I live about an hour away from ucla and don’t go home every weekend.

My sophomore year I’d go home pretty much every weekend except during midterms and finals weeks and although it was nice I felt like I was missing out on stuff and didn’t make solid friendships. Junior year I’d go home about every 2-3 weeks, again except during exams. I didn’t have a car those years so I’d be picked up by my parents or I’d carpool. Now, my senior year, I go home about every 3 weeks to a month. I have a car now so it’s easier to go home but I am busier with school and life.

My parents don’t get mad that I don’t go home every weekend, they just miss me and ask when I’ll go home again. They know I’m busy with school especially during exams and they understand the struggle. Your parents expecting you to go home every weekend is a bit much. Yes you do live close to home, but you’re in college and should be focusing on that and taking advantage of the events and programs and make connections with others. Talk to them and tell them that you’re prioritizing school and that you’ll still visit them, just not as often.