College Experience

[DiverDude]

I moved from home to go to college and I love every second of it. I am a year behind, but don't care because it's an extra year I have to spend at LSU. It is SOOO easy to meet new people. In the south were people aren't as accepting of gays, I find most people don't care. I think it's a great idea.

I don't like to have regrets - and had I passed on college, I'm pretty sure I'd have some major ones.

The decision is yours though. Do you think you'd be okay moving from home and starting completely fresh? Financially? Academically? Think about the whole picture first.

 

[KaraBulut]

Is it easy to make new friends at a university, even if you're gay. .

Depends on the university. The bigger ones tend to be quite gay friendly and larger college towns usually have a sizeable gay population.

 

[marquismike]

I moved from California to Louisiana for school mostly for scholarship money even though I assumed that the deep dirty South wouldn't be the best place for an 18year old gay Californian. Surprisingly, though, there are a lot of out gay guys at my school, even though the student body is relatively small (6,000ish undergrads). My female friends semi-sarcastically complain that there aren't any straight boys to hit on. I even know a few who are frat officers, and I'm rushing in the Spring, which is sort of a big deal at a school with like 33% Greek involvement.
So thats my success story =]
My advice to you would be to be out as possible, that way the friends that you make are your friends because they like YOU, not the straight boy you'll pretend to be if you're not out.
And, generally, I'm pretty sure that higher aducation is directly related to a larger amount of homosexuality. Just my observation. So whatever school you're headed to in Florida will prob be similar.

 

[G-Lexington]

Living on campus makes it almost impossible NOT to make new friends. After all, you're living together, eating together, showering together (but separately...at first, anyway), and taking classes together. You do have to remain open and friendly - friends won't necessarily pound down your door. But friends are easily made.

Lex

 

[spartaneric]

The college experience is pretty amazing, especially when you go to a huge school. There's so much beyond academics and you really get a chance to stand on your own two feet...I only moved about an hour away but it's still far enough. I'd definitely say to go for it, especially if that's what you want.

 

[MaxMouse]

College saved me. I thought I was doomed to staying in the closet, getting married etc. I didn't realize it was so OK to be gay until I got away from everything completely. I definitely recommend it despite money and everything else it is extremely worth it. I went to Penn State too, which would definitely not be on the accepting side of things!

 

[hotatlboi]

I had a great college experience and definitely recommend it. Most colleges today are very accepting of gays regardless of location simply because the young people of today are more open and accepting of it.

 

[Scimitar]

lol, I pounded on people's doors when I was a Freshmen. Although I'm not openly bi I would say at my school in the deep south, Louisiana also, it is very open to gay guys, although the population comes from all over. Actually I think I go to the same school as MarquisMike. Either way the point is gay in college is usually no problem.

 

[LoveIsNow]

Which College in Florida are you going to? If it's USF there'll be MEEEEEE there, which means it's like totally awesome!!

 

[LoveIsNow]

USF is a great school, it's a lovely campus with a whole lot of people, but it's big enough that it's never crowded. We have a pretty decent football team if for some strange reason that would interest you. As far as the gay thing, I've walked down the street holding hands with a boy without receiving a single dirty look. I never would have had the balls to do that before.