Choosing a College Takes Planning
Deciding whether to stay close to home for college or to travel far is a big decision. How can you decide? Here are some other considerations to keep in mind while making your decision:
- Travel expenses — plane, train, and bus tickets can add up fast. If attending a school where you’ll need to fly, is the campus close to a major airport? Will you be able to take direct flights or will multiples ones be needed? Money isn’t the only expense — factor in the time and energy you’ll spend.
- Do you have reasons to return home frequently? Younger siblings you’re close to? Will it be hard for you to miss their birthday parties or school plays?
- Moving at the beginning and end of every school year — keep in mind it’s not easy to fly with an apartment’s worth of stuff. Are your parents willing to drive 1000 miles every May and August? Does the campus or town have storage spaces where you can stash belongings over the summer?
With all of that in mind, here are a few suggestions to also help guide you:
- Pick the best of both worlds — attend a school close to home but study abroad for a semester. Or take summer courses at a more distant campus. Apply to a mix of schools — once you’re made aware of the exact financial aid/scholarships offered from each campus, use the monetary considerations as a guideline.
- Visit every school you’re seriously considering before you make a decision. You don’t want to move half way across the country only to realize that you dislike the campus or city.
- Choose the school that has the best academic program for your career interests. It might be worth traveling far if the knowledge and experience you’ll gain is unparalleled at another campus.
- Are you going to work while going to school? Then check out what schools offer degree programs online. Many schools offer this opportunity because now more than ever, individuals need to balance work and school.
