One option you have is to live on campus. You get the perks of living away from home, being close to the university and making a bunch of new friends and contacts, all in a similar situation to you.
Few students realize they have the opportunity to apply for campuses not only in the state in which they live but also in every other state (via a separate application). This is an opportunity to not only expand your horizons in terms of personal growth but also the opportunity to potentially receive multiple first-round offers. The benefit of increasing your chances of securing your course of choice should certainly be very appealing.
The people you share your space with will quickly become your best friends and from there on out your circle will begin to expand. From study groups to people to hang with, the little group you make will become your home away from home. Holidays like Easter or occasions like your birthday become a whole new experience with these people and you may not want to look back.
Achieving a balance of social life, work life, and, most importantly, school life is difficult but so rewarding. As you enter your second year, the struggles start to fade away and on smaller campuses, everyone starts to learn who you are. You have made friends you’re dying to see again and have an opportunity to even make new ones (with the ease of superiority due to you now being a veteran on campus). It wasn’t until my second year of living on campus that I really found my stride.
With all of this considered, moving away is always going to be a risk and it definitely isn’t for everyone. The struggle of being in a whole new situation without anyone you know is always going to be overwhelming and the pressure of balancing finances with school work while eating properly and maintaining mental health is an everlasting battle, especially as you establish yourself.