When wanting to move out of state for college there are a lot of things you must consider. Whether you’re just starting high school or about to finish, I recommend you read this.
If you’d like to stay in-state, it is statistically much more affordable. Public colleges get a large portion of funding from said state’s tax money. Which is why it’s much cheaper for people who live in the state than out of the state.
In addition, you’d also already know the area in which you’re going to college which could help when trying to get around the city. Traveling would also be much cheaper, especially if using the state’s public transit. If you decide to stay in the dorms of your state college, you could go home as often as you’d like.
It may get tedious since you’ve lived there most of your life, which is fair. The college itself can be fun, and other cities in the state can have options as well. Most cities in the US only have 1-2 colleges available which can make you want to lean more towards out of state schools.
I know most teenagers want to leave home immediately, but let me tell you why that isn’t the best idea. Unless you’re taking a gap year to explore the world or stay with family, going out of state for college has lots of pros and cons. The cons of moving out of state have a lot to do with money. Since you’ve never paid for taxes or been claimed on taxes in said state(s) that you plan on going to college to, they charge you twice or three times as much to live there.
It can also get super lonely, especially at the beginning when you have no friends and barely know your roommate. Getting there would also be much more expensive, plane tickets can range anywhere from 250-1000 dollars depending on where it is that you want to go. Trains or buses like Amtrak and Greyhound can be a bit more affordable but it will still add up.
The pros of moving out of state may not outweigh the finances, but I find them to be worth the struggle. There are a lot more universities to choose from depending on where it is you want to go. One advantage that many teenagers like is that you’ll get the full grown-up experience of being on your own. Last but not least, you’ll be somewhere new and can explore while making new friends and getting your education.
I personally think it would be an everyday vacation which I definitely wouldn’t mind. You get to be in control of what you do and when you do it. You wanna go out? You do it. No one can stop you. But that isn’t always a good thing.
Being able to control what you do on a day-to-day basis can be dangerous to people who have always lived with structure.
I believe that going out of state is better for me because of the ability to focus and learning to be on your own as well as the experience. Not everyone has the opportunity and that’s fine too.
When you think of college, you want to aim for what you feel is best for you. Whether you feel that is to stay in state or go out of state.