Pros and Cons Of Going To College In Your Hometown

By Christine Ascher on July 11, 2018

While for many the college experience involves leaving home to try out living in a new place, this is not always the case. If you have a great school nearby in your hometown, you may find that going to college close to home is actually a great option. However, there are some disadvantages that come with going to school so close to home, depending on the type of college experience that you want to have. If you’re considering going to college in your hometown, take into account the following pros and cons.

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Pros: 

You’ll Save a Ton of Money

College tuition on its own is expensive, and if you add on the cost of housing and a meal plan, it becomes even harder to afford. By going to school in your hometown, you’ll be able to save a lot of money, especially because you’ll have the option of living at home. By commuting the short distance to your school, you won’t have to pay housing costs and you can opt out of having a meal plan, which can lead to huge savings. Even if you do choose to live on-campus, being in your hometown means that it will be pretty easy for you to move things from home to your new dorm, which means you won’t have to purchase as many items when you’re moving in. If you’re already going to be paying a lot in tuition, you’ll be glad to have the opportunity to save some money.

You’ll be Close to Family

One tough thing about going to college far away from home is that you won’t always be able to make it back for special family occasions, and in general, you won’t be able to see your family as often. By going to college in your hometown, on the other hand, you’ll be able to see your family as often as you like. You won’t have to miss out on any birthdays or holidays, and you won’t have to worry about getting homesick while you’re away at school.

You Can Show Your New Friends Around

Going to college in your hometown means that you’ll already be familiar with your surroundings and the ins and outs of the area, so you can help out your friends who are new to the town by showing them around. You can take them to your favorite places and help them get used to their new environment, and you’ll be an invaluable resource whenever they have questions. Your friends will appreciate having someone who can give them directions, restaurant suggestions, and let them know some fun things to do in the area.

Cons: 

You Might Get Sick of Being in the Same Place

Though there are many advantages to staying in your hometown for college, there is a risk that you’ll end up getting tired of your hometown and wishing that you could go elsewhere. Unlike some of your peers, you won’t be exploring a new place, so it may not be as exciting for you while you’re getting settled. If you’ve always imagined yourself leaving home to go to college, you might feel like you’re missing out on part of the typical college experience.

You’ll Be Expected to Spend Lots of Time with Family (Even When You Don’t Want to)

Though it is nice much of the time to be close to your family, you may find that your parents expect you to spend your weekends at home or attend family events even when you’re busy with school. When you’re trying to make friends, get involved in clubs, and keep up with your schoolwork, you may not have enough time as your parents would like to dedicate to family events. As a result, you might feel like you either have to sacrifice some of your time at school or risk some tension between you and your family.

It Won’t Be a Fresh Start

Though you’ll be able to meet new people whenever you go to school, if you stay in your hometown you’ll probably find yourself running into old friends, neighbors, and other people you’ve grown up with. As a result, you might feel like you’re not able to get the fresh start you might want, given that you continue to see the same people during your day to day activities. While you’ll be able to meet lots of new people, running into the same people from your past might make you feel like nothing has changed since high school, and like you don’t have the freedom to grow from new experiences.

Choosing a college is a big decision, and will determine how you spend the next four years. Before you decide whether or not to stay close to home for college, spend some time thinking about the kind of experience that you want to have, and what your priorities are for the next four years.

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