Going to College Out of State: Three Things to Consider
If you’re going to college, go as far away as you can
Junior year of high school, my history teacher had one piece of advice he wished to share with his students: “If you’re going to college, go as far away as you can.” And no, our class was not one he desperately needed distance from (at least I hope not), nor was he suggesting my home state of Texas was an undesirable place to live. I took his advice as a push to accept the opportunity for change and exploration. He noted that college is a unique point in life where you have relatively few attachments, a point in which you can pick up everything and experience an entirely different place.
My teacher’s advice certainly resonated with me. There was something almost whimsical about the thought of starting life in a new place. I imagined myself along the coasts of California, or in the snowy woods of upstate New York, or Maine, or among the gothic architecture of the university I now call home.
Appealing as going to school out of state sounds, there are important factors to consider before packing your bags:
1) Location
Location is often a strong factor in deciding where you want to go to school. Sometimes location can be what draws students to a certain campus. Our surroundings profoundly influence our experiences, and the lure of a pleasant or exciting place to live draws us in. If you prefer urban environments, then a campus set within a big city won’t be a problem for you. If you prefer more open spaces and access to nature, then you may want to take these preferences into account when thinking about a college campus.
When looking out of state it can be challenging to visit or tour a campus, but if you have the opportunity, it’s helpful to tour in person. Touring gives you a feel for student life. Walking around campus, ask if you could see yourself there. For me, some schools just felt right, while others didn’t seem to fit my personality at all. Touring allows you to get a good feel for a campus, but don’t be deceived by the weather if you’re touring in spring and fall. Weather in the northeast may be lovely in October, but the winters may be a different story. Be sure to think about the overall climate of a place if you’ve never been there at more extreme times of year. I find weather and seasons easily influence my mood!
2) Financial Aid
Financial aid can be confusing when considering out of state schools. Private universities do not change the tuition or financial aid rates based on what state you come from because they do not receive state subsidies. Instead, they are funded solely by tuition and donations. This is one reason private colleges and universities can have much higher tuition rates than public schools. Don’t let daunting tuition rates prevent you from applying to schools you feel are a good fit for you though- many private universities offer generous financial aid packages based on your situation.
Online aid calculators estimate how much you would be expected to contribute to tuition. This will give you an idea of how much your personal tuition will be. Applying to a state school from out of state means you may have a substantially higher tuition rate than students who reside within that state. The increase stems from differences in funding. Public universities receive most of their funding from the state. As a result, in-state applicants to public universities are often favored over out-of-state students. If you are a strong applicant and have your sights set on a public school out of state, you still have a good chance of acceptance. Additionally, a public university could still offer you a scholarship. I recommend applying to the schools you are most interested in and comparing financial aid later.
3) Friends and Family
Going out of state brings new experiences and perspectives, but it also means spending less time with people close to home. Depending on how far you go, it can be hard to go home any time besides breaks. You also probably won’t know many (or any) people at a school far from home. Personally, I gained a lot from stepping out of my comfort zone and forming new friendships, but it is hard not seeing friends and family often. Try to imagine being apart from the people and places you have grown up with. Some people embrace a new start, while others struggle to feel secure when alone in a new environment. Either way, I can say that being away from home teaches independence and fosters flexibility.
This blog is written by Kendall, a content creator at Mascot. She is studying Environmental Science and Policy at Duke University.
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