Roommates: can’t live with them, can’t pay rent without them

November 30, 2008

BOSTON–Roommates are more than the people you live with; they are an essential part of the college experience. Whether it is in a dorm or an off-campus apartment, they have the potential to the best of friends, or at the very least laundry night partner. But, for many college students a dream living situation can turn into a nightmare as financial, social and work-related stress mounts over the semester.

Living with someone is typical for college students. In the United States alone, most young adults spend at least a year living with roommates after leaving home for the first time. The popularity of roommates is reflected in pop culture including movies and television programs such as “Greek,” which all emphasize the notion that roommates are best friends and partners in crime.

Most of the country’s universities even require first-year students to live in on-campus residence halls, and share a dorm room with a same-sex roommate. The idea is to provide incoming freshmen with a built-in social network for everything from exploring campus, joining clubs, or just going to restaurants. Studies have found that a good relationship with a roommate affects grades, study style, social behavior, and personality productivity. ”Right now my grades are on point, and my social life is thriving and I think I owe most of that to having a little 13×11 room I can call my home away from home,” says one Georgia Tech freshman, who credits his roommate for getting him comfortable on campus. Read more

Small high school community environment aids in student learning

November 24, 2008

BARRINGTON, N.H. – The sights and sounds of the lunchroom at Cocheco Arts Technology Academy in Barrington is the same as any typical high school. Seniors sit together at a designated lunch table, students play instruments, and the tears of certain students are visible among the hustle of the room.

However, the difference at CATA lies in the fact that the seniors are sitting together to run the school store and raise money for their class, the individuals playing instruments are accompanied by teachers and fellow students who sing along, and the only tears are those resulting in laughter of one of the many school-wide inside jokes. The unique community atmosphere of CATA is remarkable.

“There’s a strong school community here,” remarks freshman Nellie Teeling. “We’re one huge giant clique−no one’s in and no one’s out.” English teacher Ms. Allard agrees, “The great thing about teaching here is that everyone wants to be here.” Read more