The months leading up to college are tough. You have millions of questions built up in your head and are just anxious to get started. I might not be an expert, but here is some advice from someone who was in your boat last year.
1. What is it like to shower in a communal bathroom?
Trust me: this is one of the easiest transitions you will make in college. Everyone always complains about how you have to wear flip-flops and how it will be completely different than at home, but it is nothing to worry about. Trust me.
2. Do you have to make small talk with your roommate 24/7?
The short answer: no. While it may seem daunting to have to live in a 100 square foot room with a person you don't know very well, the small talk doesn't happen as much as you think it will. Yes, the first week might be awkward, but it is awkward for everyone. However, most of your day will be spent going to class. The time spent in your room really isn't much other than at night. At night, that's when studying and homework is done. If it is awkward, just take out a book or listen to some music. If you have a normal person as a roommate, (which you probably do) they won't disturb your personal space. After a while, small talk turns into real talk and you will want to have conversations with your roommate.
3. What if I don't get along with my roommate?
This is kind of a complicated answer for me since things did work out with my roommate. However, I was friends with some people who weren't as lucky. This isn't the end of the world. There are people at school to help you, such as your RA's and RD. Most of the time, when a friend of mine didn't get along with their roommate, it caused the person to branch out of their room and meet new people. Everything happens for a reason, and if you think you won't get along with your roommate and it's only the first week, give it some time. Overthinking can cause you to make scenarios up in your head. Chances are the both of you are just nervous about starting new at school, but it will work out. Worse comes to worse, you just have to keep civil. Remember, not everyone becomes best friends with their roommate!
4. Is it easy to make friends?
Yes and no. Depending on your personality type, some people can make friends easily and some have a harder time. In my experience, it was harder to make friends while I was comparing everyone with my friends from back home. Those who were more open to new experiences were able to make friends a lot easier than those who kept their guard up. My advice is to recognize that this is a new place with new people, and trying to find people exactly like your friends at home will not work. Be open to new friendships and always know your friends back home won't just disappear. Join clubs, bond with your teammates or get to know the people in your hallway. You never know who will become your friend, so keep your mind open to every new person you meet.
5. How is the work load compared to high school?
This is a huge concern many people have. However, if you ever took an AP class, it is pretty much the same workload. Toss everything you knew about busy-work and worksheets to the side. College is about discussion, papers, and exams. I am a political science and communications double major, so my work is a lot different than my friends studying biology, for example. Keep in mind that you will have a lot more time to go to the library and work on the weekends than you did at home. This isn't something to get extremely nervous about. If you are having a tough time, your professors are always there to help you.
6. Is it hard to balance time?
Your agenda is your best friend. Write down everything you have to do that day and you will be able to keep on schedule. Something I did that really helped me was that I split up big papers into smaller sections. For example, on Monday, I would do the introduction and on Tuesday I would finish the bibliography etc. It made myself, who is an extreme procrastinator, finish assignments throughout the week so that I wouldn't have to work on a paper for 10 hours straight. If you do find yourself awfully stressed out, go to the library for lunch or dinner. At Stonehill, Ace's place is a great option for lunch when you are in a hunch. Don't stress yourself out too much, stay organized in your agenda, and split up big assignments. Trust me, you will thank me one day.
7. Is it hard to live in such a small room?
Definitely not. It might be an adjustment, but it is actually really convenient. Everything is within reach of your bed, which makes everything very easy to accomplish. Water from the fridge? That's only 5 feet away! Advil in the middle of the night when you're not feeling too well? That's only 2 feet away! Snacks? They're just under my bed in a pull-out drawer! Living in a small room can definitely have it's perks, so no stress needed.
8. How is the dining hall food at Stonehill?
Not great, but not bad. I know places like UNH and UMASS Amherst are known for their dining options. Let's just say at Stonehill there will be days when you miss a home cooked meal. Some suggestions for Stonehill's food would be the shrimp scampi, the sushi from the Hill and chicken wrap Thursdays. Salads are always there for a good option, as well as the deli which has really good sandwiches and wraps. Some of the stuff is delicious, but some of it is mediocre. I never had a meal that was bad at Stonehill. All I can say is don't worry about the food too much, but cherish your homemade meals until you get to school.
9. How do you combat the heat with no air conditioning?
At Stonehill, most of the freshman residence halls don't have AC. Corr Hall was the only place that had it last year. It's hard. Maybe that's just me, seeing as I am pretty dramatic and I'm used to central air. But mostly everyone around me struggled with this. The answer? Night showers and lots of cold water. Showering at night really helps you sleep through the heat. Also, the library will have AC, so just spend a lot of time in there doing homework and studying. Before you know it, it will be below zero, so cherish the heat while you can. It doesn't last as long as you would think. I promise that if I was able to get through it, anyone can.
