*serious...need advice
 

What I am about to post is highly personal,....to be frank, probably inappropiate for a public forum, possibly life-altering(for me) and holds consequences that I am going to have to live with.

I have recently taken a very important test and received a score that exceeded my widest expectations. 99 out of a possible 100.

Because of this score my plans for the future have been drastically altered.
I had previously planned to attend the school that my girl-friend was attending, a well-established college that I would have been proud to attend.But this test has thrown a spanner in the works.

I now have to make the choice between attending the school that my gf attends or an even more prestigious school which will probably open more doors later in life.

The decision at first seems obvious.The better school where you will get a better education and thus be able to advance later in life.
It isn't so simple...I have known her since we were 5, friends since we were 6,
in a relationship since we were teens, and in all that time I have never been further than a 30 minute car-ride away from her.

We went to the same schools, went to the same classes, our parents are close-friends and have seen us together for a long time.She was the one who saw me through my parent's divorce and I honestly believe that I wouldn't have been the same person without her.Despite the length of time that I have known her it was only recently that we managed to see each other as anything other than friends and I am frankly very insecure.Most relationships like these are too good to be true, and I wonder mostly every day why someone like her is with someone like me.People tell me that I have to take more pride in what I've managed to do and to have more confidence in myself but in the face of something like this I have none at all.

I don't want to imagine any appreciable amount of time without her but I am genuinely torn between the two decisions.I have exhausted all possible means of help...close friends, my parents, her parents, everyone I know whose opinion I hold in regard.Now i'm asking here.This is my last resort before I consider all my options and I need the opinions of people who don't know me irl before I make a decision.

Go to the school. If she's as steadfast and faithful as you report she is, she'll understand that you're investing in both of your futures and can put up with a few years of semi-seperation.

If not, then she's probably more selfish than you realize, which will come back to bite you in the ass later.

Then, if things don't work out...tons of college ass miles away from where people know you. It'll all work out.

thank you hraes...I think things are a little clearer now

If you go to another school - is it really really far away (meaning you won't be able to see her at all much)? Or would that just mean that you won't be able to see her as often as you used to, but you can still see her like once or twice a week or something?

seeing her would be a every 2 months kind of thing.

D: Ohh..

Well yeah, I completely agree with Hrae.

I guess you can say it'll be like a "test" of the relationship o: (sounds corny, lol). But yeah, do you want to go to a better school? Sometimes opportunities like this are rare, and if you pass it up, then you might miss out on something.

There is always phone/other means of communications to keep you guys in touch. o:

I agree with the above. Go to the better school, she'll understand. Might as well make the best of your education! ^^ Months apart doesn't compare to a life time together.

There's a few things I forgot to include...one of which is the cost.

The school my gf goes to offered me a full-scholarship... something my family needs right now.The other school offers only 50% and if I go I'd have to move there and live with my aunt who is having some problems of her own.

The money isn't really a big-enough deal to discredit it and my aunt could take me in but it complicates things a bit.Most of my friends also go to my gf's school and it's just something to consider.

I know it may seem mean, but its rarely a good idea to go to a place because friends are there. All schools are different and each student is different.
What do you want to major in? I'd go more for what the schools offer.

^ I know about not holding things like that too highly but the only real difference that I can find about the schools themselves are the distances and that one is more famous than the other. Both offer the courses I'm interested in otherwise I wouldn't have considered them.

Thanks to everyone who posted an opinion...indecision still lingers though but you've made things a little more simple.

Np, have to help my cleric buddy!

Best of luck to you both.

Little late, but thought I would throw my advice out there to you.
I agree with Hrae, you have to do what is right for you and what is best for you and your future. If going to this better school will offer you a better life and a better life for her, then go for it.
Talk to your girlfriend, explain to her how you simply want a better life for the both of you, and make sure she is willing to commit herself to a long distance relationship. With the internet, text messaging, and all the other technology out there today, you will still be able to have contact with her everyday. Go home as much as possible to spend time with her, and do little things to surprise her and let her know that you love her. Like Snail mail her a "just because I love you" card - those are a good suprise because noone does that anymore and it is something that she can hold on to and read over and over again when she misses you. Or send her flowers just for the heck of it, and not roses, but a bouquet of mixed flowers - save the roses for more serious occasions, and that way she will think of you evertime she sees her flowers.
Also, just remember - just because you start out at this school, does not mean that you have to continue going there. You can always switch schools if you find it too hard of a strain on you, her, your aunt, your parents, or whoever else this might affect. But, you dont want to end up ten years down the road, going I wonder how my life would be if I had only gone to that better school......

I don't know what course you're aiming for but you said that both schools offer the same course, so I'll assume you know what you want to do and where you want to be several years from now, be it teacher, doctor, lawyer, engineer, doesn't really matter. I just want to make clear to you before you make this decision that which school you go to won't drastically affect where you'll end up in the long term. If both courses offered at the schools are the same, it won't make much of a difference where you end up in the industry. But, because one school is more prestigous than the other, you'll probably end up higher in that particular industry's ladder when you first apply for that job.

Let's say two people are applying to become teachers. One studied in a more prestigious school than the other prospective teacher. The person who attended the more prestigious school would have a definite advantage over the other person when applying for the job. However in reality, a lot of other things factor into it, such as how well your interview goes, prior experience (usually obtained from third or fourth year of the course), commitment to the job and passion. I suppose what I'm trying to say is, even though a school is reputed to be great, it won't make a huge difference in the end. Getting a diploma from the school with the better reputation is definitely a plus, and will affect where you are when you start your job. But hard work, passion and perseverance will be what really drives your career. If you really think in your heart it'll be a lot more difficult to study in the more prestigious school, for you, your family and your girlfriend, then I think you should give it a pass. It isn't something that regrettable for most jobs, believe me.

However, if you truly believe it'll be worthwhile to go through that sort of hardship (picking the "better" school), I gotta respect that too. It's true that some relationships can be destroyed because of distance, but it's also true that some grow stronger through it. You'll be able to understand your girlfriend and your relationship in a different context, go through hardships most relationships don't face, and if you both stick through those difficult years you'll be able to appreciate your relationship that bit more. I'd say seeing your girlfriend every two months is a difficult thing to work through. As you'll both be in a completely separate setting with a separate group of people, things could gradually change in your relationship (for better or worse) without either of you realising it or expecting it. Things happen, that is life.

I can see it's a tough choice for you, but I think what it really comes down to is whether or not you want to be in that prestigous school, and whether you think it'll truly make your future any easier. Personally, I'd pick the lower end school. I don't need much in my life, so a course teaching me the essentials that landed me my dream job (teaching) is adequate, and I don't think I'd be capable of distancing myself from my girlfriend like that. I know with technology these days communication isn't difficult, but nothing really beats sitting down or cuddling up with your loved one and just talking with them in real life.

Spirit's got a good suggestion too, I mean why not try the prestigous school out for a year and see how things go for you. Transferring schools is always a possibility, particularly transferring from a higher end school to a lower end one.