When many juniors and seniors picture life after high school, they see themselves away at school. The idea of staying home is not often a first choice. However, not every student is well-suited to attending college far from home. If you are on the fence about it, try asking yourself these five questions to see if going away is a good fit.
1. How Will You Pay for School?
While this may not be the deciding factor in whether or not you go to college right now, it is definitely something to consider. Attending school away from home adds a host of expenses to the experience. You will have costs associated with housing, food, and transportation. Depending on your situation, these could be very different than what you are used to paying.
It is also worth noting that many schools, both public and private, offer attractive scholarships and financial aid packages that can help you pay for these items. By combining scholarships, federal aid, and student loans, you might find going away is actually less expensive than staying home. Either way, you should know how you plan to pay for the experience before committing to anything.
2. Does You Have a Career Path Picked Out?
College is an investment in your future. However, now might not be the right time to make that investment, especially if you don’t know what you want to do career-wise. Be honest about this aspect of your life. You might be set on a path if you have always wanted to do scientific research or teach history. However, your ideas may be less cemented.
It is also important to realize that your interests and passions will change as you grow and experience new things. So, take it easy on yourself if you decide to invest in a degree but then change majors after a year or two. You’ll be among the large percentage of students who do the same thing.
3. What Do Your High School Grades Look Like?
Not everyone who enrolls in college is going to have stellar grades. However, if you are struggling to maintain a C average in high school courses, you may have an even more challenging time staying on track in college. That’s why looking at your grades before committing to a far-away school is a good idea.
There are more challenges to attending college far away from home, and you will need to make the adjustments necessary for success and maintain coursework. Sometimes, attending a school closer to home for a year or two before transferring to another one is a better choice.
4. Are You Ready To Live Independently?
This raises a really important point: Are you ready to live independently enough to manage at college? Sure, you’ll have a roommate (or two), probably a resident assistant in the dorm, and plenty of advisors to help steer you in a positive direction. However, those people will not do your laundry or make sure you remember to pick up prescriptions.
The transition to college is overwhelming for many young adults who have never had to take care of themselves. Unfortunately, in many cases, that transition is too much and ultimately causes students to drop out or transfer back home. If you are unsure about your skillset but still committed to going away, talk to an adult you trust about your concerns. They can help you develop the skills necessary for living independently.
5. How Do You Feel About New Situations?
If new situations make you uncomfortable ad nervous, you might struggle to adjust to a school in a whole new environment. Remember that there is nothing wrong with liking a routine or familiar surroundings. If that’s who you are, accept that and decide if it will limit your future experiences.
Where you attend college can impact the rest of your life. So it’s a good idea to take some time to think about your personality, finances, and career goals before deciding to go away for freshman year.
