Leaving California

One of my students recently visited several colleges in Texas, where other high school students on the college tours asked her why she would want to leave California. It’s a good question. Living in Southern California, it’s easy to take for granted the sunny weather, nearby ocean and easy access to both outdoor activities and cultural opportunities.

So why do many California students jump at the opportunity to spend hours on a plane to go to school in a place where they may have to wear gloves and long underwear for months?

There are many prestigious colleges on the East Coast that lure students and parents who believe that a degree from an Ivy League school will give them an edge in life. In the movies, New England colleges look idyllic and romantic. Schools take full advantage of their glorious autumn foliage, which they feature prominently in brochures and viewbooks. The thought of making snow angels (any parents remember “Love Story”?) and drinking hot chocolate by the fireplace can be romantic.

Weather can be a major factor in choosing a college. While visiting Arizona State University, I met a student from New Jersey who was thrilled to wear shorts in November. For Southern Californians, it’s not just the cold but the gray winter skies that could be an issue at schools in the Pacific Northwest as well as in the Midwest and Northeast. Some people get depressed when they don’t get enough sunshine, and students who haven’t experienced real winter should visit schools in these regions where they can get a taste of it.

For students who have identified a specific major, curriculum could be the lure. One of my students chose Northeastern University in Boston for its excellent College of Criminal Justice. Of course, the school’s location in one of the nation’s best cities for college students was also appealing.

Other students simply want more options. California has a strong public system of higher education, with many fine UC and Cal State campuses. But we don’t have as many small liberal arts colleges as some other parts of the country. There are certainly excellent liberal arts colleges here, but the number of choices is greater if you are willing to consider going outside of California.

Some students also weigh the advantages and disadvantages of leaving California in terms of personal growth. Last year, one of my students had been admitted to Stanford and Columbia. He felt at home when he visited Stanford, and he could imagine himself being happy there. But he thought going to New York would provide a different perspective and help him develop the skills to live in a city. Ultimately, he decided that Stanford was the best fit for him at this point, and he can go to New York for law school.

If you stay in California, many of your college friends are likely to be in the area during summer vacations and after graduation. That was one of the considerations for several students who were deciding between hometown schools like USC and other top schools across the country. While some decided they didn’t want to venture far from home, others decided that college is the time to try a different way of life.

There’s not one type of college experience that’s best for everyone. Some students need to know they can come home and touch base with their parents, siblings and dogs on weekends. Others have an adventurous spirit and are comfortable being a plane ride away from home.

The first step is thinking about who you are and clarifying what you need. The goal is to find a place where you will thrive, which could be 10 miles or 1,000 miles from home.

Audrey Kahane, MS, MFA, is a private college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or via the Internet at audreykahane@earthlink.net.