I always get asked whether or not I regret going to a school close to home. I always thought this was an odd question. Whenever people ask me this, the same thought always crosses my mind: Why wouldn't I like it?
Back in high school, everyone around me would complain about still living at home, and they were all discussing how excited they were to get out and go to college far away. While I did agree with them on graduating high school, I was always extremely uneasy about going far away from home.
Now, it's not that I chose this school because I always go home every night. There are numerous reasons why I decided on a school close to home, and so many advantages can come from it. One thing I love about my school is that it's less than 30 minutes from my hometown and 10 minutes from Cincinnati. I wanted to be able to explore everything Cincinnati has to offer, and living on campus has given me many opportunities to learn more about this wonderful city. I enjoy showing my non-Cincinnati friends the city I grew up by, and being able to show them the place I have called home for many years is a wonderful experience.
Living close to home comes with its perks, and I think a major one is getting a home-cooked meal whenever you like. Let's be real, it can be a real struggle to live off dining hall food, and sometimes, you really need that home-cooked meal once in a while.
Another huge plus is that it is super convenient for when you're sick. Nothing is more appealing than sleeping in your own bed at home when you have a fever or a cold, and staying home that one night can make a such a difference. And who doesn't love all the medicine you can have at home instead of going out and buying it yourself?
While these are all wonderful perks of living close to home, I believe the prime benefit is that it can be a huge money saver because you have the option to commute. Although I do live on campus now, I plan on commuting next year, and since I live so close to school, I won't miss out on hanging out with my friends on the weekends. Living on campus my first year was the best decision I've made because it helped me make friends and get more involved on campus. Even though it won't be as convenient next year because I won't be five minutes from my 10 A.M. or 10 minutes from the library, it's still possible if you work at it. If you really think about it, saving money while still being able to be on campus all the time to see your friends is a pretty good deal. I will have to plan my days more strategically, so I'm on campus for a good amount of time, and it will be more work on my end, but if I save thousands of dollars in the process, it will all be worth it.
So yes, I do love going to a college close to home. Living close to your hometown can give you so many advantages you wouldn't get if you went to school hours away or across the country. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't go to college far away. I think that's a really amazing experience, and if you have the opportunity and that's truly what you want, then you should go for it because you will be presented with so many amazing opportunities. Personally, I felt like that route wasn't for me, and I enjoy having all the choices you have with when you go to college close to home, and I love being even closer to my city than I was before.
