When deciding on which college to attend, many of us are dead set on getting as far away from home as humanly possible. For some, this is the right decision. But for others, going to school close to home is the perfect happy medium. So before you question why anyone would want to stay close, here are 5 reasons why going to school close to home isn't so bad after all.
1. Saving Money
Let's be honest, this one's pretty important. The simple fact is that attending college in-state saves a lot of money. Tuition these days is outrageous, so anything helps. And, depending on the area, you can get an amazing education close to home for almost no cost. This means you won't be swimming in debt after you graduate, and you'll have more money to put towards starting the rest of your life. Even if you're well-off and can afford to go anywhere, in-state tuition is always a nice bonus.
2. Familiarity
When you and your friends are riding around off-campus, you're always the navigator. You know the area like the back of your hand because you grew up in this town, so you'll never get lost. It's fun to show your friends all of the cool little places that the locals go; it's almost like you're letting them into your world. And, if it's a small town, you might even see a few people you know at the store. Not to mention, you always have friends to text if you're looking for something to do on a Friday night. But while all this familiarity is satisfying, you're never stuck. There is always a campus to run back to, almost like a home away from home. This is the bubble that you live in that makes you feel like you're away when you need to be.
3. Emergencies
If you run out of money and desperately need your laundry done, you can always run home and use your washer and dryer for free. If you forgot to bring your rain coat back to campus and it's supposed to pour tomorrow, you can always call your dad and have him run it over to you. And most importantly, you never have to wait in line at health services and tell some doctor you don't know about how sick you feel. Instead, you can complain to your mom about your stuffy nose and have her take you to the doctor you've been seeing since as long as you can remember. It's the little things.
4. The Comfort of Family
There's nothing worse than feeling like you're missing out on family stuff, especially if they're a big part of your life. Going to school close to home allows you to be included when you want to. Sometimes, we all need our dose of family time. We crave the craziness that cannot be replaced with anything or anyone from college. While we should always be reminded not to take family for granted, it's definitely nice to have the people you love the most not too far away.
5. Pets!
Last, but definitely not least, being close to home means being close to your pets! When you go away to college, you obviously realize how much you're going to miss your parents and your best friends, but you sometimes forget just how much you're going to miss your pet. They were always by your side as you were growing up, so being without their friendly spirit is hard to handle. So, being close to home means you can pop in and pet your pooch when you miss them just a little too much.
So, for those of you who aren't quite sure why people go to school close to home, I hope you now understand. It's the little things.
