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brian1989
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19 Jan 2008, 2:18 pm

I will be graduating this year from high school. I will be attending a boarding school that offers a post graduate (PG) program. I have heard news stories about tough transitions for Aspies to room mates. Any advice?


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woodsman25
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19 Jan 2008, 2:32 pm

My only advice seriously if it can be done is to fight and do everything possible to try and get your own room. I did the dorm/roommate thing during collage and it was a nightmare. I never graduated from collage, and their is a good reason. I had deans list/high honors grades and was almost done. I was lucky to have places to go and be by my self. I was attending a collage in a wilderness area surounded by mountains. I spent an insane amount of time hiking all over the place, miles, and even making it up to the summets of many of the mountains. I spent so much time driving around looking for isolated parks, their were many places and I was fortunate. I made it 1 year and half a semester after my community collage transition, in this dorm and I just could not take it anymore. I need to know my stuff is safe and locked away where only I can get to it, and I need personal space. If you dont have it I just dont think its going to be a very positive experience for ya.


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pakled
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19 Jan 2008, 8:06 pm

it depends on the dorm. I got a smart-aleck small-town Romeo for the 1st roomate. Used to shack up with his lady, then lock me out (our lock was 'busted', and you could prevent people from getting in). Spent more than one night in the main room on the couch.

2nd roomie was a druggie, who threw parties (I wasn't invited), and sold my albums when I was out to buy pot (this was the mid-70s). I arranged a swap with someone else, and got someone who turned out to be a pretty good friend. We don't see each other much, but it's been 30 years...

good luck.



hyperbolic
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19 Jan 2008, 9:26 pm

Because my roomates during my second year of college smoked cigars, marijuana, and played loud music at all hours of the day and night, I cannot say my dormroom was a positive experience. Like woodsman, I quit college. (I am now attending a community college full time though, hoping to make up for lost progress at the four-year university.)



JerryHatake
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20 Jan 2008, 1:01 am

I was scared my first year at Mason and end out okay.

My second year at Mason with having roommates is a different experience for me but I'm doing much better than I was last year.


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zee
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20 Jan 2008, 10:01 am

Just keep telling yourself "it's only until (insert month here)". It can be difficult at first, people have more energy to party at the beginning of semesters, but soon it quiets down and everyone is just focused on studying. I had a noisy roommate once who always blared the TV, so I spent a lot of time in the library, and some workshop-type classrooms were open 24/7, so sometimes I'd sleep there. But like I said, the majority of college students are decent, hardworking people, so you should survive.
A few tips: always try and be civil, even when you're annoyed at your roommate's habits. Otherwise, if everyone's already stressed out about school, it can build into a negative atmosphere which is hard to escape from.
Keep nonperishable food, and anything you value, in your room.
Try and keep the place relatively tidy, but don't clean up other people's mess, otherwise they will expect you to do it again.
Communicate with your roommates if there is any specific time that you really need quiet, or when you want to use the bathroom, etc. Most people are accomodating.
If you really don't like your living situation, then you can always check into shared accomodation once you're there. I once rented a room in the house of an elderly couple-very quiet, and more comfortable.
Good Luck!



the_incident
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22 Jan 2008, 3:52 pm

Depending on the circumstances at your school, I would definitely push for a room by yourself.

Barring that, you'll probably have some flexibility with who your roommate is. Obviously, try to room with somebody who shares your lifestyle preferences.

Unfortunately, many dorms can be loud no matter where you are or with whom you're rooming. My roommate was fine, but my neighbors loved playing the same Dave Matthews Band cd constantly, at very loud volumes. Additionally, my room was directly across from the restroom door, which was constantly slamming shut. So, even though you may find a good roommate, there's nothing you can do about everyone else in your hall.

Good luck!


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dark_mage
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11 Feb 2008, 6:39 pm

Letting your roommate know that look you're not the only person living here helps plus the resident Assistant can also be willing to help. I tried this and then changed roommates (as I moved out from the dorms) and this helped a great deal.



kiwi
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14 Feb 2008, 5:54 am

haha the 70s eh lol cool :P

long hair and yea :P...

um pot still around eh ...

My advice is join sports clubs etc.. to form new friends :) definitely...
um

Can u say u dont drink alcohol on the drom form?

you can here eh... I think it even says if you use drugs lol.. I dont know how many people ticked that box lol...

Um yea so join a few clubs.. support people...

I would reccomend a shared room :P lol... haha its really up to you.. company vs own space...
But yea it depends on roommate... over here they all seemed to get along ok !

good luck eh..

I stayed in a single room back in 2006 :D guess I would have preferred a flat/group atmosphere...
lol
If you want to fully analyse it look at what type of people go to the dorms... what for etc.. what type eg 3/4 drink 1/4 smoke i dunno lol...
If you dont drink / want sleep perhaps single room :D


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17 Feb 2008, 10:18 pm

See about getting your own apartment. I have a studio and go to school. You may need

a job to pay for rent,power,phone,yet you would have your own place. Good luck.


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Mishcana
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21 Feb 2008, 10:49 am

Does your dorm have individually locked rooms that you're moving into? If so, it helps a lot.

Things to expect:

- Roomates will often be lazy about taking out the garbage, doing dishes, etc. Try to set up a schedule for these tasks to be done when you first move in.
- Noise can get bad sometimes at night - but it's not every night - except the first month. Most dorms allow you to put in a noise complaint after 10 pm if it gets bad. Get some noise reducing headphones, if you really have noise sensitivity.


Hopefully you'll get personality-matched to people similiar to you. This year I got really lucky - The person next to me moved out, so I get my own bathroom, and the other two roomates are generally quiet. It's very nice.



ignisfatuus
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23 Feb 2008, 6:57 pm

I would strongly advise you to start looking for an apartment, particularly if you have difficulty around people and are sensitive to noise. The chaos and cacophony of residence life can be overwhelming.



JerryHatake
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23 Feb 2008, 8:08 pm

ignisfatuus wrote:
I would strongly advise you to start looking for an apartment, particularly if you have difficulty around people and are sensitive to noise. The chaos and cacophony of residence life can be overwhelming.


The Housing Market is expansive now so I stand on campus in dorms and get along with everyone as best as possible.


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JerryHatake
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23 Feb 2008, 8:28 pm

ignisfatuus wrote:
I would strongly advise you to start looking for an apartment, particularly if you have difficulty around people and are sensitive to noise. The chaos and cacophony of residence life can be overwhelming.


The Housing Market is expansive now so I stand on campus in dorms and get along with everyone as best as possible.


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24 Feb 2008, 3:09 pm

When I get to college I'm requesting substance-free dorming. And I hear in lots of colleges they put them all on the same floor and whatnot. So I figure, hey if it's like a small-knit community of substance-free people, then maybe I might be able to get my own room! Either that or Quiet Hall.



zee
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24 Feb 2008, 3:14 pm

I've found that shared accomodation is often cheaper than living in dorms. It's just less convenient. But if you find some quiet people to rent from--either working people or older people, then you're set.