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The student news site of Colonia High School

The Declaration

The student news site of Colonia High School

The Declaration

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Good News! You have the opportunity to live forever, but you must be one age for the rest of your life. Which age would you choose?

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Is going to college out of state really a frightening decision?

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Photo Credit: Photo via Flickr.com under creative commons license

Many incoming college freshman choose the option to go away to college, but is this a good decision?  Many people are shied away by larger tuition rates, and the fear of being on their own.

One of the most common deterrents about attending college away from home is that there aren’t any other people who have travelled from the same place as a student has. The student is worried that when they go off to college, they’ll be alone, and won’t be accompanied by anyone they knew from high school. While this is an understandable fear, it’s also, for the most part, irrational. Making new friends in college is especially easy, given the programs, and opportunities provided by colleges for that specific purpose. Most colleges have programs in place to help people meet new friends before classes start, and get to know them well by the time the semester begins.

Another problem with attending college out of state is the fear that they will more easily be turned-down. However, this is also not the case. According to UCLA’s most recent survey, they found that 76% of incoming freshman were accepted into their number one out-of-state college.

An important privilege to take advantage of the ability to visit a college before the semester starts. This is one of the most important steps for being at ease with a far-away college; as you can see the campus, meet professors, and maybe meet students beforehand. If you make your college decision before visiting for the first time, you may be trapped a long distance away from home in an environment that isn’t right for you. While this may sound like an intimidating circumstance overall, as long as you feel comfortable and at ease at a college, taking the risk is worthwhile. Some colleges have geographic and locational advantages that may not be found anywhere else.

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The independence a student faces when going away from home is also a large deterrent. Many students are afraid to live completely on their own and face new challenges without anyone else to support them. But, taking this giant leap is crucial to forming lifelong independence. If a student decides to fully leave home for college, they will statistically be less likely to return to their home in years to come.

Some students fear having anxiety attacks or moments of serious regret when staying away from home at a college. Fortunately, these fears are irrational, as it is far easier to become accustomed to your college than common belief leads on. Many colleges have orientation programs that serve as a way for students to get used to, and comfortable with their college environment before the semester starts.

So, don’t be afraid to leave the nest . . . sometimes leaving the nest allows you to soar.

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About the Contributor
Brandon White, Reporter
Brandon White is a Senior at Colonia High School. Specializing in arts and entertainment, White studies music and other types of media - not limited to any specific genres. Playing piano for years and taking a college level music course,  White has devoted much of his time to stylizations of music and writing structures. He also has a 200+ movie collection, including just about every genre from Documentary to horror. In his free time, White paints and films short movies with friends. Over the years, White has visited many art exhibitions, and currently owns several paintings - ranging in style and medium. Finding it very easy to become involved in what he's doing, White has yet to find a topic that he is uninterested in - independently seeking obscure and unique fields to learn about. As of now, White knows at least a word of twenty five different languages, attempting to master a few of them at some point. White is also very interested in alphabets and cyphers, having mastered at least four alternatives to the latin alphabet we use today. On a daily basis, White keeps up with global news, and researches breaking news stories as they unfold.

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The student news site of Colonia High School
Is going to college out of state really a frightening decision?