Question: I'm getting ready to leave for college...

the whole leaving thing isn't easy, i agree, but once it's done, its not so bad. id say go for your dream, otherwise, as the others said, you'll always be wondering what could have happened.
if your college is close enough that you can go home one the wkends and stuff, thats great, really takes the edge off moving out.
get your family to help you move into college too, whether its a dorm, or a sharehouse, or whatever (sorry, im aussie and we do stuff different over here :P) that way they know what kind of place your staying in, and, i dunno, it just makes it easier :) call them lots, let them know that even though youve moved out, you still need them....... just take it easy, and after i while you probably wont even feel homesick anymore.
i moved out when i was 16, 3 months after i moved, i had to be home for about a month....... and the family drove me crazy in that time....... seriously, idependance is so addictive!
a while after that i followed my dream, which takes me 2000 kms from home, and the likelyhood of not seeing my parents for a yr or so, its scary, but good.
so, i would say, go for your dream, trust in things to work out for you, and enjoy what you can. nothing risked, nothing gained...... youl have to take that step sometime.
all the best with it........ hope it goes well
:)

Part of college is being on your own for the first time. At first it's hard, but you get used to it after awhile, you really get a chance to learn about who you are. I had friends who went to near by colleges so they could live at home (some were for financial reasons, others were because they were scared to be on their own), each one of them regretted it because they didn't get the full college experience that others did. If you're really worried, try picking a school that fits what you want for course of study that is near enough to be able to go home for weekends, but far enough away that you get used to the idea of being on your own.

you can always ask is they have an overnight program where you can go and spend the night and go through some of the classes the next day to see if you would really like it.
and if its your dream college than go there ! you dont wanna be thinking what if for the rest of your life !

you just have to go for it!! if you don't try you'll always wonder "what if" you can always transfer later or move home. But until you try you will never beat your fear.
Also maybe see if you can get a single room so that your dont feel over whelmed with a roommate always in your space, that way you are still on campus and meeting new people in the dorm but you still have a place to "hide" and be alone