Through the school year, we only live about 2 hours from VT so it's easy for them to make the trip home for a weekend if they want, and we want to see them. I lived close to VT as well and probably spent too much time coming home to friends/girlfriends, so I actually have encouraged mine to stay at VT and enjoy the time there. For summer, first year my oldest was in the dorms like everyone so she was kinda "forced" to come home. She had already set up her apartment for next year, beginning in August. So I told her that if she wanted to stay in the 'Burg over the summer that she would have to come up with where to live, how to pay for it, all those grown-up things. She had a 40-hour PT job lined up waiting for her back home so it was a logical choice to come home. This year, she has the apartment over the summer and is wanting to get some in-major intern experience around Blacksburg or Roanoke, so that's on the table. Since I'm already in for the apartment and utilities I told her that's also a thoughtful decision. My youngest goes to VT this fall so we'll see what kind of decision she makes about all of this. But I've given them both the same advice.