The answer
This is a very important time in your life as you official matriculate to college and adulthood. Each option has pros and cons and you stated some of them very well. Family dynamics at home usually change and adjust when youth become adults and begin college. Your schedule will vary from when you were in high school, and so will your social life, etc. Thus, independence gradually evolves, resulting in more independence. You will also be able to save a significant amount of money by staying at home and commuting to college. Furthermore, you may also continue to be involved in your current church and grow in the services there with new responsibilities according to your time and area of studies. However, if an extraordinary opportunity arises at a renowned university, which will be favorable to you for graduate school, etc., then extra expenses and inconvenience of relocating may be worth it. In addition, if this is a highly competitive program, you will not have too much time to engage in nonsense. Having said that, since you have some apprehension about the possibilities of temptations, which will always exist, and if your choice of colleges are equal across the board, it may be better to commute during undergrad and explore other options away from home for graduate school. While you are in college (undergraduate and graduate), wherever you choose, you should join the Orthodox Christian Campus Ministries (OCCM), https://susoccm.org/, and maybe even experience their summer mission trips. These experiences will allow you opportunities to travel abroad, learn about different cultures, meet other Coptic youth from various locations, and serve in evangelism and humanitarian services. Finally, pray and discuss your college choices with your father confessor and parents and consider their feedback with seriousness since they know you best. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)