^^^^Has your son visited UNM yet? Have you? Have you been to the southwest region at all?
I ask because we moved to NC from Las Vegas and before Vegas we were in northern CA. Before moving to northern CA we lived in Phoenix and San Diego. NC was a culture shock for my kiddos, we moved during daughter’s junior year of high school. It took some time before they fell in love with our Carolina but daughter lives here in NC after graduating from UNM.
So daughter was used to the southwestern region, the weather/climate, food and geography. Along with that all the outdoor adventures she was really looking forward to. But she knew no one when she went and we had no family/friends in NM. So she was on her own, no stopping by home when home-sick. She was close to 3000 miles away.
Knowing that she was excited to go and really took advantage of all the opportunities offered. Being outside her comfort zone really caused her to grow and stretch who she was and where she wanted to go with her life. It was NOT a continuation of high school for her.
She originally planned to major in architecture, was admitted but found what she had really wanted was architectural engineering which few schools offer. Meanwhile she loved her Latin classes in high school so majored in the Classics with a Latin minor. Interestingly enough her brother’s college roommate at p’ton was also a Classics major so she was able to compare notes and classes. It was considered a very boutique major with few students yet with wonderful professors. It melded well with her pre-med/dental schedule and she was able to find part-time work (paid research) at the med school and hospital.
She took some great electives, participated as a D1 athlete and had 4 years filled with things I could not have imagined. He brother visited her 1 summer and took some classes not offered at p’ton, anatomy and physiology and other STEM/med school classes. So UNM provided opportunities 2 of my kiddos took advantage of, from the other side of the country.
Daughter was capt of 3 varsity sports all 4 years of high school in 2 different high schools and qualified for states/regionals for those sports in 2 different states so she was used to pressure and the unknown. Having 3 brothers all football players kept her on her toes as a competitive athlete. I say this to show my daughter has had experience with the new and unknown and how to respond and thrive.
I don’t know how your son will respond, I don’t know how he learns or pushes himself. Daughter took disadvantages and made them work for her. Yes, she did get discouraged at times but she had to work it out for herself. Like I said she grew outside her comfort zone and really thrived. Other children do not have the same response. Is it a real stretch to see your son doing well far from Maine? Is he easily discouraged when things are unfamiliar? Or does he embrace newness and change? Is he excited about UNM?
She had to deal with financial aid, filling out registration, getting herself to and from the airport, meal plans, health plans, doctor visits, pt, friends, practice and workout times, labs…all on her own. No help from me, and I went only once for move-in. We could not afford any other visits, not even for graduation. She had a minor injury, hospitalized and I could not go. Again, she was on her own.
Like I said, outside her comfort zone which was not a location or learning experience, it was me. Fortunately her brother was able to visit that one summer due to a grant from p’ton for summer study. And she only returned 1 summer, all the others were filled with practice and her research/work at the hospital.
I hope this helps you and your son.
Kat