<p>When my older bro was looking at colleges, he mentioned CalTech, and my mom created a rule that a college must be within a day’s drive from home (Columbus, OH). Now that I’m in the college search, she repeated her one day’s drive rule. Just recently she has been wavering about whether Dartmouth and Boston schools are too far away (12 hours of driving). Flying is not an option for financial reasons.</p>
<p>Now I’m wondering: is Boston too far? Where are others drawing the line as too far?</p>
<p>Flying isn’t an option? Well, I guess it depends on how you look at it.</p>
<p>I recognize that I’m unusual in this sense, but I consider a one-day drive to be around 1,000 miles (I can get up at 2:00 and be at my destination by 6:00). If a car averages 25-miles/gallon of gas, the cost of a 2,000 mile round trip is around $240. Additional wear and tear on the car/depreciation is around $.25 per mile which adds an additional $500 (conservatively). There are meals along the way and a hotel stay of at least one night. Add another $200 (conservatively).</p>
<p>We’re close to $1,000 here for a 1000-mile trip. I can buy a round trip ticket to almost anywhere in the US (with a little planning) for 1/4 to 1/3 of that amount. With a credit card giving me miles, most of those flights are free (if I pay off the bill every month).</p>
<p>The idea of a one-day drive is no hotel stop, so 1000 miles is probably too far. Boston is about a 700-800 mile drive.</p>
<p>I stayed mainly in the Northeast, which has excellent transportation options. I find it very convenient to be able to take buses, trains, cars, etc. from any one point to another along the corridor. You might want to consider being somewhere that doesn’t force you to rely on a car or plane alone; it could save you (and your parents) a lot of time and expense.</p>
<p>Well I’m going halfway across the globe so I wonder what your mom would say to that. =P If that’s a problem for you though, you might want to point out that she’s limiting your options - career - future, and totally breaking your heart if your dream school (which you get in) is a day and half drive away.</p>
<p>I say go to any school that suits you, anywhere in the world, and heck with your Mom. Assuming of course, you are paying. If she/parents are going to pay as a gift to you then go where they want if you choose to accept the gift. You always have the option of declining their gift and going wherever you can afford. I don’t agree with melli, she is not limiting your future. It is YOUR choice.
P.S. Ask her to define one day drive. 8 hrs? 10 hrs? 12 hrs?</p>
<p>Central Ohio dad.</p>
<p>Visit these schools and then see if your thinking changes. After several visits to schools 4 and 5 hours away my d decided that was the limit for her. She ultimately chose a school 5 hours away (300 miles) and it is very hard to make the complete trip (take her to school and return home) in one day.
Also, there are lots of great schools “close” to Columbus, or anyway closer than Boston…</p>
<p>A flight could be even cheaper than Tarhunt indicates since you live in Columbus. Southwest Airlines has very cheap flights all over the country and serves that city.</p>
<p>My daughter flies from Baltimore to Providence, RI via Southwest for under $100. She packs light and ships a few boxes to school via UPS. Much cheaper and less of a hassle than a long car trip. </p>
<p>I have a feeling your mom doesn’t have a handle on how cheap air flight can be. If a school interests you, check the fares available. She may be pleasantly surprised.</p>
<p>If you are driving, anything over 300 miles is too far. Except for certain western states, you should be able to find a good school within 300 miles of home. Traveling is a huge pain. However, there is a tradeoff. Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, and similar might be worth an occasional 12 hour drive. BTW, Cornell is a lot closer to you. Below the top 15, you should be able to find an equivalent school near you.</p>
<p>Cornell is about 450 miles away…And, yes, I am talking about the top 15 so the fact that there are no equivalent schools makes it harder.</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon is in Pittsburgh. Great school.</p>
<p>younghoss: It doesn’t look like from his first post that he’s financially independent. If he’s not, his mom would be limiting his options. Especially when the OP’s talking about the top 15. But whatever. =)</p>
<p>maybe we’ll have to disagree. Mom’s not limiting his options, she’s limiting her own. SHE has the option to pay or not pay, she is choosing to pay if a nearby college is chosen. Student can still choose any college he wants.
I am nearly 50, would like a new Cadillac. If i can’t afford it, and my mom will only buy me a new Buick, has she limited my options? No! My options were limited by my own situation, not by the gift she is willing to make.
If this young student isn’t a roaring success later in adulthood, your logic would permit them to use “Mom wouldn’t let me go to Harvard- its her fault”.</p>