By Noah Resnicow Next year I will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I chose UW not just because it is the perfect fit for me, as it is located in the Midwest with a Big Ten feel, a big campus on the lake in an urban setting, and has competitive Division I sports, but I also am looking forward to attended school out of state. I believe that going out of state helps students grow. Attending school away from home helps students become more independent, and more prepared for life after college. For many students, being further away from home lessens the parental pressure to excel in the classroom, and puts more emphasis on personal responsibility. While pressure from home is a useful motivational tool for younger students to get good grades, as adults it is much more important to independently drive oneself to take academics seriously. Once out of school, nearly all motivation must be internal, because there is no mom or dad checking powerschool and enforcing rules. That is why it is important for students to get as far away from home as possible, because it is essential to learn personal responsibility. Going out of state better prepares students for the real world with personal responsibility and less reliance on parents. Outside of schoolwork, students are personally responsible for all the little things that many of us relied on our parents for during high school, such as scheduling, laundry, cleaning, and shopping. Much like adult life, students have to fend for themselves. While in-state schools are better for a family’s bank account, if students have the money or scholarships, it is worth it to go away. College is ultimately about finding the best fit. My academic career will be what I make of it. I want to be in an environment where I feel comfortable and feel like I can succeed, which Madison offers. It’s important to attend the school where each individual can thrive and grow. While many students find that school in their state, it is important to open up options because the right school could be many miles away. Many students choose to go to a nearby state for their school, but some students venture cross country to continue their education. One downside is that is it far more expensive to come home during breaks. While nobody likes to be homesick, some students like to be as independent as possible, and are fine with staying at school for shorter breaks. It is always difficult to determine what the right school is for each student, and for many students, especially in Ann Arbor, the right school is right across the street. However, it is such a great benefit to look around at out of state schools, because you never know where each person will thrive the most as a student. | By Natalie Prestegaard College choices can be stressful. Big or small? Private or public? But for too many Ann Arbor kids, the question often is in-state or out-of-state. Yet few out-of-state colleges offer much reason to skip out on our own state’s offerings. The benefits of staying in state for college are numerous: saving money, staying closer to friends and family, and having an easier time adjusting to the independent college life. One reason to stay in-state for college is because of the lower in-state tuition. When thinking about college many people worry about the costs, In-state students can save up to twice as much as an out-of-state school. Along with the cost of schooling, housing costs can also be cheaper, or non-existent. Many students who stay in-state for college also may stay at home for a year or two, cutting down living costs. Already many students are going to be in debt, by staying close to home, students can cut down the amount they will have to pay after college. Along with saving money, students who stay in-state also may have a stronger support system. By studying close to home, it is much easier to make a run home to do laundry or hang out with friends and family. During times of stress or loneliness it can easier to reach out for help and get support. Even being able to get away from a roommate for a night or two can help destress. It also can help students prepare for the unexpected, such as a broken down car or a random illness. By being close to home students can have access to family members who know how to deal with these adult situations. Many people who grow up in Ann Arbor are fans of either U-M or Michigan State. For those students it can be very hard to switch from rooting for U-M to rooting for Purdue or another out-of-state school. Transferring that excitement and sense of belonging to another school can be hard to do. Very often students who go out-of-state transfer back to Ann Arbor simply because they can’t fit in with their school or root for their college team. This is especially true for Pioneer students because they live in Ann Arbor where sports and fan life is a big part of the community. Many people say that going out of state offers more independence, but that independence also comes with higher costs, less support, and in some cases, a harder time fitting in. When thinking about college, it can be easy to dismiss smaller in-state schools; however, when paying for college, it is important to choose what makes the most sense both economically and personally. |
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
The Pioneer Optimist StaffEditor in Chief
Bess Markel Opinion Editor Lia Bergin Feature Editor Natalie Prestegaard Entertainment Editor Sam Dupree Web Editor Allison Ringold Social Media Correspondant Mac VanRenterghem Staff Writers Gabi Chen Morgan Conlin Rob Dong Lawrence Eiden Jessica Haynes Harrison He Eliza Kreske Adam Richards Saffia Tiba Adviser Debra Fitzgerald The Pioneer Optimist is written, edited and published in print 5 times a year and online weekly by the students of Pioneer High School. The Optimist office is located in room C-212, Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, 601 West Stadium Boulevard, Ann Arbor MI, 48103.
The Optimist is an open forum and welcomes opinions and letters to the editor. Submissions may be emailed to [email protected], dropped off in room C-210, or given to Mrs. Fitzgerald. All opinions and letters must include the author’s name and phone number for verification purposes. Names will be printed unless extenuating circumstances prevail. All submissions become property of The Optimist and will not be returned. Editors reserve the right to revise submissions for spelling, grammar, content, relevance, good taste, and community standards. Though dialogue with readers is of utmost importance to The Optimist, articles and letters carry no guarantee of publication. The Optimist sells advertising. Please email [email protected] for rates and more information. The Pioneer Optimist, All Rights Reserved, 2016-17. |