Medill sophomore Taren Fujimoto answers your questions each week. Send in your dilemmas, quandaries and predicaments.

Dear Taren,

At Northwestern, everyone seems to move from dorms to apartments by their junior year. It’s the “thing” to do. I’m torn because I enjoy the convenience of being two minutes away from my classes and living in a community. At the same time, next year all my friends will have moved into apartments and I’ll be left alone. What are some pros and cons of dorm vs. apartment living that can help me decide what to do?

– Two Torn

Dear TT,

I totally understand your dilemma. A lot of my friends are going through the same ordeal.

Junior year is an awkward time – you’re almost old news, but not quite. I mean, not that I would know or anything. I’m just guessing.

Dentures aside, it would be a bit awkward to be living with second-years and a new batch of freshies in your dorm still “getting adjusted” to life at Northwestern. You’ve been there and done that – and for most juniors, it’s time to move on.

You want freedom and independence. And nothing screams “bad-ass junior” than having your own apartment. Or going abroad. Or being a CA (another option to consider).

But while there are perks to living in a dorm -– the sense of security, the dining hall, proximity to classes, hanging with the youngin’s and playing party informer for them –- you have to ask yourself if the benefits outweigh the independence.

If it was me, I’d totally move out. Sure you’d have to cook and clean up after yourself, but whatevs. You’ll be living on your own soon anyway. You might as well start now.

Good luck.

– Taren

Dear Taren,

I have this “friend” who is so overbearing. I say “friend” because she really isn’t my friend. She only thinks she is. In fact, she thinks we’re best friends. I met her last year and ever since then she latched herself on to me and hasn’t stopped. Over the summer she called me like three times a day to see what I was doing. So far this year I’ve managed to dodge her for two weeks straight. But she found me. I tried telling her that I needed some space. And then she asked me when I would be available to get a pedicure with her. How do I get her to leave me alone?

– Absolutely Smothered

Dear AS,

Yeah…okay. Wow. Now, that I’ve regained my speech, I am seriously scared for you. This girl seems really intense. And not the kind of person I would lead on. Or be friends with. Obviously you made quite an impression for her to call you three times a day this summer. And then hunt you down like a madman. I mean, woman.

Maybe she just needs friends. Or maybe she’s paranoid because she can sense that her “best friend” hates her guts. Or at least is absolutely irritated by her.

In any case, just be blunt. Tell her that she is the bane of your existence and you want her to attach herself to someone else. Someone who cares. Or call University Police. Or get a restraining order. Or do all three.

Of course you don’t want to hurt her feelings (or maybe you do) but seriously tell her how you feel. And she’ll get the point. Hopefully.

– Taren