Got problems or questions? Mariana’s got answers.Â
What exactly are “Dining Dollars”?
– Incoming Freshman
Dear Incoming Freshman,
First of all, “Dining Dollars” is a new name—before this year we referred to them as “Flex.” You’ll still hear a lot of upperclassmen referring to dining dollars as Flex points. Dining dollars are basically the same as built in money in your meal plan in addition to meal swipes. The amount of dining dollars you start off with depends on the meal plan you choose. Flex can be used for Chick-fil-A, the sushi place at marketplace, on regular meals if you’ve run out of swipes, to pay for extra toppings/sides/beverages at marketplace, Student X-change (our on-campus convenience store), and Mews (our library’s café). The best part? It’s accepted at Dominos too! Be sure not to spend it all at once though. It’s always good to have some extra saved for an emergency.
I don’t have any friends who are going to William & Mary, so when it came time to choose a roommate, I didn’t have anyone in mind. Should I be worried that I got a random roommate? What if I don’t like her or she doesn’t like me?
– Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
The majority of incoming freshmen at William & Mary get roomed with a random roommate. Keep in mind that although you might feel alone during this whole process, there are hundreds of other students who are in the same position as you are.
Don’t expect to be BFFs with your freshman roommate. I’m not saying you’ll have a terrible experience, but be realistic. Most people are friendly with their roommate but end up joining separate groups of friends. It’s perfectly okay!
On the opposite end, the chances of you getting the “roommate from hell” are quite slim. If there are any signs that the two of you will not work well together, talk it out. Don’t be scared to sit down with her and tell her exactly what’s bothering you. During orientation, every pair of roommates have to create a roommate agreement. In this agreement, you’ll set rules that need to be followed throughout the year (i.e. no boys sleeping over, no loud music, must give a heads up to guests staying the night, etc.) If there are any problems, the two of you can adjust the roommate agreement to fit the other’s needs. Also, your RA is trained to handle these kinds of situations, so go to them if you’re not content. If worse comes to worst, you can always go to Residence Life and have them find you a new room. (But i’m sure you won’t have to worry about that!)
I’m having a hard time thinking about leaving all my friends at the end of the summer. They’re all staying home and going to schools In-State. I’m the only one who left to go out of state. I really don’t want to lose my friends.
– Lonely Out-of-Stater
Dear Lonely Out-of-Stater,
There are so many other students just like you who traveled a great distance to come to this school. From personal experience, I can tell you that this distance apart from home won’t be as hard as it might seem. Think about all the different methods of communication we have available nowadays: Facebook, Twitter, texting, phone calls, Skype, HeyTell, and the traditional snail mail. Choose a day and time each week when you and your friend(s) can Skype or call and be able to catch up. If you choose to use snail mail, there is a Post Office area downstairs in Sadler where you can mail out letters and packages. You’ll also receive a CSU # and a key to access any mail you’ll receive. I understand it’ll be hard to say goodbye, but keep in mind that you’ll be making new friends at W&M and will have an amazing experience!
A lot of my friends are talking about joining a sorority. I don’t really think it’s my thing. I’ve heard a lot of people saying Greek life is the only social life at W&M. Is that true? Will I be a loner if I don’t join a sorority?
– Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
That is definitely not true. A lot of people at W&M aren’t in Greek life and are completely satisfied with their social life. Sure, there will be closed mixers for certain sororities or fraternities and nights where things might seem a little dry, but it’s not always like that. Most of the time, there are open parties going on at the Units and even if there are closed mixers, they tend to open after around 11 pm. Also, if you know someone who is in a fraternity or sorority, they’ll be able to invite you to parties. In my personal experience, I didn’t join a sorority but had plenty of friends in them and guys in fraternities as well, so there was never really a dull moment. And don’t forget, there are more than just Greek parties! Club sports and music groups will throw parties as well. Outside of the party scene, there are plenty of campus events that are open to both Greeks and non-Greeks alike. Also remember that you can wait to rush! You can rush your second semester, your sophomore year, or even later if you so choose! W&M Greek life is super flexible in that it’s here if you want it, and not a big deal if you don’t.
I’ve never been one to go out to parties. I don’t drink and I don’t smoke. Will I be an outcast at college?
– Shy Girl
Dear Shy Girl,
You will most certainly not be an outcast. There is something for everyone here at William & Mary! Yes, there are parties that will be serving alcohol and events that will most likely be pre-gamed, however, there’s much more than just that. Considering there is such a large amount of student organizations on campus, there are always events going on that are open to everyone. Once the school year begins, you’ll be automatically subscribed to “Student Happenings”, a weekly update that gives a list of upcoming events. Take advantage of these emails and keep an eye out for fun stuff that you and your friends can do together. Trust me, you’ll never feel left out for not drinking or smoking.
If you have questions for Mariana, just submit them to her through this form!