New guidance for a new year
Monica Graziosi
Issue date: 9/25/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
As you transition from living at home and going to high school to being in a dorm and attending college, there are a few things you may be pondering. What if my roommate doesn't like me? How am I going to feed myself? Do I really need to spend hundreds of dollars on books and cram all night just to pass my classes?
Here is a little guide to help you navigate the concrete jungle that is Drexel University.
Dorms/Roommates
The most important thing to remember when living with new people is that you don't necessarily have to become best friends. Getting along is important, and if you do become friends, that's terrific. But, what's more important is being able to cohabitate peacefully without anyone's feelings or rights getting trampled on.
There are two things I would recommend doing as soon as possible after moving in. Hopefully you guys have talked on Facebook or over the phone before you arrived to decide who's bringing what. The next step is to finalize the food situation in your dorm or apartment. Will you split the cost and the food, or is it every man for himself? If you're a freshman and have meal plans this can apply to snacks and drinks.
The second post-move-in step is to sit down and tell each other what you can deal with and what you can't. For example, maybe keeping the bathroom squeaky clean isn't top priority for you, but dirty dishes in the sink drive you crazy. This way you know each other's boundaries without barking a list of no-gos at each other. It may be tempting to swap horror stories if you've had previous roommates, but don't; you don't want the person you're living with to think you're gossipy or worry that in a year you'll be saying the same things about them. The goal is to keep the environment as positive as possible.
Food/Shopping
Whether you sign up for a meal plan or shop and cook for yourself, there are things you should know to make eating easier. If you do choose to get a meal plan, remember that your Dragon Dollars don't carry over from term to term, so be sure to spend them all to get your money's worth. In my personal experience, it is also best to go to the Hans at the beginning or end of meal times. If you go between them, there may not be much to pick from, and if you go exactly at noon or five o'clock, the dining hall can be extremely crowded with long lines.
Here is a little guide to help you navigate the concrete jungle that is Drexel University.
Dorms/Roommates
The most important thing to remember when living with new people is that you don't necessarily have to become best friends. Getting along is important, and if you do become friends, that's terrific. But, what's more important is being able to cohabitate peacefully without anyone's feelings or rights getting trampled on.
There are two things I would recommend doing as soon as possible after moving in. Hopefully you guys have talked on Facebook or over the phone before you arrived to decide who's bringing what. The next step is to finalize the food situation in your dorm or apartment. Will you split the cost and the food, or is it every man for himself? If you're a freshman and have meal plans this can apply to snacks and drinks.
The second post-move-in step is to sit down and tell each other what you can deal with and what you can't. For example, maybe keeping the bathroom squeaky clean isn't top priority for you, but dirty dishes in the sink drive you crazy. This way you know each other's boundaries without barking a list of no-gos at each other. It may be tempting to swap horror stories if you've had previous roommates, but don't; you don't want the person you're living with to think you're gossipy or worry that in a year you'll be saying the same things about them. The goal is to keep the environment as positive as possible.
Food/Shopping
Whether you sign up for a meal plan or shop and cook for yourself, there are things you should know to make eating easier. If you do choose to get a meal plan, remember that your Dragon Dollars don't carry over from term to term, so be sure to spend them all to get your money's worth. In my personal experience, it is also best to go to the Hans at the beginning or end of meal times. If you go between them, there may not be much to pick from, and if you go exactly at noon or five o'clock, the dining hall can be extremely crowded with long lines.
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