Long distance: Making it work, going to college Options

[anoniez]

Me and my boyfriend have been together for 9 months now, I'm a senior in high school and he's a junior. We're both quite committed and I was wondering about the college long-distance thing. Neither of us want to end it just because I'll be going to college next year, but it's quite a long distance - I'll probably be going to Emory in Atlanta, Georgia- and we're both in Texas right now. It's not like he could drive to see me on the weekends or anything.

On the one hand, I don't want to miss out on anything in college because I'm still tied up back home. Both of us are quite unhappy even over short separations like vacation over winter break and this invariably results in a couple arguments as both of us feel neglected by the other. On the other hand, though, I've been through a really bad breakup before and it almost crushed me, and that relationship had only been 3 months and I hadn't cared for the guy nearly as much as I do for my current bf. I'm afraid that if we break up now I'll really regret it - to tell the truth, I wouldn't mind marrying him (he feels the same). Although of course we aren't considering it that seriously, it's still a nice dream to have =)

One thing I was considering was to transfer to Rice University sophomore year (he'd probably have no trouble getting in next year) and we could both go together. I don't really want to direct where I'm going to college just for him, but with Rice it's a different situation cause I've wanted to go there ever since I was little anyway.

I know what you guys are gonna say: break up with him now, start over in college, etc etc. But I really feel like I have a chance with this guy. So anyone have any tips on how to make it work?

[anoniez]

wow, thanks for all the positive feedback!

I guess the point I was trying to make about distance is that going to georgia would be pretty much the same thing as going to alaska - the only time I would get to see him would be when I fly home on break. I don't even have a car... lol.

So I guess the best thing to do right now would be to start establishing a little independence? Cause right now we're really dependent on each other, used to seeing each other every day etc., we miss each other a lot even over a 3-day weekend. and I can't help but think that it'd lead to a lot of conflict when I leave. Any suggestions as to how i could do this? dependency is so easy to get sucked into.. lol...