Going to college out of state is an exciting and new experience. Not only do you experience culture shock, but you also learn to become more independent and have the opportunity to meet new people from a new region of the country. There are both pros and cons of going to school out of state, but I am glad I did.
Because I am from North Carolina, people always question my decision to leave the state for college since there are so many outstanding in-state colleges that are also very affordable. However, for me, the benefits of going to college out-of-state outweighed the benefits of staying in state.
Many of my friends who attend in-state colleges have high school friends who went to the same college, and they often still hang out, which is great. There is a certain comfort in having a group of friends at college before you even go. However, going to college out-of-state meant that I had the opportunity to start over in a place where no one knew me. It was refreshing as well as exciting to be able to develop a whole new cohort of friends and colleagues. I still have my high school friends, but there is something special about having separate college and high school. I have met people from all over the country and even the world. (Lucky for me, having friends from many different states gives me excuses to travel!)
Going to college out-of-state also results in an experience of culture shock. Even if your home state borders your college state, chances are, just crossing the border will expose you to subtle and not-so-subtle cultural differences in styles, activities, tastes, and language. It will be a whole new environment and aspects of that state will be different than where you are from. You get to experience and learn so much. I think it broadens your perspective of the country to experience living in other regions of the country. I’ve been going to college in the Midwest for over a year now and it still takes me a minute to remember that when they say “pop” they mean soda.
Going to school out of state also means you probably won’t be able to hop in your car and drive home for the weekend or load up your car with dirty laundry to take home. You can usually only see your family on breaks, which can be difficult, but it also forces you to become more independent and to learn how to do a lot on your own. The infrequent visits home help you to cherish the time you do have at home with your family and friends.
Another consequence of going to college out of state is that your sense of pride for your hometown grows stronger and you develop a deeper connection to those aspects that remind you of home. For example, if you see someone wearing your hometown sport’s team paraphernalia you won’t be able to restrain yourself from saying “I like your sweatshirt!” And you may suddenly have a new friend with whom you can watch all the games. Even seeing small things, such as the license plate from your home state, will bring wistful thoughts. You’ll develop a strong sense of pride about where you’re from.
Finally, there is nothing like the feeling of anticipation and joy you get when boarding that airplane to go home. It is so exciting to go home, to see your family, your pets, and your childhood friends for the first time in a few months, and to attend all your favorite restaurants, local stores, and favorite sport team events. But no matter how exciting it is to go home, you’ll be equally happy to board that airplane after break to go back to your college home for four years.
