i go to school about an 8 hr drive from my home. i love it. i really, really wanted to experience a new city and it's everything i had hoped for. everyone here is pretty much out of state so we were all going through the same thing which made it easier. i have a lot of friends who stayed in the area and while sometimes i am jealous of their close proximity, i know that i would have gone crazy if i stayed there. it also makes me appreciate home so much more. and i definitely plan on studying abroad, hopefully for a year.