Moving county to go to college - feeling conflicted

LegacyUser

Hi guys. Basically I need advice on college. I'm originally from Galway and did a plc course here this year. I love the city but while I was researching courses, Waterford caught my eye and I don't know, but it feels like my gut instinct is telling me to study in Waterford or maybe I'm just being silly.

The thing is WIT is nearly 3 hours away and I've never been to Waterford so the whole idea of moving to another county where I've never been and alone scares me. For the record, I'm 20. Then again, could it be just what I need as I'd get more real world experience and it would mature me? I know my parents wouldn't be thrilled with me going to Waterford. Particularly my mother. She wouldn't like it being so far away and would say why not Galway?

The courses are in both counties but something is telling me to choose Waterford which I know sounds absoluty ridiculous but I feel conflicted over what to do.

Any advice is appreciated!

LegacyUser

collegegoer wrote: »

Hi guys. Basically I need advice on college. I'm originally from Galway and did a plc course here this year. I love the city but while I was researching courses, Waterford caught my eye and I don't know, but it feels like my gut instinct is telling me to study in Waterford or maybe I'm just being silly.

The thing is WIT is nearly 3 hours away and I've never been to Waterford so the whole idea of moving to another county where I've never been and alone scares me. For the record, I'm 20. Then again, could it be just what I need as I'd get more real world experience and it would mature me? I know my parents wouldn't be thrilled with me going to Waterford. Particularly my mother. She wouldn't like it being so far away and would say why not Galway?

The courses are in both counties but something is telling me to choose Waterford which I know sounds absoluty ridiculous but I feel conflicted over what to do.

Any advice is appreciated!

Hi OP,

My advice is to go to Waterford. I left home at 19 to go to college in Cork. I had been to the county a handful of times and moving to a big and strange city from a very rural area was a big change. I am so glad that I did it though. It used to take 3.5hrs each way on a good day to get from home to home.

It was a big change but it really was worth it. I was outside my comfort zone and I was forced to participate in college life a bit more. I had great fun and made amazing friends.

Some of my friends did local PLC courses and then went to college in the same county. They were always expected home at the weekend and were more likely to be visited by their parents on a friday (bad day in college).

Go spread your wings and see how it goes. :-)

orthsquel

I did it before OP, moved one county and city to another for college; I never regretted it even though it was a place I had not been since I was a child (and only that ever once), for me it was like starting over. Like everything in my home area was so familiar it was great to go somewhere totally different and have new experiences, I looked at it as an adventure. The only part I found tough with friendships was that a lot of people I knew often all went home for weekends, every weekend, and all through every college holiday. It got a little lonely tbh, but I got involved in things outside of college so I had friends outside of college too; plus I often did my own thing, took myself off to visit places and do stuff myself too.
The plus on my side is that my parents are the sort who like to travel to visit you, rather than always having you home. They had the flexibility in their lives to make the journey, although I can't assume that would be the same for anyone else, or even you and your family. But it was great though, I liked that. and when I came home because I was no longer part of the furniture as my trips home were centred around college holidays, it was that bit more special in a way. I wasn't exactly down the road where we took eachother for granted in seeing eachother regularly.

From my perception of those who lived and studied in the city that was home that I went to college in, tbh I thought they had it different, that while they didn't I suppose have to worry about rent and managing money to the extent I did with bills and rent and food and college stuff and social activities, they weren't always in the position to live as I did, as independently as I did, and being completely responsible for myself. Maybe in a way it was better for them I don't know tbh I certainly felt I had to mature and rely on myself, rather than feeling like my parents were waiting up for me on a night out, or wanting to know where I was, or giving me lifts to college, or cooking or doing my washing for me.

retro:electro

I would say listen to your gut. If you didn't want to move counties then you would know about it. Now is the perfect time to challenge yourself and branch out. If you're only reason for not moving is because of your mother then that's not a good enough reason to not go.

Rubberchikken

If you really feel you'd enjoy the course and benefit from being in a different place, then go for it.
It's only waterford, not the other side of the world and while it might feel like that to someone who mightn't have lived away before, if you go there with a positive attitude you will gain so much.

You mom will be right, it's not galway but it has it's plusses too and will be as good as you make it out to be.
Good luck with your decision

MouseTail

What are the financial implications of studying in Waterford? Will you get a grant, can you support yourself?
Is there a direct bus for getting home at weekends? Do your research before presenting this to your mother (although really, at 20, she should only have a say if she will be financially supporting you).