#weeklywednesdaywisdom: Roommates

Okay, let's face it, you guys are ready to discover who your roommate will be in the fall. You've been calling Coe (a lot mind you, I've already fielded countless calls in the Admission office) wondering when it will be announced. BE PATIENT. We're working on it. Promise.

But, once the portal has been opened and roommates have been announced, here are a few tips that might be helpful as you start to get to know your new buddy.

• Contact them and introduce yourself. Yes, this seems like common sense but hey, I'm just putting it out there. Maybe mention where you're from, what you're thinking about majoring in, and why you chose Coe. Or mention what you'd like to be involved with at Coe. The first email/correspondance doesn't need to be a novel email, pouring your life story out and all. It's just a "Hey we're going to be roommates and I'd like to say hello." 
• If you're a Facebook person, friend your roommate. BUT, here's my warning. DO NOT MAKE QUICK JUDGEMENTS ON YOUR NEW ROOMMATE. Yes, you're going to want to troll through their pictures and see what they've been up to. That's sort of how Facebook works. But don't be so quick to decide that you "know what type of person they are." Remember, college is a time to be whoever you want to be, to maybe leave that high school version of yourself behind and be someone new. You only see the photos, you don't know the whole story. 
• Kind of on the same note, be optimistic. We've handpicked your roommate so we pride ourselves on doing a good job. Be ready for whoever we've placed you with; the two of you are about to go on a pretty fantastic journey together (aka your first semester of college) together. 
• As the weeks go on, keep talking to your roommate. Find out more about them, what they're up to this summer, and what they've started to buy for your room. Divide up "big ticket" items if you want. Figure out what day you will each be moving in. Talk about orientation week. Or A Primate's Memoir. 
• Finally, realize that your roommate does not need to be your best friend on campus. Yes, sometimes it works out that way, but not every time. For me, I was extremely lucky that I met my roommate, Heidi, on campus visit days and we decided to be roommates. We are good roommates together. Sometimes it is better to go into dorm life understanding this person could become your best friend but at the same time, they could just be a friend you live well with. 

Until next week Kohawks! Can't wait! :)

#dormlife

#roommatetips

#bepatient

#countdownuntilaugust