"Going to college far away gives you the ability to experience being on your own."
"You'll go home every weekend if you don't move far away."
"Why not just be a commuter if you live so close to home?"
The statements above are real comments I received after I officially declared where I was going to college. People tried to talk me out of the idea that I would be so close to home. Some even told me I'm nervous to leave home and moving far away would get me out of my comfort zone. Of course, I didn't listen to them and soon discovered the perks of living less than an hour away from home.
1. You can do laundry whenever you want
Rather than paying an absurd amount on laundry, I can go home on the weekends and take my loads with me. It's easier and I don't have to worry about people stealing my detergent or throwing my wet clothes in a pile because they couldn't wait for me to unload them.
2. Whenever you get homesick you can go home
Even if I'm not homesick it's nice to be able to get away from campus for a while. If I'm having a stressful week, I can go home and relax. Also, my parents are always around and will pop in to see how I'm doing.
3. Random lunch dates with parents
I used to think that hanging out with your parents was so lame, but as I get older I realize they are truly amazing. Caf food is gross so any time I get the chance to go to a nice restaurant with my mom and dad it's a great day!
4. Visits from your dog
If it's one thing I've learned from being in college it's that students go crazy when they see a dog. My fluffer is my best friend and seeing him makes my week 100% better.
5. Moving in and out is easy
When I moved in I only brought a weeks worth of clothes rather than trying to squeeze my entire closet on an airplane. If I forget something or need to change my wardrobe from fall to spring it's easy to make trips home.
6. There's never a boring weekend
When there's no parties or fun stuff going on around campus, going home to hang out with your siblings and parents can actually be fun! (Who would have thought???)
7. No travel expenses
There's no expensive plane tickets or reasons to book hotel rooms for family weekends. The drive is short and easy.
8. Parents drop off supplies
When you live close to home it's easy to have parents drop off food, toilet paper, or water bottles. It's a lot easier than going to the store all the time.
9. It's easier to get a car
Driving your car to school is a lot easier when you only live about an hour away. If you go to a far school it may not be possible to have a car on campus, which makes running errands and getting around hard.
10. You know the areas better than your college friends
Because you've lived there for a while you know the best restaurants, shopping centers, attractions, and more. This makes going out on the weekends more fun since you and your friends don't spend over an hour deciding where to get dinner.
11. You get to come home for every break
Since you don't live 6+ hours away you can come come for even the smallest breaks. Martin Luther King Day, Easter Break, Presidents Day, and even Groundhog Day can be turned into mini vacations!
12. Doctor appointments can be easily scheduled
Going to school close to home means you don't have to wait until the next long break to schedule a dentist or doctors appointment. This is especially helpful when your school's health services aren't always the best or are constantly busy.
13. If you get sick you can go home
Being sick at college is one of the worst times and it's bound to happen at least once while you're there. The idea of going home to your own bed is a lot nicer than trying to make food for yourself, listening to loud roommates, and not having the comfort of your mom.
14. You can keep your summer job
Instead of trying to find a new job close to campus, you can commute to work. In this case, it shows your boss that you are willing to work hard for your job and you might be asked to cover more shifts or become a higher paying position.
15. It makes you love your city even more
Before moving into college I always thought of my city as just a bunch of tall buildings. Now it's so much more. It's home. I feel more connected to my city and am constantly looking for new things to do during my free time.
Yes, there are some downsides to living close to home, but there are also many perks. Living close to home hasn't held me back in academics or trying to branch out as a person. If anything, it has made me more open to meeting new people and being proud of where I come from.
