It is natural for people to get bored in the same place. The story of a young adult making the journey from one small town to the big city sounds like a cliché, but is applicable to many individuals heading to college.
ASU, one of the biggest universities in the country, is a prime example of just that. According to www.insidecollege.com, 23 percent of all ASU students are from out of state. This means that thousands of people attending ASU alone have essentially experienced this cliché, yet common, tumultuous journey from one state to another.
What makes people decide to go out of state? In many cases, it is to attend the school most fitting to their needs and expectations of what a “good school” is. Athletics, size, academics and special courses are only a few of many contributing factors. If their state’s schools do not measure up to their ideal image, other options are considered.
Although every person has their reason for studying out of state, my experiences as someone from a relatively small town in Wisconsin have offered different insight.
Phrases such as “I need to get out of here,” have been leaving my lips ever since I can remember. This is not to say I hate Wisconsin and was miserable up until college, but I was always well aware of what I was missing.
I knew there were places with bigger cities, different climates and exciting new experiences that seemed just beyond my reach. I was not alone with my feelings, as many of my peers felt the same way. This spark or drive to try the new and unexpected while you can is something many young people have. Needless to say, I went with it.
College, to most people, is an expensive word. With tuition prices through the roof and only rising, the option to choose your school has become a luxury. According to ASU’s website, the current cost estimate for out-of-state tuition alone is well over $20,000 a year, a price which requires many students to take out loans or apply for scholarships. Even with these options available, there are many who cannot afford an out-of-state education.
Unfortunately, there is no way prior to attending an out-of-state school to determine if the money will be worth it. It is completely up to the individual student’s performance and expectations, along with the school’s performance as well. For some, years of paying off student loans would just not be worth four years of freedom.
Money is not the only deciding factor in the equation for college. The majority of my friends who were considering an out-of-state education and backed out were concerned with feeling isolated and homesick upon arrival.
Furthermore, a few former classmates who did spend the first year out of state are now transferring back home to nearby schools. This goes to show that an airplane ride uprooting your life and starting anew in another state may not be fore you, but it is for thousands of students.
It seems students who enjoy studying far away adapt quite easily. Seeing friends and family a few times every school year is surprisingly doable, and makes those brief moments with them even more meaningful.
It sounds crazy, but with video chat, texting and social networking, the space seems much less than imagined. Two thousand miles can actually be a comfortable distance from home.
Contact Isabelle at inovak@asu.edu
