While this article only reaches the tip of the iceberg regarding such a huge decision, use it as a point of reference prior to decision day to truly narrow down what move is the best for you.
If you’re looking for further content like this, reach out to me, I’m always glad to help out.
Good luck with your decision making!