College Bound: Tips for a Smooth Transition


We all know that college comes with a lot of choices and options. Here at the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project we want to offer you our help by providing some of the information you’ll need to get a jump-start on college.  This site contains tons of links to websites that will give you information about four-year colleges, tech-schools, and even military options. It’s no secret that college can be expensive.  That’s why we also have a financial aid section that will link you to numerous scholarship opportunities. When you leave home for college there are going to be some major adjustments that will need to be made.  College life is a totally different world than living at home.  This site will help you deal with your roommates, understand fraternities and sororities, and deal with homesickness.  College can be one of the greatest experiences of your life, now the information you’ll need is just a click away.

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College Planning

College Roomates!

How to Get Along with a College Roommate


Leaving home for the first time can be difficult. While you are probably feeling excited about leaving, you may also be fearful about the new people you are going to be living with and the new situations you will encounter.

It is very important to be “open-minded” about the people you are going to meet. Remember that everyone comes from different backgrounds, and they may not do things the way you do.

Get to know your roommates. Try not to be shy, open up and introduce yourself. Ask questions that will get them to open up like: Where are they from? Why did they choose this particular university?

While it can be difficult to adjust to new roommates, there are some things you can do to make the experience fun. It takes time to adjust to the new atmosphere, but if you come in with an open-mind, patience, and good communication, your new living situation will be very exciting and fun.

Here are some ideas to get you on your way:

  • Have a regularly scheduled house meeting to talk about house rules and any issues that need to be resolved
  • Agree on house rules
  • Talk about whether or not the food is shared
  • Split the bills fairly between each roommate (sometimes the person with the largest room pays more of the share of rent)
  • Split up chores evenly
  • Make sure you make time for yourself. If you can’t get time alone at home, go to a coffee shop or another place that you enjoy

For more information check out these links

  • CollegeRoommates.net:  An on-line resource for students having problems with their roommates…
  • RoommateService.com:  Looking for an affordable place to call home? Have a spare room in your apartment or house?
  • RoommateExpress.com:  Founded in 1986, Roommate Express® has served over 180,000 clients, offering them more than 1 million COMPATIBLE matches to choose from.
  • CollegeFreshmen.net:  An on-line resource to help cure the anxieties of first year students.
  • CampusAccess.com:  A comprehensive site with great info on roommates, careers & college life