When I was in high school, I had absolutely no desire to go to college in-state. I applied to 10 colleges, all out of state with the closest school is a 3-hour drive from my home. I was determined to get out of Virginia. As I enter my second year at College of Charleston, which is about an 8-hour drive away from my house, I am so happy I made the choice to go out-of-state. However, with the good comes the bad as well – here are the pros and cons of being an out-of-state student.
Pro: It is a completely fresh start
Nobody knows you. Maybe 2 or 3 kids, if any, also chose the same college as you – and even then you will rarely run into them. Your past, good or bad, is in the past. You didn't go to high school with your new peers and the truth is they don't care about old high school drama, because they don't know any of the people involved. It is an opportunity to start with a clean slate and nothing is in your way.
Con: Out-of-state tuition
However, you plan on paying for college, being an out-of-stater will add tens of thousands of dollars to your tuition. I have friends that are out-of-staters that are lucky enough to have the bill paid for and I also have friends that will have a lot of student debt -- It's not cheap and certainly is a big decision to make, but if you have the opportunity to go out of state, do it. Keep reading the pros and you will understand why.
Pro: You get to explore and experience a new state
Not only will your campus and new city be brand new, but you are in a whole new state. You will get to explore the surrounding cities, your new friends' hometowns, and even visit other colleges campuses within the state. I have lived in the same state my entire life, so if I stayed in-state, I wouldn't have much to explore. But, at Charleston, I have had tons of road trips with friends to explore the state.
Con: You see your family less often
Honestly, this one can be both a pro and a con, it matters how you view it. The con is you may go months without seeing your parents, grandparents, siblings, and most importantly your dog. If you stayed in state, chances are you would have way more opportunities to see your family. My brother stayed in-state for college, so not only did my parents see him more often but my dog did as well. But then again, it can be looked at as a pro – your parents aren't knocking at your door every few weeks.
Pro: You stand out from the crowd
You may not think your hometown is unique, but it certainly will make an impression on the people you meet, because the truth is the majority of the students at a state school will be in-staters – so now you're their friend from *insert state*.
Con: Traveling home is a whole ordeal
It is either a long car ride or an annoying trip to the airport – both really suck. You have to plan in advance and traveling fees quickly add up. It is a struggle when it comes to packing to go home, especially when you only get one carry on and one checked a bag.
