<p>I'm a little conflicted. College of Charleston is my dream school, above all others. If I get in, I am definitely planning on going. But I am a little scared to get a random roommate. I'm also scared because I will know literally nobody there as I am from Tennessee. Can I get some advice/reassurance?</p>
<p>First, there will be other kids who don’t know anyone. My daughter didn’t know anyone when she went from Westt Coast to East. Maybe not so many student at that particular more regional college, but still a lot. </p>
<p>Charleston is supposed to be a very friendly area.</p>
<p>You have to take your chances with a roommate yes. Everyone has to go through that unless singles are available. Roommates can be a great curse or a blessing but usually it is just someone you are friendly-ish with and learn to cooperate for the better of both. You may be friends or just casual and your friends are elsewhere. Or it may turn out to be your bestie. It’s a rite of passage. And next year, or maybe semester, you can change and room with a friends. All things pass.</p>
<p>I hope you get your adventure.</p>
<p>Don’t be scared, it’ll all work out.</p>
<p>Usually random roommates turn out okay… you hear about horror stories a lot on this place, but that’s because those who are in good situations have no reason to post/complain. Most roommates are just like you… they’re in a new place, it’s their first time away from home, they’re scared about rooming with a total stranger, and they’re trying to figure out the whole college thing. They’ll be just as nervous as you are, so don’t worry too much about it. 
And if things don’t go well, school is there to help you out… your dorm should have an RA, they can mediate problems, get you away from crazy roommates, etc.</p>
<p>As for knowing nobody… well, put yourself out there. Introduce yourself to your dorm neighbors early on, leave your door open, be friendly. Join a few clubs. Make plans with your roommates (trips to the city/restaurants/events, maybe). Go to welcome week events. Say hi to the people sitting next to you before class starts. Obviously you don’t have to do all of that, but there are plenty of ways to meet new friends.</p>
<p>There will be hundreds of other freshmen who also don’t know anyone, plus international students who not only aren’t from the same state but aren’t even from the same country and the same language and the same culture…
Your roommate will be totally random: when you’re admitted, you’ll go to the college’s facebook page and you’ll be able to talk with a lot of students, some even find their roommate that way and write down their name on the roommate questionaire; if you don’t, you’ll fill out a questionnaire describing yourself; then you’ll be able to interact on FB with your assigned roomate, decide who brings what, etc. You may not be friends with your roommate but you won’t be alone at first, then you will go do the orientation activites, with lots of icebreakers, and in no time you’ll know people socially. Then you’ll have, you’ll organize a study group, and you will even wonder why you were worried :)</p>
<p>Don’t let your fears of exploring outside of your box prevent you from potentially great opportunities. </p>
<p>I am an out of state student at a school where I knew not one individual coming into my freshman year. Did it work out? Yes! In terms of the roommate situation, I was one of the only students to truly go “random” (not search class Facebook groups and interview potential roommates) and I probably have the best dynamic with my roommate out of my whole floor. </p>
<p>While you can’t control how it will turn out, you can take certain measures to ensure ample opportunity to meet people. Really explore your housing options. I found a living-learning community at my university that was specifically for students in my field of study (business). Most of the people who ended up living in my community also happened to be out of state students as well, so I was able to quickly make friends because we were all in the same boat of having very few connections. While you may be limited in housing, seek out other organizations/clubs on campus that might attract other out of state students. </p>
<p>Thanks! This is so helpful and encouraging.</p>
<p>A lot of schools have a Facebook site just for new students before they arrive on campus. The new students reach out to reach other, share their fears they won’t meet any new friends, invite folks for meet-ups, plan outings, connect around bands/arts/sports, etc. By the time you get to campus, you’re already feeling like a part of the incoming class. </p>