Unsure of decisions regarding school (location).

[Ashurii]

I was initially going to school in North Carolina to be closer to my boyfriend-now-ex, but I genuinely really liked the school and was excited to go there and meet more people. I can also go the school in the town where I live. I'm also going to start seeing a psychiatrist/put on antidepressants starting tomorrow.

 

I was talking to a friend about this, and how I decided to go to the school here for the cheaper tuition and support system from my family. He made the points that it might be better for me to leave a comfort zone and actually meet a lot of new people and get a support system from there. I admit he made a point, and I have a 'fresh new start/person' mentality if I move, whereas I'm likely to not meet a lot of people if I go to the school here due to living at home.

 

As for the out of state loan that'll hurt for the first year, again yeah that would hurt, but I'm also really low maintenance in terms of where I'd like to live and what I spend my money on, so I could still put a lot towards the loan to get it gone quickly. Also, of course, scholarships and grants and such.

 

Would just like to get some more outside opinions.

[d0nnivain]

As long as the quality of the education you will receive is similar go to the school with the lower tuition & other costs so you have less debt upon graduation.

[Ashurii]

The money is honestly the least of my concerns. I've always been the type to place happiness over money. Not to the point where I'd live in a cardboard box or have a gambling addiction or something, but when thinking about careers, I want one that makes me happy, I won't choose based off what will get me the most bling bling. I have the same mentality right now with choosing schools. I want to choose based off what location will make me happy.

 

I don't like the campus here, and there will be less opportunities for meeting people as I won't be in a dorm. I do like the campus out-of-state a lot, and everything and every body will be new to me. My friend is right in that I'm scared of the thought of leaving my comfort zone, and at the age of 24 I wonder if that's what I need to do to improve myself. I don't have issues meeting or talking to people, as well.

[d0nnivain]

At 24, the last place I'd want to live is in a dorm.

 

Do you want instant gratification -- what makes you happy now, a nice campus or do you want long term happiness, not being buried under a pile of debt?

 

You think you are unhappy now because some boy broke up with you? Ha. Make foolish choices about fleeting happiness over sound logical decision making, come out of school buried under a pile of debt you can't pay back & limited job prospects. That is real stress & something to genuinely be upset about.

[Ashurii]

I guess that's just where we'd differ, d0nnivain. I've always wanted to live in a dorm, and when I backpacked a bit in South America I loved all the different hostels I stayed in.

 

The debt will also be more than manageable, especially after the first year. I've thought about it long and hard already, since last year. Again, the finances of it isn't really the deciding the factor for me.