For some, this sounds like a nightmare.
When you were picking your school, chances are you were looking at colleges both near and far, trying to decide how many miles away would be too many if there was a problem, but also not wanting to be so close to home as to have your parents breathing down your neck.
Coming from a close-knit family, I knew that I didn't want to venture too far from home. It's a good thing too, since my mom would throw away the mailed college pamphlets before I could see them for schools she deemed too far away. Luckily, completely of my own decision, my top school was only 25 minutes from my house.
Even though I knew I wanted somewhere pretty close, I definitely underestimated the benefits of actually committing to this college to which I had such easy access.
Going to a college where I am so happy and close to home if I need it, and seeing the struggles of some of my best friends who live more than 3 hours away, much to my surprise I've come to really appreciate having made the choice to live at a college close by.
1. You know the area
If you want to go out to a local mall, movie theater, or restaurant, you already know the best ones around and feel completely comfortable driving there because you have already made the trip 100 times. Being familiar with surrounding streets and even towns can be a big advantage too, when it comes to choosing internship placements or volunteer opportunities.
2. You know people, and can easily find mutual friends
If you live at a college close to home, chances are there are many, many other students who do too. Nothing is more exciting than hearing that someone is from a surrounding town, because you most likely have family members or friends who went to their school or played on their sports teams. Bonding over a shared acquaintance makes friendship only that much easier.
3. You can still easily work, year round
Instead of having to worry about not being able to get home on the weekends or having to quit the job altogether except for weekends or breaks, you can just keep your job a quick 10 minutes away. The extra money is great and the lack of commute time is even better.
4. You can make appointments on weekdays
If you need to make a doctor's appointment or job interview, you don't have to worry about planning around weekends or breaks. You can still go to class, drive to the appointment, and come back for dinner before your roommates even know you left.
5. You're close to family in case of emergency (or not)
Even though some may see this as a disadvantage, I only see it as a blessing. Family members can easily visit if you miss them, forgot something at home, or to watch a performance. In cases like the bomb-threat scare last year, my mom made it to school in 18 minutes to rescue my roommates and me, and I'd say that's a pretty good advantage too. Living close to home doesn't mean you have to go home every weekend, it just means you can if you need to.
6. You're able to see your friends from home more often
If your friends are home for the weekends, they can easily drive up and visit or you could drive home. It's a lot easier to coordinate when you're only a couple of towns over.
7. You can make it to important family events
I didn't have to worry about missing my sister's senior night soccer game, or her National Honor Society induction ceremony, and I can quickly make it home for birthdays and anniversary parties. It's nice to know that I can still easily support my family, even if I don't live with them anymore.
8. The commute time
This is probably the most underrated advantage of living close to home. With no traffic, I can make it to my school in a little more than 20 minutes, and compared to the dizzying hours that some of my friends have to spend in their cars coming to school, this is a relief. (And easier on the gas mileage.)
No matter what, there will be people who will argue that the disadvantages of living close to your school outweigh the benefits, but I couldn't be happier with my decision. I wanted a fresh start in college just as much as anyone else, but I definitely still got that only 20 minutes away.
Just because you live close by doesn't mean you have to go home all the time, and it can certainly make the college transition easier.
