During every college break, students get the chance to go back home, which most students take. However, with the joy of leaving school behind, seeing old friends and being reunited with childhood pets comes the dreaded family interrogation. Pretty much whatever you don’t want to talk about, your family will bring up. The hardest part isn’t having them ask the questions, but rather giving them the answer. Unless you’re a straight-A student with a paid internship and a parent-approved significant other, the questions can feel quite tedious. Here’s a list of questions to be prepared for and how to answer them without seeming insensitive.

1. How are your grades so far?

If grades aren’t in yet, then simply tell your family, but be prepared with the date the grades are due because “When will you get them?” will be the next question that is asked. If grades are in and you have mostly As and Bs, then you should be fine. However, if your family has high expectations or you just didn’t do too well, then explain why you got a low grade. Don’t tell your family general excuses, sincerely explain what happened and always end with “Now I know how to do better next year!”

2. Any campus cuties?

If you already have a parent-approved significant other, then you probably don’t have to worry about this. However, if you are single you should be prepared for this question even from the least expected relatives. The key to answering this question is to stick with minimal details while keeping them in the loop. If you keep answering vaguely you might end up like I did, with my grandma asking if my best friend Sarah was my “special friend.” It was awkward.

3. Have you made any new friends?

With this question, tell them everything you can. Your family doesn’t know your social interactions while you’re away from them so keep them in the loop. You made a friend! Most likely your family is going to be happy. This is something so simple to talk about, yet it keeps everyone distracted from all those other questions buzzing around in their heads. Just remember you don’t have to share every detail if you don’t want.

4. Have you found a job yet?

This question is a lot more professional than most but just try to remain calm. Tell them what happened short and sweet. If you don’t think you can handle a job, then discuss it. If it’s hard to find a job in your field that explain why. Just remember to be straight to the point.

5. How do you like your professors?

Be careful with this question. If you are having a hard time with a professor, then only tell details that are necessary to the story. If you complain too much, your family might be provoked to tell you what you should or should not do. If you like your professors, then talk about them all day long if you want to.

Obviously there’s going to be different scenarios not covered, but the trick to answering these questions is to be honest! You’re already away from your family now more than ever so don’t try and separate yourself from them. Realize while there might be a lot of questions, they are still your family.