As any high school senior knows, the fall is crazy college time. Throughout the halls you can hear the stresses of applications and essays. The most asked question is either “where are you applying” or “where do you want to go to school?” This question is usually answered with confusion, frustration and a few rolled eyes. Not only is every senior fed up with getting asked this so much, but they are also stressed about making a very important decision. Along with making a decision for yourself comes the worry of where your best friend is going to school. Will you go to school together, in close proximity to each other or a plane ride away? As for me, my best friend and I got into the same school. It had always been a school I was interested in, but for her it was her dream school. Everyone knew she would go there and always asked us if we would go to college together. Well, fast forward to May 1, and a decision was made. She would attend Tulane University and I would attend University of Florida—a plane ride apart. Just like that we went from doing everything together to maybe going to the same school to being a plane ride apart. Looking back on it, going to school a plane ride apart was the greatest decision we ever made. Here are 5 perks of NOT going to school with your BFF:

1. Super fun ~surprise~ visits

One of the most exciting things to do is hop on a plane, show up at your friend’s dorm and attack them with hugs. Not only do you get to spend time together, but you get to experience their new life and meet all of their friends. You get to experience another school’s game day and attend their parties. You also get to try their food and get a taste of their every-day life. It’s the ultimate college tour.

2. Endless FaceTimes

College is super hectic and sometimes it is hard to fill your BFF in on all the gossip in a quick text. This leads to super long FaceTimes where you talk about everything that has happened in your life in the past week. Not only do these talks bond you, but they also act as therapy sessions on all the drama you have incurred. Your BFF gives the best advice and it is objective advice since you do NOT go to the same school!

3. Reunions are THAT much more special

Since you no longer see each other on a day-to-day basis, the moment you are back together is so exciting. You can go for a shopping trip on a long car ride and talk for HOURS about everything that has happened over the past few months. The minute you see each other you pick up right where you left off.

4. You get to meet a whole new set of friends

In high school you both had the same friends. However, in college, you have completely new friend groups full of people your BFF has never met. So, it is essential that you learn who all of your BFF’s friends are and follow them on Instagram. You need to be able to talk to your BFF as if she spends as much time with these people as you do. What’s even better is when your college friend’s best friend becomes sorority sisters with your BFF (that’s a mouthful)!

5. Realizing how close you are

It’s really tough to go from relying on your BFF for everything to all of a sudden being so far away. You had been doing everything together for so long that you had a rhythm to your friendship. When you show up to college, it’s up to you to find new friends and, more importantly, to find someone just like them. However, no matter how far apart, you two will always be BFFS. While it didn’t take until college to know how close you are, your ability to keep in touch is a testament to the bond of your friendship. Although it may be scary to be so far apart, it truly is very rewarding.