Going to college/university far from home

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Who has gone to college far from home, or is considering attending one far away? I am in my first year of junior college this year, but the school I want to go to this fall is several hours from home. I've already sent my deposit and such but I can get (most of) it back if I change my mind. Some people (like my doctors) think I'm very dependent on my parents, and I don't make friends too easily so people worry about me attending college far from home. What are your experiences with this?

I live about an hour away from my family, and i think i'd be more than capable to live anywhere in the country. After all, it'd only be a maximum of 7-8hours away by train.
At the moment i could come back pretty much anytime for the weekend if necessary (though i dont usually - i have recently due to other reasons) and i still come home for christmas/easter/summer etc. Id say im as independent as anybody else (i am financially dependent on them tho) as i have learnt to cook (badly!), signed up to doctors etc so i certainly isn't impossible for someone autistic to manage it.

But then again i even know some NTs who weren't able to do it, and got homesick in the end.

I guess it would depend on how much your autism restricts and your general personal charateristics/circumstances as to whether it would be okay for you.

I would be about 7 hours away. I have some health problems that I struggle with...I am only recently diagnosed with AS, so I'm still learning about how much it restricts me. I just know that I'm a high anxiety person and anxiety + AS + stressors such as health issues/moving away to college could be a bad combination. I would really like to go to this school, though. I'm going to look at it once more in a week or so. I'm going to sit in a bunch of classes, I think it will give me an idea of what to expect workload-wise when I go.

I guess you'd have to consider how easy/difficult it would be to get back home in case it gets to much.

Also what support would you be able to get at the new college? At my uni Im able to get extra time, a mentor, help when it comes to proof reading essays, exam tips as well as a few other things. Also im able to receive meditation techniques, head massages (this isn't related to disability services and is something else the uni offers) and a few other things, but of course it would greatly depend on the college as to what help you'd receive.

Also you'd have to consider that you'd be moving away from home, with new people who you probably haven't met before. I was very lucky and got on with the vast majority of people I met at uni, including house mates. Do you think you'll be able to handle it, even if there are very few people you get on with there?
Also would you be living on campus in your first year? I found this very useful as it gave me the chance to meet a lot of different groups of people and found those who i had things in common with (im very lucky that most of my interests are very common so i have things in common with a lot of my fellow students).
If its the first time you would live away from home then I'd advise you to have some "practice" at home, ie learn some basic cooking methods, and take more responsibility around the house. Not only might it show your parents you can genuinely take reponsibility but will also give you some invaluable experience.


Sitting in classes seems like an excellent idea. Also you may want to ask other students what they think of their workload.

Anyway hope this helps, and best of luck in making the right decision, either way.

Gassy

Right now I'm attending school halfway across the country, and it's definitely been beneficial. I've learned to be more independent. You can't be under your parents' thumb forever.

By far, I assume you mean further than you can reasonably drive home. In that case, I live far from home. I go to school in DC, and am 500 miles from my family. It's not so bad, really. The weather is nicer here, there's more to do, and my mom is always a phone call away. She visits often, though, so I suppose that's a help.