It’s that wonderful time of year that most college students dread. Yes, sitting at the dinner table surrounded by family and delicious food is wonderful. The twenty questions that will also occur is less than desired. If you are a first year you may not know what’s coming and if you’re a veteran you may still fumble on how to respond. Never fear, Her Campus Amherst is prepared! Here are the top questions you will be asked and what to say depending on your circumstance.
How is school?
This is a very generic question. It is usually asked by a more distant relative like an aunt or grandparent, rather than a sibling or parent. For this reason, you may want to keep it short and let the person inquire more. However, you don’t want to keep it too short or you will seem disinterested or worse, untruthful. A polite, “I’m finally getting settled into the new year. I’m enjoying my time at my school very much.” This allows for the conversation to continue but also leave the potential for a change in subject as you enjoy those mashed potatoes.
Have you decided what to major in?
This is a tricky one and depends on your situation. There are three cases that most students fall under:
If you know your major: Great, make sure you tell them immediately. This is your time to shine and talk about what you’ve learned and why you made your decision. If you have a more obscure major, be sure to explain the benefits of it to avoid the usual follow up question: Can you get a job with that?
If you don’t know your major: Don’t lie. It is better to admit that you are still deciding than pick something you may or may not be interested in. If you are on the fence about two or more subjects, feel free to put it out on the table. You may enjoy the advice and they will be happy to be apart of a huge process for you.
You are ashamed of your major/You worry they may not approve: You may want to figure out how to approach this question based on the setting. If you are in an extended family dinner, you may want to wait with the announcement. The last thing your parents want is to argue or disagree with you in front of the larger family. If you have a more intimate setting, be honest. Tell them the major you are considering and why. Once again, be prepared for the questions they may ask beforehand. Do your research! They may disagree but if you put up a good argument, the rest of the dinner can continue in peace.
How’s your roommate?
People love this question because the stories are usually quite fascinating. Most people are in three categories:
If you get along well with your roommate: This is a great opportunity to share your fun stories together. Be prepared for the marveled stares and agape mouths because everyone knows the roommate horror stories. You may have to remind people that there is no catch. Really, your roommate is that great!
If you hate your roommate: That’s not all that bad either. You can now vent to ears that aren’t your friends or on campus. What may seem like a difficult topic might become light hearted with your folks. If you are having a serious problem with your roommate, it could also be a time to get advice on how to deal with the situation.
If you’re thinking, “Roommate, what roommate?,”: That’s okay too! Maybe you don’t see your roommate or you are one of the lucky few who doesn’t have one. It’s not the end of the world. You can use generic answers like, “We’re pretty cool” or “No complaints” before steering the conversation perhaps to a close friend or teammate instead.
How are your grades?
Ugh! You don’t want to think about grades on break. You almost want to forget that part about college for a week or so. Perhaps in another scenario, you don’t want to make it uncomfortable for any family members also in school. The last thing you need is World War 3 at your dinner. In both cases a simple, “Good,” will usually suffice. If you get the pesterer who wants to know about straight As or GPA, you should simply mention one of your more favorable classes. “All my classes are going well, especially Biology. I think I connected with my professor.” Most likely this can help change the subject without offending the question asker.
Are you dating anyone?
This question can be annoying whether you are dating some or not dating someone.
If you are dating someone but don’t want it to be the topic of conversation, you can politely avoid the question. Mention that there are plenty of people who catch your eye, including one in particular but are still testing the waters. When you are ready, then you can announce your relationship.
If you are dating someone but worry your folks may not approve, it is also your business to keep to yourself. You are not obligated to do anything or say anything to anyone, even your folks. You tell them when the time is right.
Lastly if you’re not dating anyone, say it proudly. Whether you are looking or not, being single is nothing to be ashamed of. You didn’t go to college to pick a spouse, you went to college to learn about YOURSELF. Don’t take any teasing to heart and just smile.