I know what you are thinking, you’ve either just graduated high school and are ready to move out of your parents’ house and start the next 4 years of your life in a new environment, or you are a transfer whose last school wasn’t the right fit and is on the lookout for something new, different, and potentially more beneficial. Better yet, you are an international student looking to find the best school with the best academics, sports, or culture. While all of that sounds intriguing and exciting some tend to forget that college doesn’t only follow with unforgettable memories, friends, and lifestyle but is also accompanied by the hardships of student debt, homesickness, and making connections. I know the reality of this is scary and uncomfortable, trust me I am just like every one of you who come from out-of-state, but after reading this I will share with you how to balance and overcome the hardships that lead to memories that last a lifetime, and know that you are not alone.

Financial Hardships

For many out-of-state college students, financial challenges are a huge part of the experience, whether or not we want it to be. Unlike in-state students, who often pay significantly lower tuition, we typically face tuition rates that can be double the cost. This can make college feel financially out of reach. This can create a heavy debt load that could follow us for years after graduating. Not only is there the tuition but there comes the living situation. Most don’t have the option to live at home to save on school housing, so we face the full cost of dorms, meal plans, and other living essentials. Depending on where you go to school can dictate more finances, if you live in the city or go to a more private school in the middle of nowhere you may not have to pay as much to travel somewhere or to treat yourself with things you want. Lastly, there are travel expenses such as flights and long drives home during breaks that can be costly, especially for students coming from far states, or countries. This can be extremely overwhelming but do not worry. Financial worries can be heavy, but they do not have to take over your life- here are some go-to strategies for finding relief:

Talk to your financial aid office

●      Schools may differ on what they want or can give back to you depending on the type of school, state, or ranking of school you go to. I spoke with North Central College's Director of Financial Aid, Kevin Towns. The advice he had given me for out-of-state students and how to better prepare them financially for college life was, “ to make sure to apply for scholarships. As access to some resources may be limited, what is more impactful is scholarships that typically aren’t limited to the state you live in”.

Apply for scholarships

●      Especially for someone who is out-of-state looking for scholarship opportunities, it is great to look for resources that can help guide you on what scholarships to look for, or better yet which scholarships can apply to you based on your race, ethnicity, where you live, and what major you are. I know it can be a hassle to look for scholarships so an easy way to find a quick result is by searching something as simple as “find scholarships” This tool will help you on what you need to search for to get you started.

●      By applying for scholarships, you are reducing your financial pressures and allowing yourself more financial flexibility to engage in academic, social, and extracurricular activities without the added pressure of taking out loans or finding a part-time job.

Work Study

●      This program offers more than financial support but also valuable life experiences that can get you ready for the future. Again, this can go for international students as well, just make sure to talk to your financial advisor to see if you qualify for work-study. In my interview, Mr. Towns also expressed that, “Federal Work-Study is an employment opportunity where eligible students can work while in school to earn a bi-weekly paycheck that can be used to cover educational costs like travel”. This is an easy way to earn money for essentials like textbooks, housing, and personal costs. If you want to know more information and the benefits of work-study, Forbes Advisor talks about the key takeaways you can get from work-study. This is a great way to become familiar with something that can potentially help you along the way.

Budgeting

●      Mr. Towns spoke on “planning, budgeting, and being mindful… While it’s understandable to want to travel home often, it’s important to remember that traveling costs, and in times where resources may be limited, managing how frequently you travel can help with the cost.” Understanding where your limit lies can be super beneficial financially.

●      Budgeting as a college student can be really overwhelming, some don't know where to start or even know what they are budgeting for. Figuring out the main expenditures when it comes to saving and budgeting money can lead to more wiggle room for what you want versus what you need.

While financial aid helps ease the burdens of college expenses, adjusting to life far from home brings other challenges, like homesickness, which can be equally impactful on an out-of-state student experience.

Homesickness

Homesickness is something most college students experience when they leave home for the first time, especially when it is a big transition like starting college. It's the ache you feel when you miss everything familiar– late-night talks with your family, the comfort of home-cooked meals, or just being around the people who know you so well. At college, you are thrown into a new world where everything feels different, and it’s easy to feel lost. Homesickness can make you feel a whirlwind of emotions some anxious, sad, lonely, and even unmotivated. The good news is that these feelings can ease up as you start to make new friends, connections, routines, etc. If you are unsure of how to help with homesickness here are a few tips to help your far-away home feel like home.

Counseling

●      Being able to talk to someone about your feelings has so many benefits for relieving homesickness. Now I know some people can be against therapy for their own personal reasons, but being able to express yourself to someone who you are comfortable with can work just as well. Counseling is another great way to make connections to your university.

●      Counselor for Mental Health and Student Belonging - Athletic Liaison Mallory Jones explains how international students can early on be introduced to professionals that offer counseling, as a way to help them better transition. Mallory states, “We typically try to be proactive at the beginning of the semester by introducing ourselves and identifying how they can connect to our resources. We do this with a lot of different areas (i.e. athletics, grad programs, classes, etc.) as visibility and familiarity can sometimes help alleviate barriers to support and provide a sense of safety.” This is a great way to open the eyes of new students and allow them to instantly know their resources.

Decorate

●      Giving your new space a personal touch that reminds you of home can be a powerful way to ease homesickness. It allows students to bring a piece of home with them, creating a comforting environment.

●      Ms. Jones gave a little piece of advice saying, “Trying to identify the pieces you may miss about home and being creative in making your space at school have a similar sense of comfort and safety”.

FaceTime/Phone-calls

●      Easy way to stay connected when you're 100+ miles away from loved ones. Having those weekly calls can help ease your homesickness but can also worsen, so it is important to know your limit and base the calls on what works best for you.

●      Helps FOMO ( fear of missing out) for students who always think they are missing out on what their friends or family may be doing. I spoke to a former teammate of mine Isabelle Guererro, a senior at North Central College about her life as an out-of-state student. Isabelle is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, and moved here in 2021 to pursue her career of being a math teacher. One main question I asked her was what is a main resource that helps ease your homesickness, she began to talk about how she Facetime and “bugs her mom and sister all the time to the point where we enjoy sitting in silence”. She continued to express to me that FaceTime is a great way she can stay connected back home, it has helped her through the times when she wanted to go home.

To feel more settled, reaching out to make connections and finding a sense of belonging can truly transform the college experience.