[gyardley]

If I were you, I'd go to the best university you can get into and you and your parents can afford, regardless of location. I'd also move into a dorm immediately.

The best school possible, regardless of location, is not just so you'll get the best quality education - it's also so you'll meet more of the most interesting people, and be exposed to the most interesting opportunities down the road.

Moving into a dorm immediately is so you'll make friends. Most first-year students are in the same situation - they're in a new location, they don't know many people, and there's lots of social activities, so they'll make friends quickly. If you wait until your second year to start living in the dorm, you'll be entering a situation where people have already made close friendships, and you'll have a harder time getting to know people.

You don't need to worry about the stresses of moving to a new city, and you don't need to worry about 'easing into' dorms - the dorms are already designed to be an experience that eases you into adult life. Best of luck!

[doctorwho]

Dorm life is (or at least was) nothing like reality or adult life. You may become friends with the people you meet in the dorms but I made more meaningful connections with the people who shared the same interests as I did. I met those people mostly in classes we shared. Dorm relationships were more random.