I'm looking for advice on moving away from home to go to college. I started college this year and I decided to go to a school that was about 20 minutes away from my house so that I could save some money on housing. I've decided that I don't particularly like it at this school, partly because a lot of the people that go there I went to high school with so I wasn't really motivated to meet new people, and there aren't very many things to do here that pique my interests either. Now that I've decided what kind of degree I want to get, I'm planning to transfer to a school that's about 2 1/2 hours away and I'm kinda anxious about leaving home and living on my own.
I was hoping someone could give me some tips on how to deal with the whole "I'm scared to leave the comfort of my home" way of thinking. Also, maybe you could tell me what it's like living by yourself.

Well if you are going to move out try moving in with someone you know, that is if you think you guys can handle living together with all your habits and lifestyles. It's not easy but it can be done just the question you have to ask yourself is if your ready enough for it, if you can handle paying your own bills or if your family will help out with that. You also gotta handle your own chores and whatnot but if you already know how to do that at home then it shouldn't be too bad.
However if it's being away from your family that might scare you-as it'll be the first time living away from them most likely-then stay in contact with them. Call them or text when you can and visit if your living in the same city or state. If you have a good relationship with your folks you'll always be welcome back home even for a small visit and I'm sure they'd love it too.
Oh yeah also look into school housing if your transferring cause a lot of times around the school's area apartments might be available for students or if it's a university you might want to check out staying on campus. Its alright, you have to follow a "curfew" and also deal with living with other folks in a dorm. But it's not so bad if you just clean up a bit. And there's bound to be pranks here and there but that might just depend on your roommates.

I should first mention that I'm speaking strictly from my own experience. Yours could very likely differ greatly.

College away from home is an...interesting experience. Unfortunately, the "motivation to meet new people" thing doesn't really improve, especially since a lot of people tend to form their groups early on in college experience. That being said, meeting new people is not impossible. The key here is clubs. If you don't find one you like, perhaps try starting a new club!

Then there's the issue of transferring and academics. All colleges do things just differently enough that academia between schools becomes a harrowing task. Keep on top of your new school from the get-go to avoid losing credits as you prepare to transfer. If your experience is anything like mine, communication and perseverance will be KEY. The colleges probably will not be all that helpful in this process, so be assertive to the best of your ability.

Another helpful bit is majoring in whatever you plan to major in at the other college to, again, avoid losing credits. Gen Ed is okay for most things, but you WILL end up taking classes at the close college you DON'T NEED.

Living on your own depends heavily on the college. Most college campuses require one to have a roommate, at least state-side. Your first semester, you're likely to be paired up with someone, but after that, all bets are off. You may need to find a roommate yourself, randomly be bunched in with people, or, if you're lucky, get placed alone. Roommates can be a blessing or a burden depending on how their personality meshes with your own. That said, roommates are also a great way to meet new people because not only are you living with this other person and learning all about their subtleties, but you get at least a glimpse of their friend groups as well.

2 1/2 hours isn't really as far away as you think it is, either, if you have a car. Myself, I kept a job back home on the weekends and dormed during the week. It worked out well for me, so I still got the comfort of my home and the separation of having my own place (for one semester at least! That room was the best~).

It's easy to over-pack, which is not fun when moving in by yourself and a burden when moving back out. Since you live close enough, I recommend packing non-essentials before finals week and getting them home asap to avoid the finals-week-moving-out-rush. Your dorm will likely have a twin-sized bed and probably a desk and chair. Microwaves are useful to bring with, but heavy if you have to walk long distances from car to dorm. Luggage carts help in this endeavor, but are a pain to set up, and things can and WILL fall off of them.

Communal bathrooms are also quintessential to dorm living. For one used to home, this is kind of a strange concept at first, but bathrobes, towels, and a cheap pair of flip-flops for the health-conscious or squeamish are probably good things to invest in. Definitely have more than one towel, in the very least.

I guess my last tips pertain to electronics. Try not to leave any chargers at home unless you do end up doing a lot of traveling back there. Flashlights and desk lamps are good to invest in if your roommate ends up having a different sleeping schedule than you because preparing in the morning in the dark or stumbling around the room at night are not as fun as they sound.

I'll do what I can to check back, so if you have any more questions or if I missed something, I'll do my best to answer! I hope my ramblings are helpful to you!

>>1 Honestly, sometimes you just have to make those kinds of sacrifices. I agree that going to a new school would help you meet new people which is healthy (just be careful). 2 1/2 hours isn't that bad, you could skype, call, and/or visit home when you need to to take care of any homesickness/loneliness. It'll be hard yes, but it'll be worth it. Homesickness is tough to deal with but make new friends, study hard, call home and those things should help. Go after your dreams and it's okay to feel a little scared, just don't let that fear stop you from doing what you know is right for your life. Good luck~! I hope that I helped :3

Thanks for all the tips you guys, I think I have a better understanding of what to do now.

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