“Why wouldn’t you want to go away for college?”

“You’re still going to live at home to save money, right?”

“There goes your freedom.”

“Oh, you must be a homebody…”

“Have fun living under your mommy and daddy's rules!”

Those are only five of the hundreds of remarks a student may hear when preparing to attend their hometown college. Despite the fair share of comments, varying from negative to positive, attending the college in your hometown for four years is not as bad as people make it out to be.

Growing up 15 minutes away from Franklin College, I was very familiar with the campus and knew it was right for me. I had grown used to the comments made by my family and friends, many of them questioning my decision to stay close to home. After considering the positives of which outweighed the negatives, I committed to Franklin. I was a "hometown college kid."

Take a look at these five benefits to gain confidence in knowing you made the right choice if you're attending your hometown college.

1. You will never get lost.

Moving to a new town is challenging, especially when you are not familiar with the area. By attending your hometown school, you know the quickest route to the local grocery store by heart while your new college friends try to find their way around town.

2. If you need a home cooked meal, mom’s kitchen is just a mile away.

Let's face it -- not a single college's food could beat a home cooked meal from mom and dad.

3. You know the best place to get away when you need a relaxing moment off campus.

Remember that tree in the park you loved to sit under and read a book? Or the trail in town that led to the perfect sunset spot? Now, when you have a stressful day of classes or need a moment alone, you know where to go.

4. You always have a place to go.

Just as they say, home is where the heart is. Sometimes, you need a hug from mom and dad every once in a while. If times get tough, home is just around the corner.

5. When your high school friends come back home from their schools, you'll always be there.

If your best friend comes home to visit for a weekend, you don't have to worry about coming home on the same weekend -- you are already here!