Hey everyone.
I'm currently a college sophomore and decided to apply to another school for half my junior year and the rest of my college career. Currently, I go to a university that is fairly close to home, roughly a 10 minute drive? So, it's nice living at home with no worries about rent or food or gas and such.
Here's the issue: the new college I'm considering transferring to is about an hour away. I'm considering it because it's the school I've been wanting to go to, and its program is better for my major (my current school's IT/IS program is kind of bad).
Also, I live in the Midwest (U.S.), and if you know the Midwest, the weather is unpredictable. I worry about whether my ability to attend will be affected by snow during the spring semester. I've never lived in a dorm or with roommates so I'm not sure how that all works, whether or not it would even be worth it to seek out living arrangements for Spring 2027, and how economical that is.
I took two gap years and ended saving up enough money to get through my first two years debt free, but even with my internship this summer, it's only going to be enough to pay off one more semester at my current uni.
Another thing is that I struggle to make friends. I'm autistic, very low needs, but have always had a hard time putting myself out there. And because I've been commuting my entire college career, and didn't put in the effort to make friends, it's really hard to keep people in your circle, if that makes sense. I thought if I had roommates, that would at least open me up to making friends with them? Maybe?
Is it worth the extra debt to live close to campus or drive an hour to and from school every day? I worry about motivation to go to class if I have to drive that much (I already skip if the class is too early and I'm tired, which I'm not proud of). I also drive an electric car and I can charge it at home, so gas isn't an issue (though I would still have to pay to charge it if not at home).
Any advice? I love living at home with my parents and family but I guess some part of me yearns for that 'college independence' everyone else is getting but me. Perhaps that's selfish or naive, I know, but I just need someone to tell it to me straight.