Applying out of state?

Answered

Yes, it will depend the most on the net cost for your college. If you're lower class with great academics you have a good chance of getting enough aid that it will be worth it/affordable, if you're upper class you might be able to afford some colleges without any aid, but if you're middle class, you might get screwed. Look into costs, sit down with your family and talk financials, run college's net price calculators. Don't ED anywhere you won't be able to afford based on the college's net price calculator because they will likely give you minimal aid.

The weather/climate is something else to consider, up north (northern New York to Maine) it can get very cold and down south (Carolinas to Florida) it can get very hot and humid. The middle (Virginia to NYC) is a nice balance, we get a mix of weather if that's what you're looking for.

I wish I could tell you about flying home and back for each break because that's what I'm about to be doing myself! I personally don't think I'll mind other than the costs for my family, but some people might hate that.

Cultural shocks, I mean it's the continental USA. It's different and diverse everywhere, but we're ultimately not that different. If you go to a state school that takes 70-80+% in-state students like Rutgers, you'll be surrounded by New Jersey kids who have grown up here, they'll accept you of course but might talk/act a little differently. If you go to one of the Boston private colleges, there will be a greater variety of people in the same boat as you, not just people from Massachusetts.

"Aesthetics" will depend on what you mean by that.