How do you develop an in-person relationship which started online?

I’ve been talking online with a guy that I knew back in highschool. He seems very different now, which is why I was initially interested in starting a relationship with him, but just recently I had a phone conversation with him and the conversation was completely different compared to the text-based convo online. He lives in another state right now, but I’m planning on going back to the same college he’s at now (in about a year), and I’ll be visiting the campus about 3 times until I go back permanently.

I’m not really sure if I should continue this relationship online though because I’m afraid we’ll have such a different connection in person. Is this normal to be different online? I don’t think I am, but I’ve never been told otherwise. Do you think an online relationship can develop successfully into an in-person relationship, or do you think its harder than it could be?