What colleges I am applying to has been a hot topic recently in my family. Up until very recently I had no idea what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go. I did a lot of research on colleges and majors for months. I always loved the outdoors so this brought me to the decisions of going into environmental science. This then prompted my research of schools in California that are great for a student majoring in environmental science. This brought me to Humboldt State in Arcata. I have heard about this school from family friends but I never considered it somewhere I would want to attend. I always thought I would be attending CSULB and so did my parents. I spent a while research HSU and fell in love with it. Arcata is a very isolated town with a small population in Northern California. If I went to HSU I would be going to an unfamiliar town away from all my friends and family. Bringing up the idea of HSU to my parents was better than I thought. They were all for where ever I wanted to go but I know they wanted me to stay. I've applied to other local colleges because I know staying local is what my parents really want for me. I think HSU might be the best place for me but I would be away from my entire family. I want to go to a college I love but I also don't want to be so far away from my family. I know I have the personality to go away for college but I’m not sure if my parents want me to go. My question is; Should I stay or should I go?
-Emily Guidas
I’ve had to deal with this problem too, and am still going through it. With your situation, though, I think going to the college you love is really the best option. Northern California is a long way away, but it’s still close enough for you to visit home for the holidays or over an extended break. You could always present the idea of your family coming with you to that new area, but it’s really about what you want to do.
ReplyDeleteThanks Austin!!! This really helped!
DeleteHi Emily. I'm sharing a similar issue since I really don't want to leave my family and friends, but at the same time want to isolate myself from them so that I can live alone for a while and learn to become more responsible as an independent person. I have some colleges I have in mind as well that are far away and am not sure what to decide. Because you seem so passionate about the university you've found, however, I feel you should follow your passion if you really are eager to go to that university. Sure parting with family will be difficult, but you can always visit during breaks and even use a computer or some other device to communicate with them long distance. Since you'll be happy with where you are, and your family is happy with wherever you go, I'd say you decide to do what you really want to to in the end.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Kris!!! This really helped. I feel more confident now about making this decision.
DeleteI am going through the same situation. However, moving away allows you to become more independent and truly find yourself. If you really want to go up north I think you should!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sophia!!! I hope all works out with you!
DeleteThis comment is really from Tori Castillo, who was having technical difficulties:
ReplyDeleteIf I could give you a little bit of advice, it would be to go! My sister is currently at Humboldt and had the same dilemma has you. She couldn't decide whether or not she wanted to go far away from the family. She is now an environmental engineer and is loving it. She complains about missing the family sometimes, but I can tell she enjoys it up there. It's a really good school for that specific program due to the things she tells me about what they do. So, really focus on what you want to do and make a decision that will benefit you in the future.