college and what not

alright im two and a half years away from graduating high school, but its still the biggest concern of mine. im clueless as to what i want to do with my life. and im terrified. i know i don't have to know exactly what i want to further educate myself on for the first couple years of college, but its still bugging the crap out of me!

so i have very general questions about "college and what not" :

1. do they all require giving an arm and a leg in tuition, boarding and other expenses? - i see more people drop out of school because they cant afford it than for any other reason. it concerns me greatly, because i really don't want my mom to have to cut coupons or use one sheet of toilet paper at a time for the rest of her life.
2. when did you HAVE to choose a major and minor, if at all? - i've heard that most universities require it to be finalized by second semester of sophomore year. for me thats four years away, but just in the last two days i've changed my mind about eighteen times about a future profession.
3. what are the benefits of university/community college/private school/career college? - i understand it really depends on the interest of the student, i.e. lawyer, doctor, blahblah. but generally, would most future employers prefer someone with a degree from a university or online college courses or community college or junior college? GAH!
4. is it really really difficult to manage school and/or a job and/or an internship? - i've researched some of my possible fields of interest, and a lot of them recommend an internship during senior year, or having a little on-the-job experience before graduating. is this even possible for the average human being? i cant imagine!
5. is it worth it to save some money by going to a community college for general ed and then move onto a more expensive school for further education? - my mom and i are both very reliant on this option, since we're not exactly overflowing with the benjamins. so we discussed the option of my staying home for the first two years after graduating from high school to take my general ed at the local JC, and then using whatever scholarships i may have for whatever school i so choose. but is this at all helpful? my number one concern is expense, so any option to avoid spending more money will be taken.

ugh, sorry to ramble. im so apprehensive already. my grades are good, one B all the rest A's. i believe im at a 3.8 GPA. and im pretty sure i qualify for a good chunk of financial aid, but im so stressing! this is nuts! im not even that close to graduating high school!

thanks to anyone who is patient enough to deal with a very unstable high school student with very little knowledge on the subject. THANKS GUYS :)

EDIT:

• i have one other question, for all of you generous friends who have helped an incredible amount already! This sounds like such a silly question, but is there any kind of limitation to how many scholarships and financial aid one person can receive?

thank you guys so much! i feel like i won't ever need a counselor or advisor ever again with your guys' help! :)

wow. i did not realize how long and monotonous this post sounds. im so sorry.

1. do they all require giving an arm and a leg in tuition, boarding and other expenses? -
   My school certainly does. 7200$ just tuition. I live off-campus and don't have a meal plan. But I have a friend whose tuition is a third of mine at a different school. Usually you'll get a better education at the more expensive ones... but it all depends on what you want out of it; the diploma so you can get a job that really only required the stuff you learn first year or if you're going on to grad school, etc..
   
2. when did you HAVE to choose a major and minor, if at all? my school you had to choose by the end of second year, but you can change it a billion time before you graduate. I changed majors during third year and I've changed minors half a dozen times
   
3. what are the benefits of university/community college/private school/career college?
   it really does depend what you want to do. If you're simply looking for a certain job with some training needs, by all means go to college, but if you are looking to be trained more "broadly" and have a lot of advancement, university may be the way to go.
   
4. is it really really difficult to manage school and/or a job and/or an internship? - I tried my first year to maintain a part-time job and I crashed! but I know lots of people who are doing very well with it. Right no I have 6 courses and am a teachind assistant for two... so I really don't have time for another job! I am hoping to get an internship next year though, which won't be much different then TAing
   
5. is it worth it to save some money by going to a community college for general ed and then move onto a more expensive school for further education?
   I'm not really sure. If you're just going to go onto the more expensive school, I think you'd get more out of it if you did you're whole degree there. You may find working for a year or two beforehand will get you enough money to pay for a couple years of school afterwards, and may cause less stress.
   

Ok, well some of these questions I have more answer for than others, so I won't address them all.  I'll let other people discuss the community colleges/cost/etc, because I don't really know.  I'm in college right now (a sophomore at a state school) but one of my best friends is doing the community college thing...so anything is possible. (also note: public schools are going to be WAY more affordable, and really... it's not like private schools are neccessarily better.  In-state tuition is a great way to save money, and there are tons of scholarships.  FastWeb is a really good reasource for random scholarships.  Every little bit helps!  And having good grades is great, because most schools will give you money for that reason alone.  :) )

Anyway, about declaring a major/minor.  Let's see.  It seems like now, schools want you to say what your major is even when you're applying!  And I remember freaking out about that at first (even though I had been saying I was going to be a physics major ever since 9th grade, it's really scary to think you have to commit to that!), but really...  it doesn't matter!  Seriously.  It depends on the department, as well.  Usually, they want you to declare a major so you have a focus and direction in your studies.  But really, lots of people change majors all the time, and lots of people end up staying in school an extra year or so because they change halfway through completing a different major, so... it's not the end of the world!  I think there is WAY too much pressure about the whole "choose the rest of your life right now-- go!"...  Like I said, even though I've wanted to be a physics major for years, it STILL was ridiculously scary signing that little slip of paper that actually certified me!  But don't sweat it.  I mean, what are they going to do, get MAD if you change your mind?  It's totally fine.  And again, just realize that it's perfectly normal to change your major, multiple times, even!  Just try not to stress about it too much.  You've got time!  :)

As far as internship/working stuff....  I'm hopefully doing one over the summer.  Actually, I secretly hope I'm not accepted into any that I applied to, because honestly, who wants to work over their summer break?  But, you're absolutely right-- employers DEFINATELY look for experience, being from a related job, internship, whatever...  I know some people do it during the school year, but it also depends on your field/what you're doing.  For example, being a physics major, I applied to some NASA internships, IBM, etc... not exactly things I can do during the school year.  So there's lots of options.  As far as having things be humanly possible...  Well, the biggest thing to remember is that college life is just... DIFFERENT.  It's not even comparable to high school, in my opinion.  Life just changes.  It's WAY MORE WORK in some ways, but in others, it's way less.  So don't worry about it now; you'll figure out how to handle it once it comes around, I promise!  You'll also learn that you don't need as much sleep as you thought, and consequently, that you can actually stay alive doing fifty times more work than you thought possible.  ;)  Really though, it's alright.  You'll figure it out, and if you need to work or do some sort of internship during the school year instead of the summer, it can definately happen/work.  And if you're thinking of working to make money, there's also tons of jobs on-campus.  And since it's the students that are working, I think (most) on-campus employers are sympathetic to the busy lives and schedules of their workers.  So no worries!

Anyway, those are the two things I really feel I have good answers for.  Sorry if it didn't make much sense-- I'm putting off thermo homework.  ;)

Most importantly, PLEASE, try not to freak and stress about college yet!  It's a HUGE PAIN (applications, etc) that is sort of unavoidable, so don't start worrying about it until you have to!  You'll be fiiiiine, and everything WILL work out.  There are so many options out there.  Really!

ok. First, be calm. It will all work out. Trust me. I am in college now and I stressed just like you are because I come from a very poor neighborhood. I wouldn't worry too much about it just yet, but here are a few things you should know: 1. FAFSA -- google it. This will help you understand financial aid. It is out there. 2. Forget about the price right now. Read about every college you hear about and seek out one you would like to go to. This in itself is a sufficiently difficult task. Come up with a list of ten schools, of three different levels: dream school, great school, good school. To help you sort this out, I recommend using collegeboard.com. There are detailed descriptions and statistics (like acceptance rates) which are very helpful. 3. Start to think about what you are interested in/ good at. A nice insightful view can be found by taking the free test at http://www.advisorteam.com/temperament_sorter /register.asp 3. Wait until Junior year to really figure out where you are going and where the money is coming from. (but a nice resource for scholarships is fastweb.com There are a lot of ads but a lot of money available too) 4. Talk to your guidance counselor. They can help you to work through this. 5. Where you go depends more on your interest in a particular school than a particular type of school. Find one that seems to fit your lifestyle. 6. As for majors/minors etc, I guarantee you will have no clue until you actually get to college. And then you might change yous mind again. It happens. Usually this is not a problem and you can still finish on time. If you get to senior year and you are still clueless, I reccommend looking into Brown or the University of Rochester-- both allow you to use your first two years in college to explore-- with NO required courses. 7. You get what you pay for. Don't cheat yourself to save money if it means losing out on a really good program/opportunity. And yes, employers like to see 4 year schools more than junior colleges but this varies depending on what you go into. 8.You should have no problems working your senior year. 9. Visit your colleges before applying. INTERVIEW if possible.

Hope this helps.

Don't worry about not knowing what you want to do with your life. If it makes you feel any better, I graduated from college in December and still don't know exactly what I want to do!

1. Going to a college in your state will definitely be cheaper than going out of state. Also, living at home and commuting could save a lot of money if there's a nearby college you're interested in.

2. I had to choose a major by the end of my second year of college. I decided on speech pathology but changed it to journalism within three months. Once you declare a major you're free to change it, and most people do!

3. I don't really know the answer to this, but I think employers would prefer a degree from a traditional college. I could also see this changing within the next few years as online classes and universities become more prevalent.

4. During the spring semester of my junior year of college I took 15 hours of classes, worked at my job 15 hours a week, worked at my internship 15 hours a week, and still managed to have a lot of fun! It was hard and stressful at times, but I was able to finish the semester with a 3.8 GPA and it felt great to know how much I accomplished. I know people who have taken more classes and worked more hours and done just as well, so juggling everything is possible. I definitely recommend getting an internship. It'll help you out so much! I only had one and now I'm finding that I'd have a much easier time finding a job if I had had more.

5. I think this is a great option, especially while deciding exactly what you want to study. I transferred two times before finding a college where I wanted to stay. Just make sure the school's credits will transfer so you don't have to retake any classes.  

I know it's hard not to worry about it, but try not to be tooconcerned about money yet. What's most important is that you get the best education possible. It'll be worth it in the long run. Talk to guidance counselors at your school and find out what kind of scholarships or financial aid might be available to you. Your GPA is high enough that I'm sure you'll qualify for something. I'm not sure if your state has anything like this, but I live in WV and my tuition was paid for four years because I maintained above a 3.0 GPA through high school. I'm sure you've considered it, but loans are also an option.

You'll be fine. Enjoy the rest of high school and don't worry too much!

1. No. Community colleges are (usually) much less expensive and a good option if you don't have the money to pay for a more expensive 4 yr college, especially since you can usually live at home. However, FINANCIAL AID may negate the difference. If you keep up that 3.8 GPA, you have a good chance of getting a scholarship as well.

2. In your second year. However it's not finalized until the end of the second year/beginning of the third. I'm at a liberal arts college. In the first year, they encourage you to explore many different studies.

3. Employers prefer someone with an education. If you've gone to a trade school, then yes, you have a better chance at getting a job in your chosen trade. However, I'm a big fan of liberal arts education and so are many employers. Read the statistics if you're concerned. In one study, they surveyed the education backgrounds of top level business executives: the 2nd most popular education was hardcore business school. The most popular was liberal arts.

4. A lot of my friends have work-study. It's difficult, but not impossible. However, do NOT worry about senior year. Let me assure you that while college is hard, there are a lot of understanding people here to help you along. After high school, you are NOT just thrown out into the hard cold world! You're expected to have more responsibility, but not be a super woman!

5. I didn't see this question before answering the first. But look. You have 2 and a 1/2 years ahead of you. I'm not even sure if you CAN apply for scholarships yet (if you can, then you want to do it!) But what you should be focusing on now is keeping your grades up. Do community service time, if you can-- most colleges like to see that. Also-- enjoy your last few years of high school. Wow you worry! :D

It's totally normal to be terrified of college. A LOT of big things are going to happen in your life. A LOT of things are going to change. However, you will find that even though a very beloved part of your life is ending, everything else is just beginning. And it will be exciting.

DON'T worry right now about what you want to major in. Believe me. Not even worth it. You can think about it, but don't dwell if it stresses you out. I did not know what I wanted to major in when I applied to college. And not when I GOT to college. And not after the first semester. And I still am not completely sure (I'm in my second semester. And here I am preaching like an old pro! But honestly I'm a changed person.) The point is that you are going to change your mind a lot anyway. And when the time does come to choose, you will pick something you enjoy. You will like it very much. If you aren't happy (which might not happen) then you can change it until you are.

My friend came into the first semester KNOWING she was going to be pre-med. She enjoys it I think. But she's also jealous of the huge variety of classes I get to take, while she has to get her requirements in. Just two different approaches to it.

"im clueless as to what i want to do with my life."

You're NOT DECIDING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE AT THIS POINT! You're just deciding what you want to study. The world isn't ending, even if it feels like it. =) Have fun.

wow you guys are freakin awesome. honestly there is not one piece of advice that was in any way unhelpful to me. thanks SO much!

i feel a lot better about the whole choosing a major thing. i guess my fear is that i will be at the wrong college and have wasted the money being there. my sister went to an art school in san francisco for a semester and came home so unhappy with her experience there. of course, she just recently graduated from a local university (she lived at home) with a bachelor's  in business management a semester early. im so incredibly proud of her, but i certainly don't want to follow in her footsteps. im learning a lot and you guys have helped SO SO SO much! THANKS :)

Why in such a rush for college? 

My fiance went to college right out of high school, not really wanting to do art work, but since that's what most of his classes in high school were based on and that's what he kind of liked, that's what he went to school for.  He went to some expensive school a few states away, got so sick of it after a semester, and went home.  That wasn't his first mistake, though.  He then decided to try and stick with the art thing and went to a local community college for art classes, and ended up dropping out of that, too.

So here he is, twenty-two, a little bit of knowledge about things, and only now deciding he absolutely wants to do something with woodworking and repairs.  With my help, we found him the perfect school that he'll start in the fall.

But he's still paying off the debt of his mistakes.  Don't go to college unless you're absolutely sure of what you want.  You don't want to waste your time and your money to search around.

I was lucky and knew what I wanted to do at a very young age, and even though I didn't go to college until about five years after I left high school, I still knew 100% I was absolutely passionate about my study.  I got to take the time after school to work, save up money, have fun with life, and meet my fiance. 

Explore your options.  In high school it was always college this and college that, and most of the people I went to school with are still struggling in college, not sure of what they want to do with their lives, or dropped out and work down the street at McDonalds.

wow.. hahah i wasnt worried at all in grade 10.. but it probably is a good thing that you are concerned now.

im from canada.. so i dont know how different things are.. but i worked my butt off for a 95% average in grade 12 (don't know what that converts to as a GPA) and balanced a lot of extracurriculars. EXTRACURRICULARS ARE HUGELY IMPORTANT!! most universities will not care too much about your average.. it will get you considered but it will not get you accepted- after you make the cutoff for marks it is your extracurriculars that will get you entrance. universities care that you are a leader, that you can balance multiple activities, and that you are a well-rounded person. also- extracurriculars will mean more money through scholarships and bursaries.

 It sounds like we are in somewhat the same position- my family does not have the money to support me in university (hence why i worked so hard for the high average)... choose the best school you can for what you want, regardless of price.. itll all work out in the end. right now im in my first year of Commerce at Queen's University. Tuition is 10,000 (one of the highest for canada) and room and board is another 10. However, through marks and extracurriculars i was able to get about half of my fees paid for through scholarships/bursaries and got an additional 6 grand in student loans that i will have to pay back to my government once i graduate.

 the best advice that i can give you is to keep your marks up, apply for every form of financial aid that you can- every hundred counts in the end (textbooks end up being like 700 a semester), and go for what you really want. the better a school's reputation, the better your job will be in the end (balancing out the debt you'll be in) ... GOOD LUCK and don't be scared. everyone does this!!! and do NOT sacrifice your dreams or your education because of money- (and you don't need to be worried about putting the finanical burden on your family- you can take out loans that won't come to term until you graduate).

oh and, ENJOY HIGHSCHOOL!!! you will never have such care-free fun ever again! (hahah maybe a slight exageration- university is fun too cuz of the whole freedom thing.. bars, keggers, no curfew, etc... not that im encouraging irresponsible behaviour or anything!! :P )

anyways love, enjoy life and stress in moderation :)

My first advice to you is: DON'T PANIC. 

I think it's actually a good thing that you don't yet know what you want to do because it leaves you more open to exploration. I think it's ridiculous to expect an 18 year old to know what they want to do with their life. Even if you choose something and then change your mind, it's okay! People change their majors all the time. It's no big deal. I started out thinking I wanted to go to law school, then I thought I might go into Native American Studies, then Computer Science, then Communications. I followed my heart and ended up with a bachelor's in English, with emphases in both Creative Writing and Literature and a minor in Political Science, but after I graduated I still didn't know what to do with myself! After a few years of working in "the real world" and lots of soul searching, I realized that Classics is my true love (i.e. ancient Greek and Roman history, language, literature, culture, religion, philosophy, art, etc., etc., etc. - basically all that's best in the world wrapped into one, IMHO). I ended up going back to school and getting a second bachelor's in Classical Civilization and now I'm working on an MA in Classics and plan to go on to a PhD. I was 26 before I figured out what I want to be "when I grow up." You should also keep in mind that not everyone has the same career their entire life. Nothing is written in stone. A major is not a life sentence - unless you want it to be.

As far as funding goes, go where you most want to go. Look for scholarships. If those don't cover everything, there are always grants and student loans. Paying back student loans sucks, I know because I did that for a few years and I'll be doing it for many more after I graduate, but it's not as terrible as you'd think and you have years and years to pay them back. I don't regret a cent. I'm investing in my future and doing what I really want to do with my life. There's no substitute for that.

If you're good about time management, it's absolutely possible to work and go to school at the same time. You just have to be a very serious and responsible student. During my first undergrad experience, I always worked 25 - 30 hours a week. That was a bit much, but I survived. When I did my second bachelor's, I worked 40 hours a week.  I had a job working for the university, and one of the perks was free tuition, which worked out perfectly (most full-time university jobs have similar benefits). However, I don't recommend attempting that until you are really certain about what you want and have very clear goals.  

I hope that helps. If you have more questions, let me know!
 

1. Do they all require giving an arm and a leg in tuition, boarding and other expenses? Not all, but many schools are very expensive. Get as much financial aid as you can, file for the FAFSA early as well as merit scholarships. Keep your grades up and you should receive some aid.
   
2. when did you HAVE to choose a major and minor, if at all? - iI'm a sophmore in college and I don't have a major yet. No one has mentioned needing one at a specific time. My stepsister has changed like 4 times, and shes like 25. 
3. what are the benefits of university/community college/private school/career college? - The best route in my opinion is to take your core classes at a community college, then transfer to a university or private school to complete your degree. Make sure your credits will transfer and you'll save alot of money. 
4. is it really really difficult to manage school and/or a job and/or an internship? - iI work full time as well as go to school full time, and I'm doing fine. You just have to budget your time well and not party too much. 
5. is it worth it to save some money by going to a community college for general ed and then move onto a more expensive school for further education? - This is what I'm doing, and my parents seem to be very pleased with my choice.

i'm currently a high school junior but taking dual credit classes at a community college. it's FREE and a great experience. classes count for both high school and college credit and can transfer to universities. if you're interested in getting a jump start on college work i highly recommend looking into it.

if you can, go to a university asap. the experience is worth everything. i have a friend who is paying her way through U of M by pretending her father is dead, haha, and a scholarship of course. Financial Aid is awesome if you have help filling out out you could be rolling in dough for school.

If you really, really, really can't for sure, then community college is really easy to do, pay for, and work a bunch while you take classes. Universities (hard ones, anyway) keep you really stressed and busy compared to community college, so freshman year you probably don't want a job. And if you are taking more than 9 credits anywhere, you might want to make sure you got those under your belt before doing the job thing. College is different. You don't want to have to withdraw cause of work.

Community college 2 year transfer degrees are your best bet if you are looking to save money. job people don't care if your first two years weren't at a university, but they will care if your degree isn't, honest truth. Same thing with any degree in the humanities or arts/english, stuff like that. You don't get your masters you will have a very hard time finding a job. Specialty schools, if they are actually hard and challenging and have a worldwide reputation (Sotheby's Institute, Chicago school of arts), will score you points but will take away points if they are not good schools (like ITT Tech or U of M art school are not very goodfor what they do.)

It's real confusing and all that, and it will be way less confusing if you are going to a good university 'cause they have little advisors that make all the decisions for you. Community college you are on your own, which proves much more difficult. I didn't start out at a University, I'v done the community college transfer, I saved A LOT of money, but that is only because I cannot receive financial aid. I really regret not starting at a university no matter what my cost would have been.

Also, the first two years are supposed to be you taking your basics and exploring possible career options, although you can start taking classes for your career at any time. There is no requirement, but I can say that I tried starting out taking only career classes and I had to drop out of them because I didn't want to do it. (Like CD's man.) That doesn't mean you shouldn't be in college. If you quit you're doomed and I don't think that is mean to say at all, although our economy here in Michigan is doing worse than alaska right now (lol.) Don't stop, no matter how much you change your mind just keep going! You will LOSE MONEY from the government if you withdraw, drop out or take a semester off, so absolutely don't. There isn't really a time limit, if you aren't ready you tell your advisor and she helps and says 'okay.' That's it. No McDonalds. You'll be fine, now quit worrying so much about it! : D

im really interested in taking a couple core classes at the community college like ewwxroflzz. my mom agrees with me. so maybe ill look into it over the summer. it sounds like a really easy way to get a little more "umph" on my resume.

as for after graduation, of course im still leaning toward the first two years at a community college for a couple reasons. 1) the HUGE financial burden i would be saving myself and my family from 2) because i've noticed a lot of my older friends and my sisters friends who had immediately gone off to college after high school ended up back at home a year or two later with the "im taking a semester off, but i will go back!" response. most of them couldn't stand being away from their family, and that scares me. im really close to my mom, and im terrified of leaving her. but then again, i dont know if staying those two years after high school would change that at all. or maybe it would be worse? GAH i dont know.

anyway thanks guys! you're all super helpful! i guess im a little too proactive about all of this. i just really dont want to make a mistake that could cost me time and money. all your guys' input is so helpful! you have no idea

Well, I've applied to college this year, so hopefully some of my answers help. :]

1. do they all require giving an arm and a leg in tuition, boarding and other expenses? Not true, so don't worry. A lot of the "sticker prices" for colleges aren't what they are at all. There are several documents you'll have to file that will take into consideration all of your expenses and your parents' annual income and taxes (and all that good stuff) to determine how much you really have to pay. All you have to do to get financial aid is just apply! :] (I have to pay almost two times less for college than I expected).
2. when did you HAVE to choose a major and minor, if at all? You really only have to declare your major when you apply to college (12th grade, or senior year). Since you're about halfway through 10th grade, don't worry about your major that much. I only decided at about the end of 11th grade, and even now I'm still wavering between Pre-Med and Biomedical Engineering. It's probably more important to narrow down what you want to do to two or three very related things, so that if you want to change your major in college, you can do so with little problem.
3. what are the benefits of university/community college/private school/career college? Like you said, it depends. The harsh truth, however, is that it's important to take rigorous classes and do well in them in high school so that you can apply and get accepted into a well-recognized university whether it be in your state or in the nation, or whether it be public or private.
4. is it really really difficult to manage school and/or a job and/or an internship? Well, it depends on how much time you can dedicate to something like that. If you have time, then go for it. If your classes are very challenging and you're involved in honor societies, clubs, volunteering, sports, etc., you probably won't pull it off, but that's completely ok. It doesn't matter whether you spend your time on a job or doing something else but as long as you're dedicated to it and spend your time wisely, colleges will like that. I don't have a job but I volunteer at a hospital and have been doing art and graphic design for all four years of high school. I'm very committed to that and wouldn't trade it for any job.
5. is it worth it to save some money by going to a community college for general ed and then move onto a more expensive school for further education? Like I said, you should first apply for financial aid and see how much you have to pay. Also, set aside a savings account for college. It'll probably be difficult to go to a community college and then somehow move up to a more expensive school, but I don't know too many things about that so I could be wrong.

Original Post by picklepug31:

as for after graduation, of course im still leaning toward the first two years at a community college for a couple reasons. 1) the HUGE financial burden i would be saving myself and my family from 2) because i've noticed a lot of my older friends and my sisters friends who had immediately gone off to college after high school ended up back at home a year or two later with the "im taking a semester off, but i will go back!" response. most of them couldn't stand being away from their family, and that scares me. im really close to my mom, and im terrified of leaving her. but then again, i dont know if staying those two years after high school would change that at all. or maybe it would be worse? GAH i dont know.

Well, there's always the option of being at school close(r) to home.  I go to a university almost 300 miles away from my family, and it sucks, because like you, I'm SUPER close to my mom.  But at the same time, I sort of feel like it's going to happen sometime, might as well happen now.  If anything, we're tighter now, because we can't just hang out together, we have to talk-- and we do, constantly.  Yeah, some days I get really sad about it, but even after only a year, it's loads better, and in the long run, it's only for 4 years-- I can always move back super close afterwards, you know?  Ultimately, you'll have to move away from your mom, and I don't know if waiting is going to make it better, you know?  But I totally know what you mean.  My mom is like, my best friend.  ;)

rmgarcia - i think i know what you mean about how being apart from your brought you guys closer. since my sister moved out, i've noticed that they take advantage of the time that they do share together, and that leaves no room for anger or fighting.

but its still so scary. the longest i've ever spent away from my mom is probably a week or two at the most. she's the only person i've ever never had to say goodbye to. but its not like im gonna live with her forever! the day is eventually going to come. i might as well get it done when i have to, and not when i choose to. it seems like that might  be easier to do.

well one things for sure. im definitely not embarassed to admit when i need my mommy :)

Aww, that's good.  It's so sad when my friends here are like "yeah I never miss my parents, if I talk to my mom once during the week, that's about normal" and I'm just like oh my gosh; I'd die!  Anyway, before moving away, I think a week or so was the longest I've been away from my family.  I'm still pretty sure I want to like, live next door to my parents forever, or something... Like I said... yeah, my mom is like my best freind.

And there is NO reason to be embarassed about needing your mommy!  I need mine, tooo!  ;)

I know exactly how you feel.

my freshman year at college i was in the common bathroom on my Dorm's floor fixing my hair and this girl next to me turned to me and out of no where said "Do you ever just really really miss your mom?"  we then spent forever talking about our moms and how much we miss them.

I haven't lived with my mom since I was 18 (I'm 21 now...well in 4 days) and I miss her like crazy, I have to e-mail her all the time and call her multiple times during the week

(Haha I call her multiple times each DAY, sometimes!  And I'm constantly talking to her online...we're talking hours a day... because I'm cool like that.  lol)