As I mentioned in my last column, out-of-state students seem to have the short end of the stick. This is because homesickness cannot be cured as easily as it can with in-state students.

However, this doesn’t mean that in-state students don’t have their share of hardships when going to college. Being on their own for the first time can mean that kids will either slack off or stretch themselves too thin. Both provide stress to students. Along with all of that, in-state students may have the pressure to go home and see their family or friends. That means that the weekend is gone, homework might not get done, clubs could be missed, etc.

Also, students who attend college in-state have the issue of running into people from their high school or town. This could pressure them to keep the same reputation they made when they were in high school. In-state students might not get the chance to start over and make college their new beginning.  This could be a good thing if you liked who you were when you were in high school, but it could also prevent proper growth. With there being 54.6 percent, or 19,843 students attending Iowa State that are Iowa residents, it could be hard to escape some aspects of your past you may not like.

Along with not being able to escape your past, living in the same state as your parents could result in extra “hand-holding.” This will set you back for growth that is typically seen in college.

If your parents are still helping you do the basic things in life, you don’t learn the responsibilities college will attempt to teach you. Hand-holding is nice for when you are a freshman and are overwhelmed by changes from high school. Yet, baby birds learn to fly by being pushed out of their nest. Freshman should be put under the same stressors. This way, their success will be more meaningful.

However, there are some major positive things that come from going to school in the state you’re from. Students feel more supported and structured because their parents are within a drive away. Weekends can be spent at home, surprise visits can be planned and it doesn’t feel like a completely new experience. The stress may not hit students that live near their parents as much as it would a student who lives a flight away.

Students who live in the same state they grew up in also means that they have the “home field advantage.” I mean this in the fact that students who lived in Iowa for more than a year know where to go on weekends, what places are better than others and who to hang out with among other things. They may even have connections to professors or administrators on campus. Having this advantage would make life for a college student slightly easier.

Of course, the largest advantage is the lowered tuition rate. Tuition for in-state students at Iowa State is roughly $10,000 less than those who aren’t native Iowans. That extra $10,000 saved per year can be put towards an infinite number of things.

In the end, going to college in-state has many benefits. It also has some hidden pitfalls that could delay important developmental steps. To me, there seems to be more benefits for going to college in your home state. If not being closer to your home, then the tuition difference should be a great incentive to attend your local in-state college.