I am graduating in a few months from HS and was wondering how people around here dealt with the transition from HS to college. I know a bunch of people who had a smooth transition, though of course, they experienced some problems. So...How was your transition? How did you deal with being away? What made the transition easier...

CLPO's comment about roommates reminded me:

If you have are a vegan or vegetarian, or anything where you don't eat anything that's put on the plate in front of you, I recommend looking into the food situation at your campus before even agreeing to go there. If you really want to go there and food may not be ideal, find others with similar situations that go there and find out what they do.

For me, if I do not get food, I do not function. After a learning experience frosh year, I know have a freezer stuffed full of five minute or less dishes and a membership at the local co-op. Just things to keep in mind in your transition.

It was a pretty easy transition at first. I was only going to school about 90 miles away from home, though I was staying in a dorm on campus. My first quarter was pretty easy, since I participated in a Freshman Interest Group, where I had three classes with the same group of people. As the year went on, I started to have some problems, when it finally sunk in that I was away from home. It was fun at first, but then I started to experience some homesickness. It didn't help that my roommate had completely different interests than me. And he snored. Like a chainsaw.

This year (my sophomore year) has been much better. I think the big difference is my roommate. I made an effort to get to known him before the year started and we're good friends. It's definitely important to have a good relationship with your roommate.

My transition for the most part sucked, but I'm also one of those cases where the Fates just decided to screw around with me in order to make my life a living Hell. I doubt yours will be anywhere near as bad.

I guess the best thing you can do is talk to your roommate before going to college. Facebook is also nice because then you can start finding incoming students who are like you, so that you feel like you know people when you arrive. And keep an open mind: things will bug you, but learn how to communicate as best you can, and learn to let some of the more minor things be brushed off. It's hard living in close quarters with strangers, but it is possible.

And though this isn't really about transition, get the following shots:
1. the Flu shot
2. Meningitis
Both are easily transmitted in dorm settings and it's not fun being sick while away from home. You end up sleeping on the bathroom floor, which isn't the best place to be.