deletedover 10 years

So guys, this topic is going to be kind of personal. I'm at sort of a crossroads in my life and I need third-party opinions from people who are not my friends and family....

Basically, the situation is this: live in Germany, have been living here for 5 years, but am American, and was born in America. It's too long a story to explain here, so pm if you want to know more. I'm a senior in high school, going to an international school, expecting to graduate soon. I'm in the process of applying to colleges, and am almost done, but I have a simple but really difficult question to answer....where should I go to college?

The reason why this is difficult is that my family will not be returning stateside should I choose to attend uni in the U.S. They will stay in Europe, I don't know how long but it will be a few years before they return, and they are very concerned about me being an ocean away as a freshman in college. This isn't like going from east to west coast - this is two different continents we're talking about, each with their own cultures, geo-political structures and societies. They want me to attend college in Europe, but as much as I love Europe, I'm ready to go home. Money won't be an issue, so I can go anywhere I want (in the U.S.) but I'll still be alone wherever I go. So while I'm excited to return, this big gap is starting to make me doubt and question my desire to return to America. I need imput from others already in college. I'll be so far from family, but I'll have the chance to start a new life back home fresh.

So....do I go home to the U.S., or stay with my family in Europe?

EDIT: I'd also like to clarify that I'm not some rich billionaire. My family and I are part of the middle class, so while I will be able afford to attend a reasonably price college (or the average) choosing where I go will still be a big decision because I won't be always able to afford to go home (for thanksgiving or christmas etc)

Should I stay in Europe, or go back to the U.S.?
11
Europe
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United States
over 10 years
happiness isn't this thing that you just find. to some extent you know what you want out of life and there might be a lot of options and you might wanna explore those options and be content with a couple of them but

i guess what I'm trying to say is. you have the chance to pick whatever you wanna do. don't choose for other people, choose for yourself. your fam wants the best for you but you know you the best etcetcetc
over 10 years
nobody cares who your dad is or what he does.

go to college in the US, the education is better.

unless you have scholarships/state tuition from where you currently are

that's literally the only reason to stay in europe for university. well, that and being able to travel easily btwn countries by train. so if you're a fan of that u may want to stay

if u can search with any degree of aptitude, you will find a US university that strongly excels in the right areas you are interested in.

remember to search by general interests rather than just field of study, because you will likely alter or adjust your career path throughout undergraduate studies at least once.

oh and remember, college isn't just about enjoying your youth. it's your first years as a real adult (some may argue otherwise), and you should be planning ahead appropriately. your whole adult life is ahead of you.

just my 2c
over 10 years
W/e dude
deletedover 10 years

Peta says

Hey thanks Stab but we're not talking about college anymore


Listen bub, I don't know what hole you crawled out of, but the worlds of intelligence collection and terrorist threats and the world of picking a college are joined at the hip. You can't separate the two.
deletedover 10 years
It's more likely the NSA will track me than terrorist tbh.
over 10 years
Hey thanks Stab but we're not talking about college anymore
over 10 years
Smorlicious, if your dad really does work for the US government then you might want to delete your account
deletedover 10 years
Everyone's lines about "Go where you'll be happy" are the definition of unhelpful.

If knowing where you would be happy was that simple, people would never lie awake at night wondering what direction to take, people would never hesitate over what careers to pick, never hesitate on whether to marry or have children.

The point is that before a large number of these decisions you simply don't know where you will be happier until you actually do it. You take a risk in picking. In Smor's case he has no idea of knowing exactly how happy the respective continents will make him, and exactly how the loss of family will affect him, until he actually does it. Telling him "Go where you'll be happier" doesn't tell him anything when all he can do is speculate the costs/benefits/risks involved.

Edit: Should expand to clarify that the entire point of the thread is to help sort or provide insight into the mentioned costs/benefits/risks.
over 10 years
It's not me you need to worry about, but all the terrorists who can use Smorlicious's account to trace his dad's home IP
over 10 years
We can trust Peta.
over 10 years
Edark join the Risk game
over 10 years
I really don't see the connection between you telling Peta (via epicmafia.com) that your dad works for the CIA and an embassy getting bombed.

Please help.
over 10 years
mods lock this thread quick, its a threat to the United States of America
over 10 years

Smorlicious says


Peta says

Whoa does your dad work for the CIA


I'm actually not allowed to say because of terrorist lolz


HAhaha lmao dude
deletedover 10 years
Good thing I don't say where I live and what we do hee hee hee ^3^
deletedover 10 years

Peta says

A savage terrorist cell based out of the mountains of Afghanistan is gonna be able to use THIS VERY THREAD, on Epicmafia.com, to kill Smorlicious's dad


More like bomb German-American embassies.
over 10 years
A savage terrorist cell based out of the mountains of Afghanistan is gonna be able to use THIS VERY THREAD, on Epicmafia.com, to kill Smorlicious's dad
over 10 years
go wherever you think you'll be happiest
over 10 years
Holy crap hahahahaha
over 10 years

Smorlicious says


Peta says

Whoa does your dad work for the CIA


I'm actually not allowed to say because of terrorist lolz


Your dad is a terrorist?
deletedover 10 years

Peta says

Whoa does your dad work for the CIA


I'm actually not allowed to say because of terrorist lolz
over 10 years

Smorlicious says


Edark says

I was under the impression that uni was free in Germany for german residents


I'm not German....i'm American.


oh right
over 10 years
Whoa does your dad work for the CIA
deletedover 10 years

Edark says

I was under the impression that uni was free in Germany for german residents


I'm not German....i'm American.
over 10 years
My freshman fall was just people doing a lot of puking in those weird half-sphere Xbox chairs