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Any advice for students who want to move away for college?
Senior in high school, currently applying to colleges. #moving #college-advice #student #college-selection
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Michael’s Answer
There are at least 3 things you should consider when thinking about moving away for college. 1) You should decide what you want to study and then find schools which offer that program. 2) You should consider what type of campus life you think will fit you best. For example, small or large campus, urban or suburban, your sports and extracurricular interests, closeness to family and friends are some factors. 3) How much it will cost to move/live away for college and how will you pay for it. Moving away for college will typically cost more than staying at home because you will incur additional costs for housing, food, transportation, and possibly out of state tuition. All these costs should then be compared to the financial resources or budget you have available to pay for college.
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Kevin’s Answer
If you haven't reflected upon this yet, ask yourself why you're looking to move away for college. Whether it's 20 minutes or a 6 hour flight away, leaving for college is a big transition and there are innumerable reasons to want to go. knowing why you want to go, beyond the simple conversational response you might give to acquaintances, aunts or uncles, or teachers who inquire about your decision, Will help you focus yourself in challenging times ahead. When college gets stressful and overwhelming, or when it isn't living up to expectations you had for it, it can be helpful to remember why you made this choice. "Despite this rough patch, is going here helping me achieve my goal?"
If you can answer the 'why' and remain confident in your decision, it will make your process a lot easier.
Some additional bits of advice.
1. Sharing a bedroom/bathroom with others, if you haven't before, is all about compromise, truly open communication, and expectation setting. Before you move in, talk to that person. Reach out and discuss everything you can think about, but especially you should talk about how you respond to conflict. Ask current friend and/or guardians, who will be completely honest with you, what their perception of your conflict style is. Are you all about avoiding and hoping it gets better on it's own? Do you go in with straightforward questions and confrontations? Do you reach out to others and vent about the person who has upset you? There will inevitably be conflict in any shared living space. The more groundwork you lay in the beginning may help you minimize the intensity of future conflicts.
2. People are going to be different, very different from you and your world back home. Not everyone has the same advantages or privileges as you. Be mindful when meeting new people not to make a lot of assumptions.
3. Like Aishwarya mentioned in their advice, be sure you know where key things are in the new place you're moving to. This may also include restaurants, hair salons, community organizations, recreational clubs; especially if you're moving from a location that is specific to your culture or a mix of cultures where you're able to find resources readily. Do not underestimate the value you'll place on familiar activities, settings, or rituals you engage in while you were home.
4. Current friendships may last a lifetime, but it's also possible the you may both grow beyond the friendship. It's okay to outgrow a friendship, that doesn't mean it wasn't special or meaningful while it lasted. You also want to allow yourself to continue to change and learn new things about yourself. Not everyone is going to like that you are changing, learning more, and seemingly "becoming a new person". Sometimes it's your close family that have this response and that may require a more meaningful conversation about the realities of college, cultural exchanges, and evolving opinions of the world.
Invest in a well-made pair of flipflops or crocs, because shared bathrooms/showers can be hella nasty places and you'll be glad to have that buffer.
If you can answer the 'why' and remain confident in your decision, it will make your process a lot easier.
Some additional bits of advice.
1. Sharing a bedroom/bathroom with others, if you haven't before, is all about compromise, truly open communication, and expectation setting. Before you move in, talk to that person. Reach out and discuss everything you can think about, but especially you should talk about how you respond to conflict. Ask current friend and/or guardians, who will be completely honest with you, what their perception of your conflict style is. Are you all about avoiding and hoping it gets better on it's own? Do you go in with straightforward questions and confrontations? Do you reach out to others and vent about the person who has upset you? There will inevitably be conflict in any shared living space. The more groundwork you lay in the beginning may help you minimize the intensity of future conflicts.
2. People are going to be different, very different from you and your world back home. Not everyone has the same advantages or privileges as you. Be mindful when meeting new people not to make a lot of assumptions.
3. Like Aishwarya mentioned in their advice, be sure you know where key things are in the new place you're moving to. This may also include restaurants, hair salons, community organizations, recreational clubs; especially if you're moving from a location that is specific to your culture or a mix of cultures where you're able to find resources readily. Do not underestimate the value you'll place on familiar activities, settings, or rituals you engage in while you were home.
4. Current friendships may last a lifetime, but it's also possible the you may both grow beyond the friendship. It's okay to outgrow a friendship, that doesn't mean it wasn't special or meaningful while it lasted. You also want to allow yourself to continue to change and learn new things about yourself. Not everyone is going to like that you are changing, learning more, and seemingly "becoming a new person". Sometimes it's your close family that have this response and that may require a more meaningful conversation about the realities of college, cultural exchanges, and evolving opinions of the world.
Invest in a well-made pair of flipflops or crocs, because shared bathrooms/showers can be hella nasty places and you'll be glad to have that buffer.
Updated
Aishwarya’s Answer
Before you go, make sure you know where nearby pharmacies, convenience stores, doctor's offices, etc. are located. When you live near your parents, that's usually pretty local but when you move out of state you want to know where you can find those places.