As college acceptance letters start flowing in, decision day is approaching. This can be a tough time of the year — your dream school rejects you, but you get into all the rest. You applied to about 20 different ones, so how do you narrow down the perfect school? A school's location can be a huge deciding factor, and I’m here to recommend going out of state.

Heads up, it’s scary

At first, I was completely terrified to move out of state. I had no clue about what Washington would be like. I had no idea if I would fit in, make friends, or even like living outside of California, but it was definitely worth it. I was super anxious, but once I met one of my first friends at WSU, it didn’t seem so scary. I had at least one friend right?

You get to grow

Living out of state and even further away from your parents than most college students gives you that extra push to be independent. Yes, your parents are only a phone call away, but you learn to solve problems on your own.

You meet a bunch of new people

It was almost overwhelming how many people I met my first year at WSU! At first, it was very nerve-racking because I didn’t know anyone else at WSU, but it turned into an advantage. I became friends with so many incredible people that I never would’ve met if I maybe would’ve gone to a school in-state and just stuck with people from my high school. My advice here is to just say hi and break the ice. You never know if that person will one day become your best friend.

There will be other out of state students

I thought I was the only Californian that was going to WSU, and boy was I wrong. There are so many out of state and even international students, so there is bound to be someone at least from your same state. Find these people! They will completely change your life, and they are going through the same thing as you. Plus, it's always nice to have someone to talk with.

You learn to appreciate your time home

Being an out of state student can be rough sometimes because you do not get to go home as often as your in-state friends. However, this just makes you cherish the time you get to spend with your family and friends from home. Personally, I love WSU and Washington, but sometimes it feels nice to go home and have a change of scenery for the break to recharge.

Ultimately, no matter where you go, I hope you find your home away from home. I found mine in the wheatfields of Pullman, Washington. Being an out of state student can be tough and challenging, but it can also be the most rewarding experience of your life. You will make an incredible number of friends and memories.