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" What if I can&amp;#039;t stand my roommate? How will we deal with dorm room hookups? What&amp;#039;s it like to shower in co-ed bathrooms? These are some of the many questions you&amp;#039;ll be faced with as you move out from under your parents&amp;#039; roof and into a hall packed with dozens of other freshmen with little to no experience living away from home. How can you make sure you get along with your new neighbors? Students who know the ropes of dorm life weigh in.   See you later: &amp;quot;Your roommate isn&amp;#039;t going anywhere. Don&amp;#039;t feel like you have to blow off other people to hang out with your roommate and ensure that you have an extremely close relationship. At the end of the day, you&amp;#039;ll be retiring to the same tiny space, so you may welcome any chance of escape. Similarly, don&amp;#039;t be offended if your roommate has other friends; just because you live together doesn&amp;#039;t mean you have to act like a married couple.&amp;quot; - Brian, UNC   Friends from home and your new home: &amp;quot;It seems like such fun to live with your best friend after getting accepted to the same college, but it isn&amp;#039;t always a good idea. Put down the same dorms as your top choices, but don&amp;#039;t live together. It&amp;#039;s an experience to meet new people in your dorm and on your floor-if you live with your friend, you might tend to stick with them and not get out and meet new people; this happened to a couple girls who lived in my dorm. Not to mention, you will be together constantly and that could cause arguments and problems. Plus, if you meet new people on your floor and your best friend meets new people on their floor, that&amp;#039;s twice the new people!&amp;quot; - Justyn, FSU Don&amp;#039;t fear the co-ed bathrooms: &amp;quot;One of the things I was most anxious about college life was the seemingly inevitable co-ed bathrooms. I think a lot of people were under the wrong impression that college students suddenly transformed into nudists in their bathrooms upon arriving on campus, and this is definitely not true. Though it may seem strange and awkward to share bathrooms with many other adolescent youths of the opposite sex, the unease and embarrassment definitely does not last long.&amp;quot; - Lisa, Williams College The horse&amp;#039;s mouth: &amp;quot;At Ohio University, the RAs (Resident Assistants) on your floor are students too. They have received extensive training to assist you with adjusting to college life, serve as a source of information, and provide opportunities to make the most out of your residence hall experience. If you have a question, ask them; if you have a problem, tell them; if you have a suggestion, give it. Too many residents do not fully utilize the staff within their residence hall and feel awkward asking for help or stating a concern.&amp;quot; - David, Ohio University  Friend feuds: &amp;quot;Living with friends puts more tension and distance between you and sometimes can even end badly. When you live, sleep, and breathe with someone they&amp;#039;re bound to get on your nerves for one thing or another. Choose your friends wisely, and your roommates even more wisely.&amp;quot; - Iva, Virginia Commonwealth University Give dorms a chance: &amp;quot;The dorm experience is a must-have. If you have considered skipping out on dorm life, DO NOT DO IT. This is an essential part of your growth as a student. It&amp;#039;s also the best way to meet new people. You might have a psycho for a roommate, but you might also meet your lifelong best friend. I only did one semester in the dorms and I really regret that. I&amp;#039;m not saying spend all four years there, but give it a shot for a year.&amp;quot; - Jen, USF Get an Inside Look at Dorm Life in Small, Medium, and Large Schools. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.seventeen.com/life/school/advice/a12666/surviving-dorm-life/>