What is better? Going to college in state or going out of state?

Question

does the out of state experince really matter? does that sense of independability matter??

Answer 1

usually Cheaper to go instate to a state university or community college then transfer to an instate school.

Answer 2

Instate = less expensive (usually, at least for public schools). I was a college snob as a senior. I didn't care how much Mommy and Daddy had to pay. I'm glad things turned out as they did - I graduated without any loans. I married into loans (now paid off, thankfully).

But seriously, you CAN get the same experience at an instate school as long as you live on campus. I think that is a more relevant question to ask....if you do stay local, should you commute or stay on campus? Campus life, to me, was a transition between Mom & Dad's roof to my own roof. My first chance to be independent.

And, I did go to school 30 mins away from home and got my on campus experience. But thankfully, the washing machine was also made available to me one every few weeks (I HATE DORM LAUNDRY!) So staying local has its perks as well.

Out of state...how often would you come home? What in case of emergency...how do you get home...car or plane? I know plenty of people whose kids are far away and they have to make the trek a few times a year to get stuff back and forth. That's really the one drawback other than it usually costs over 2x the amount.

Answer 3

It depends on you. But you can be independent no matter where you go (Just dont go to a college in the same town you've been living in your whole life unless you love it).

the only way I would recommend going out of state is if you got into a great, nationally reckongnized school. Otherwise, why bother?

Answer 4

It really depends on what you want to do for college:

If you live, for instance, in New York state, you will pay the same amount of money to go to NYU as a kid from Alaska, because NYU is a private school not affiliated with the government.

Living in NY, though, would help if you wanted to go to a public school in the state, like Binghamton University. It wouldn't help that much if you wanted to go to a public school out-of-state, like Michigan State or UConn (they cost almost as much as private schools for out-of-staters).

My point is that there's not a huge difference between living in your home state and somewhere else as far as experience goes (unless you want to move somewhere warmer, like most of my friends are doing). If financing college isn't a big deal to you, just apply to places you really like, regardless of whether or not they're in or out-of-state. But know that it would be best to apply to an instate public school if you don't think you can afford the rising prices of college. Public schools are often very good educations (Michigan, for instance, is absolutely incredible and just as hard to get into as many competative privates), and when you go to college, you'll be living away from your parents, anyway (in your dorm, on campus), so you'll still gain independence.

Answer 5

It depends on lots of factors like:

1. How good is the out of state school?

If it is Harvard, Duke or University of California -- then that is good. If it is Slippery Rock or Liberty College -- then not so good.

2. How important is it for you to be near family?

If you need to see your mother every weekend -- then not so good. If you need to get away from your family -- then good. For many people the sense of independence (not independability) does matter. College is the time to flex your wings and go out on your own.

Going away to college was a great experience for me.

Answer 6

Do you want to be in debt until you are 30 or 50?

If your instate schools have a good academic reputation, then it is probably not worth the extra tuition to attend an out-of-state school. Your college experience is what YOU make of it. Geography has little to do with this (unless, of course, you live in Maine and attend the University of Hawai'i). Then again, it's easier to bum rides home on weekends if you go instate.

Answer 7

In state is best: way cheaper and you'll be loyal to your home state + can still have a great experience. To see more of the world, you can choose a college in your home state with a study abroad program.

Answer 8

What is better is going to a college you can afford that offers what you want to learn. As long as you away from home, you can learn how to become independent.