Andrea mentioned she went to college far away from home. I did too! But mostly because I didn't like where I lived. My parents had moved overseas by then in any case, so there wasn't really a home to move far away from.
Did you go far away for college, or stay closer to home?
kiwi / 566 posts
I went to college 2.5 hrs. away. It was the perfect distance. Close enough to go home to see family for birthdays, holidays, special events back home; far enough that it was a trip to go so I didn't go home every weekend and was forced to stay on campus and make friends especially my first semester when I would have gone home every weekend if I lived closer (after that I had made good friends and preferred to stay closer). I am close to my parents and appreciated getting to see them about monthly. I see them about that now too even though we live 5 hours away now--we're intentional about seeing each other and I think college set that positive pattern.
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
6-ish hour drive away for the first 2 years. Transferred to a local university for my last 2 years because of Hurricane Katrina (had previously been attending a university in New Orleans), but I didn't live at home.
nectarine / 2641 posts
3 flights, 3 days' drive (well, 2.5). I actually love my home town and live there now, but wanted to experience the East Coast!
grapefruit / 4819 posts
Two hours by car - the perfect distance for me! I could go home anytime I wanted (regular shuttle buses between our university and my hometown) but far enough away that I was truly independent! Loved it 
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
150 miles. With So Cal traffic it was somewhere between 2.5 and 6 hours.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
I went to Cali from MI, so a 4.5 hour plane ride. Then I transferred back home and was within an hour's drive
eggplant / 11716 posts
I went to a state school that was 5-6 hours away by car. I got into all the state schools, but I went to that one to get that combination of further from home, but still in-state tuition; not close enough to where everyone from my HS would be there; close to a big city but still in a smaller town, and one of the more "artsy" big state schools.
I was paying for college totally on my own, so I couldn't really afford an out of state school. I really like it there, though!
watermelon / 14467 posts
I went to college about 2.5 hours away from home. It was perfect. Close enough that if there was trouble, my parents could be right there, but far enough away that I had my space.
pineapple / 12526 posts
Super close to home, like 20 minutes. Part of me regrets it, because it definitely kept me more dependent for longer. Ripped that baind-aid off by moving overseas for 3 years, which taught me a lot. I'll probably encourage venturing further away for my own kids.
honeydew / 7504 posts
Undergrad 1.5 hours; grad 3.5 hours. Both were perfect distances for me at that point in my life.
pineapple / 12053 posts
About 45 minutes - 1 hour. In LA though so I never considering not living on campus!
grapefruit / 4089 posts
I was an hour away. I rented an apartment during the school year, but moved home to work every summer. I loved it! I needed to be able to escape home when my roommates were driving me up the wall... I think my mental health might have suffered if I was "trapped" there.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
One hour away from home. It was perfect! I lived on campus and had full independence, but could go home when I wanted (which was really just for breaks and the summer).
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
Like 10-12 hours away. I forget exactly. Only remember it was a long drive.
pomegranate / 3355 posts
@Ree723: Same.
2 hours by car. It was perfect distance. Could get home if needed but also far enough away to ward off random drop by's and feel independent.
grapefruit / 4442 posts
Stayed close to home, saved a lot of money and don't have undergrad loans. I commuted and I loved my experience. I do sometimes wonder what it would have been like to live in a residence hall.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
3 hours away.... I liked it cause it was far enough, but not too far!
pineapple / 12566 posts
Grew up in the Midwest and went to school on the East Coast. I was thrilled about the change.
pineapple / 12793 posts
Nine hours by car. Only two from my grandparents so I had back up if I needed it and my parents still visited often enough. Far enough away that I got advanced notice of visits but close enough for emergencies.
It was perfect for me.
pomelo / 5041 posts
Only 45 mins from home. It was a great school but I really wish I would've gone far away and had an adventure.
coconut / 8430 posts
My first year I was 5 hours by car. After I transferred, I was ~1.5 hours away depending on traffic.
pomelo / 5132 posts
I commuted from home, although it took me about an hour into the city on public transit. Part of it is because I decided at the last minute to not go to Marquette and we had never put down housing at my university, and part of it was that I would have to pay for housing myself. I wanted to study abroad instead, so I went to Spain my junior year. I did wish that I lived on campus/out of my house, but I loved not having any debt/loans either. I joined a sorority to help me feel more connected to campus.
ETA: The furthest I could have gone was 3 hours...my parents drew a circle around our house!
cantaloupe / 6171 posts
I didn't even apply to a school in my state! I lived in the Midwest and ended up on the east coast for school (and since). My parents really encouraged it-- they both grew up in the south and went to the east coast for school-- try thought it was very important to move
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
I was a 2.5 hour plane ride away from home. The only time I drove the 17 hour car trip was after 9/11 and I was anxious to fly.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
About 3 hours away. I will not encourage our kids to go to a college in our hometown!
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
2 hours away. I was only given the option of a state school if my parents were going to pay for my tuition, so the furthest I could have gone was 4 hours...but my first choice school was closer
grapefruit / 4988 posts
I went to college about a half hour away. There are a million colleges in this area so it isn't unusual for people who grow up here to stick around. I had always planned to go to the West Coast instead but got the guilt trip from my parents. At least I moved from suburbs to city.
pomelo / 5257 posts
A two-hour drive. Like @Ree723 I thought it was the perfect amount of distance! Now I live really far from home and I wish I could visit more often.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I was a 2 hour drive away, but I only went home on breaks. My mom used to leave me messages with our house phone number, that's how often I called. I wasn't homesick at all.
nectarine / 2180 posts
20 minutes away! It was great for me. I felt like I was in a different place when I was on campus but I still got to see my parents regularly, which I loved (especially when my mom picked up my laundry!). It wasn't the town I had lived in all my life, though so that made a difference, and I didn't have a car, so I did mostly stay on campus.
grapefruit / 4355 posts
Far away - an 11 hour car ride. I lived in northern IN and went to school in Atlanta, GA!
pomelo / 5469 posts
Nowhere in the UK is that far away, but I applied to Uni's all over and ended up at one 3-4hrs drive away.
eggplant / 11287 posts
I was from the Seattle area and went to school in the Los Angeles area. I am so glad I had that experience.
I will encourage my girls to not be afraid to move away for school, if that's what they want to do. It was such a great experience for me.
ETA: What I can't believe is that my parents just let me drive back and forth between Seattle and LA, all by myself, fresh out of high school! I only did it 3x a year, but wow!
nectarine / 2878 posts
I went to a private university in my home town and was 10 minutes away from home. I loved it and it worked out best for me.
cantaloupe / 6687 posts
i went to college 30 minutes away but lived on campus all 4 years. A big part of me wishes I had gone to college farther away but I loved going to school where I did.
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