You may face some roommate challenges during college – especially if you never shared a room before. But overcoming those challenges may lead to lifelong friendship or, at the very least, lifelong skills in getting along.

Follow these tips for roommate success:

Contact your roommate ahead of time. Learn about each other and discover what you have in common. Discuss who will bring what (TV, microwave, refrigerator, futon, etc.). Then, when you get to college, your roommate will be a support to you, not a stranger.

Communicate! From the start, discuss how you both feel about cleanliness, visitation, music, study time, borrowing clothes and other items, and lights out.

Be realistic. You and your roommate will have different habits and expectations so be prepared to compromise. Realize that you don’t have to be best friends to live together.

If you encounter a roommate conflict, try to work it out. Here’s how…

 Look at yourself. Ask your roommate what he or she thinks of the relationship. Ask what you can do to improve things.

Negotiate. State the problem calmly, brainstorm alternatives, and choose a solution. Developing tactful, effective communication skills will pay off now and in the future.

Ask for help. If you and your roommate can’t resolve the conflict, ask your resident advisor to mediate.

Another way to “push yourself” during high school is to get involved in school and community activities.

Here’s why: 

You’ll explore potential career interests. Think you might want to work in the medical profession? Volunteer at a hospital or nursing home. Interested in politics? Try running for student council. You get the idea … 

You’ll have a better chance of earning scholarships. Many are based on community service and extracurricular activities such as school clubs, band, sports, and drama. 

You’ll become more organized. Let’s face it, the busier you are the more organized you have to be. But don’t overdo it. Be selective and choose activities that strongly appeal to you. 

It gives you an “out.” If friends suggest activities that could get you into trouble, your busy schedule provides the perfect excuse.

You’ll work with adults who can help shape your life.  Whether it’s a coach, yearbook adviser or youth group leader – you’ll work with strong adult mentors who can help keep your life on track.

Use the Activities Resume to track your activities throughout high school – then the information will be available when it’s time to apply for scholarships and college admission.

What to Expect Your Freshman Year of College

Be prepared to make some adjustments during your freshman year of college, especially the first semester. Here are some challenges you may face.

New experiences, new friends. When you get to college, you’ll find it’s difficult to stay close to your high school friends because they no longer share your experiences. You may also experience homesickness. To gain a sense of belonging, attend freshmen orientation activities, get involved in extracurricular activities, and find a part-time job. It’s important to stay busy and meet new people.

Less structure. You’ll go to bed later and get up later. You’re in class for a total of three to four hours each day and those hours are staggered throughout the day. You’ll think you have plenty of time to study and will have an urge to procrastinate.  Instead, use the time between classes to review notes and study.

Lots of reading. Talk to any current college student and they’ll tell you the reading is “huge!” To avoid becoming overwhelmed, set small goals (10 pages at a time) and it will be easier.

Weight gain. Oh…you’ll complain about the dorm food, everyone does. But it’s pretty good and there’s lots of it. Many students gain about 10 pounds by Thanksgiving. That’s why it’s important to use the fitness center and avoid late night snacks.

Getting your grades. “Wow, what happened?” Many freshmen ask that question when they get their first set of grades. Your professor will give you a syllabus at the beginning of the class.  It’s up to you to follow it. You won’t get reminders about due dates for reading assignments or term papers.

The last part of your senior year is packed full with college-related deadlines and decisions. It will feel like you have one foot in high school and one foot in college. We’ll tell you how to stay on the right track with both worlds.

Pay attention to your grades. Contrary to popular belief, your senior year grades count for college! If you slack off and get poor grades, your college admission could be revoked. So do your best to combat senioritis and pay attention to your coursework, grades, and extracurricular activities.

Complete the financial aid process. By spring of your senior year, you should have filed your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). If you haven’t, apply at fafsa.gov. After filing, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) acknowledging that your FAFSA was processed. Use the SAR to make any FAFSA corrections, and then watch for financial aid award notifications from the colleges you listed on the FAFSA.

Compare financial aid award notifications. Use our Award Letter Comparison Calculator to determine which college provides the best financial aid package. Colleges try to offer a combination of scholarships, grants, work-study, and student loans, but you must qualify for them.  The FAFSA results help the college determine what you are eligible to receive.

Make your final college selection. The financial aid package is only one piece of the puzzle when selecting a college. Also consider the academic programs offered at the school, the location, typical class size, the total student population, and the campus culture at each college you applied to. Use our College Comparison Calculator to determine which college is the best fit for you. Once you make your final selection, notify the other colleges so they can take you off their mailing list.

Pay attention to deadlines. Submit your housing deposit before the deadline so you have a better chance of getting the residence hall of your choice.  Also, watch the deadline to register for freshman orientation and courses.

Get a job! Work as much as you can over the summer to help pay for dorm essentials, textbooks, and other college-related costs.  Plan to work part-time after you start college to help with daily living expenses.

All of this can be overwhelming, so remember that you don’t have to do this alone! Involve your family, teachers, counselors, and friends who are already in college.