Distance from my hometown was one of the most important factors when applying to college. I did not want to go to an institution more than five hours away from my home so that automatically limited my options. Homesickness is very normal throughout college, and some students manage this better than others, so it is necessary to be truly introspective about if this would hinder your academic performance or social enjoyment. Additionally, not knowing what I wanted my major to be, I knew I wanted to go to a reputable school that had a wide variety of respectable programs, which...