Finally being able to go off to college, and be on your own is awesome. Most people dream of going as far away from their home as possible, but here are some major perks of going to a school close to home (especially while living in a dorm).

1. When you get homesick your family is just a car ride away.

Or a phone call away, but physically being able to see family just helps calm whatever stress is going on. Most freshmen don't have a car, but your family can just hop on in their vehicle and drive on over to campus to give you that hug you need, or to take you out to eat.

2. Need snacks? Call mom.

Everyone knows the struggle of always keeping the fridge full, and how hard it is to find time to shop in between classes. A happy child is one with a full belly, and mothers never want to see their baby go hungry, plus you can knock out two stones in one by getting free snacks and to see your mom!

3. Leave something at home? Call mom again.

Nothing is more frustrating than packing your life away, just to realize you left your favorite hat at home. A major perk of living close to home is that you will be able to get it hand delivered instead of shipped to you whenever you want.

4. Tired of cafeteria food? Just find a ride home for a nice, warm, home-cooked meal.

Truth be told campus food is only good for like a week, if that. You will quickly realize that you took every home cooked hamburger for granted and that's the only thing you'll want back. The weekends are the perfect time to find a ride home and grab a real meal with your family, you could even take some of your college friends home too!

5. You will always see familiar faces on campus.

High school is over and done with so it's okay to smile and wave to the people you never talked to before. Seeing familiar faces makes being away from home easier. Just a simple hi from someone you recognize could possibly turn your whole day around, seriously.

6. When something important comes up your family/friends can come support.

Have a speech to give? Game to play? Or even a presentation to do? Well, you are close enough to home so that your family and close friends will always be there for support. You will have the closest people to you right by your side when you need them most.

7. Younger siblings? You won't miss them growing up.

This is probably the most important one to me, being able to still watch my siblings play ball and support things they do is something that makes me so grateful for picking a college close to home. If I was far away then who knows when I'd be able to see what they do, and who they are becoming. Trust me, this is a great perk of still living on your own, but being close to home.

Trust me, going to a school near home will still feel far away. When you're in college you are in your own little world. These are just some of the things that I have noticed and have started to appreciate while being away. There are defiantly more pros than cons with living close to home. Oh yeah, and always take being called a "townie" as a compliment. Own it.