Bleak and dark may be the best words to describe dorm rooms, and if you’re sick of looking at those white walls, your utilitarian living quarters aren’t cutting it. The best way to make your dorm feel more cozy is to make it look like you actually live there, not just sleep there.

Ward off homesickness and make your dorm feel cozy by following these simple tips.

Read the rest of this entry »

You probably thought going to an out-of-state college would offer a sense of independence, a chance to meet new friends and help you escape parental control. But now, after a few days of classes, you realize just how much you miss home.

I know it didn’t take long for me to miss home. My campus house was only 25 minutes from my parents’ house, and yet, I noticed that my bed got more uncomfortable each night. I started to miss the walls of my old high school, and I couldn’t seem to shake the crowded college dining hall and parking lot. It wasn’t long before I decided to spend the weekend at my parents’ house.

It’s normal for college students to feel homesick, but it’s important that you learn to cope. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself skipping class and constantly griping to your roommate about how much you hate the campus. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s that time of year again. Your bags are getting packed. You’ve started reconnecting with your roommates and you’ve already hit IKEA three times. But leaving your parents after a summer of fun, a fully and always-stocked kitchen, and a few laughs shared with mom and dad over grilled burgers, you might be feeling a little melancholic about leaving.

Take this as a sign of maturity and growth rather than of regression and to keep your feelings of homesickness in control and in check, here are five things you can do:

1) Be Honest: A few days before you head back to the dorms, take some time to tell your parents just how much you have enjoyed their company this past summer. Show them your gratitude for not just their hospitality, but for their friendship by cooking them dinner or taking them out to dinner as you share some of your happiest summer of ’09 memories with them. Read the rest of this entry »