Marissa F. Cohen

The College Boundary Check: How Strong Are Your Personal Limits?

College throws boundary challenges at you from all angles. Your roommate “borrows” your charger for the fifth time without asking, that one study group member who never does the reading somehow expects you to catch them up before every test, and your high school friends guilt trip you when you can’t make it home every weekend.

Our boundary quiz cuts through the BS and helps you figure out if you’re actually standing your ground or if you’re the person who can’t say no to save your life. We’ve packed it with scenarios that hit close to home – like when your partner gets annoyed every time you need alone time or when family members expect you to answer texts during your most important classes. This stuff matters because most of us never got a “How to Set Boundaries 101” class growing up, and honestly, figuring it out now will save you years of frustration down the road. The good news? Setting limits gets easier with practice, and the payoff is huge.

Why Healthy Boundaries Matter in College:

  • They keep you from totally losing it mid-semester. When you’re juggling classes, work, relationships, and trying to occasionally sleep, saying yes to everything is a one-way ticket to burnout city. Good boundaries are like your personal bodyguard against the exhaustion that takes down so many students.

  • They help you spot who’s worth your time. Pay attention to how people react when you set a limit – some will respect it immediately, while others will try to make you feel bad or work around it. That reaction tells you everything you need to know about who deserves a place in your life.

  • They let you stop faking it. It’s exhausting pretending to be cool with things that actually bother you. When you can plainly say “I’m not comfortable with that” or “That doesn’t work for me,” your relationships become way more genuine, and weirdly, often stronger.

  • They’re literally career gold. The skills you build now – communicating clearly, respecting your own time, and navigating tough conversations – are exactly what will help you avoid becoming that miserable coworker who takes on everything and complains about it later. Future you will be seriously grateful.
The College Boundary Check: How Strong Are Your Personal Limits?

The College Boundary Check

Do you struggle saying “no”? Find yourself overcommitted and burned out? Take this quiz to discover how well you’re setting and maintaining personal boundaries in college life.

No judgment here—just honest reflection to help you develop this crucial life skill.

1. Your roommate frequently borrows your things without asking. How do you typically respond?
2. A study group member consistently shows up unprepared, expecting you to explain everything. You:
3. Your schedule is packed, but a friend asks for help with a time-consuming favor. You:
4. A professor assigns group work with no clear division of labor, and you always end up doing most of it. You:
5. You’re out with friends having fun, but you have an early class tomorrow. It’s getting late and they want to hit another spot. You:
6. Your dating partner/significant other wants to spend every free moment together, but you need alone time. You:
7. Your club/organization keeps scheduling meetings during your dedicated study time. You:
8. A friend keeps venting to you about the same problem for hours but rejects all advice. You’re emotionally drained. You:
9. Family members call or text constantly, expecting immediate responses during your classes or study time. You:
10. When someone shares opinions or makes jokes that contradict your personal values, you typically:

Optional: This helps us understand boundary-setting patterns across campus

Remember: Setting boundaries isn’t selfish—it’s essential for your wellbeing and the health of your relationships. Boundaries are a practice that gets easier with time, and each small step builds your confidence for the next one.

Campus-Wide Boundary Results

Here’s how other students across campus scored on their boundary-setting skills: