After high school graduation, many teenagers can't wait to move out and have a fresh start in a new place. While there's something to be said about going to school across the country from your family and getting a completely fresh start with an entirely new set of people, there are definitely upsides of choosing to go to a school in your hometown. Here are just a few reasons why going to college close to home is the best.

1. You know the area.

Once people know that you're a local, they'll undoubtedly start coming to you for advice on the best food places around town or the coolest local hangouts. You'll seem like a totally cool and knowledgeable tour guide. Around here in San Diego, I mostly get asked about which beach is the best and which freeway should be taken to get there.

2. You already know people.

This can be a pro and a con, depending on who you know. A fair amount of people from my graduating class now attend the same university as me, and for the most part, I'm happy to see them around campus. Other times, not so much. The good news about this is that it's still totally possible to shed your high school image and be the person you want to be because everyone else is doing the same thing.

3. You can go home every weekend ... or not.

Living close to your school means that you have options that other students don't have. You can go home every weekend if that's what you like doing, but you also aren't obligated to go home either because you also have a place to stay at school.

4. Free things!

When you go home for a weekend you get to appreciate all the things that used to be free but cost money now that you're in college. Free food! Free laundry! How about not having to wait in line for either!

5. Having access to your own bathroom.

After using a gross, communal dorm bathroom all week, nothing feels better than going home and being able to shower without shoes on. Also, the lack of strangers' hair on the shower walls is a definite plus.

6. Having a comfortable bed available.

I feel like dorm mattresses are universally sucky. When you attend school close to home, you can go home and sleep in your own bed on the weekends if you're so inclined. Also not having to share a space with a bunch of other people is good every once in awhile.

7. You don't get homesick.

Lots of college students start to miss home after a little while even if they were sure that they wouldn't, but not you. If you miss home, you can just pop in for dinner. No expensive plane tickets or six hour drives necessary!

College is an awesome time to reinvent yourself and learn how to live independently, but being close to home can help make college feel less intimidating. Take advantage of the free laundry!