Out-of-State: Deciding on your college path

Out-of-State:

During the college application process, many different factors go into choosing where to go such as location, price, and overall academic opportunity. For many, location, and whether to stay in-state or out-of-state can be the deciding factor in their decision.  While going to college in-state might seem like the easier option for students heading off to college, leaving the state for college can prove more beneficial. 

Socially, students can grow immensely when leaving their home state, as they will be forced to be self-sufficient and independent. Leading up to college, students often have parents and other resources helping them with time management and giving them guidance and support with school. When staying in-state, many guiding figures stay with the student, which can stunt their independence and growth as an adult. Going out-of-state gives students the opportunity to go out of their comfort zone and learn important life skills. Students learn how to manage their finances, navigate a new environment, and solve their own problems; ultimately setting them up for the real world. 

With going out of state for college there is the opportunity for students to get immersed into new cultures and different environments. There are many new cities and activities to discover and new people to meet. Staying in-state, especially for students who have lived in the same state their entire lives, can become repetitive and dull. Samo senior Nicole Pirooz (24´) considers this aspect of leaving California as she applies to universities. 

“I would say that it’s nice to be living independently and discovering the diversity of new places. You have the chance to make new friends and meet new people. You are gonna be a little out of your comfort zone but it’ll be fun to have that new lifestyle and figure out what your preferences are living independently,” Pirooz said.

While California’s public universities like UC Berkeley and UCLA are some of the best in the U.S., many states comparatively do not have as esteemed universities. Going out-of-state allows students seeking a higher education the opportunity to attend a better university than their state might offer. 

Although going out of state can be more expensive, financial aid and scholarship programs are still in place for non-residents. Additionally, students who plan to leave their home state after college anyway, could save money by leaving during college, as living on campus can be cheaper and college students tend to receive more financial aid than adults post-grad.