As an out-of-state student attending a big public state flagship university, I had expected for a large portion of my peers to be from the state itself. What I was not expecting, however, was how being from out of state drastically changed my experience:

1. EVERYONE is from in-state.

This is pretty much assumed when you're going to a public state school. You aren't asked the general "Where are you from?" you expect when meeting new people. You're asked, "What county are you from?" because it is so much more rare for someone to answer with anything except a cute nickname for their home county.

2. Being asked "If you're not from _____, why do you go here?"

There is no exaggeration when I say that I receive this as a response to telling someone I am not from in-state 90 percent of the time.

3. Everyone knows everyone.

This is one of the hardest parts about going to a public state school. What you thought was going to be a great chance to branch out and meet new people can very often end up being a high school reunion or your insertion into a continued friend group from high school to college.

4. You don't get the common slang.

Don't be alarmed if sometimes it feels like your friends from in-state are speaking a different language. You'll pick it up, eventually.

5. Adjusting to new fast food places and saying goodbye to the ones you loved at home.

While there are some new additions to your fast food diet that will change your life for the better forever (I'm talking to you, Chick-fil-A), getting used to not having the familiar fast food places you have come to know and love at home on every corner is a harder adjustment than you realize.