Dorm Life 101
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
If you've never lived in a dorm before, your first dorm experience in college may be challenging, or even a little frightening. Dorm life will put you in contact with people that you may count as some of your closest friends, and it may be exasperating and frustrating at times.
You'll be spending the next nine months with a complete stranger, and you'll be learning about living away from home, probably for the first time. Dorm life can be wonderful, but if you expect too much from it, it may be terrible. Learning to roll with the punches is important, but so is learning to get along with others.
Roommate Woes
If you're lucky, you'll be paired with a roommate who is neat, organized, likes to clean, and is a great study partner. Don't count on it, however. Many colleges do try to match roommates with people who enjoy the same kind of things, but this is not always possible. You may expect your roommate to be your new best friend, while your roommate is only looking for a place to sleep. Don't let your expectations ruin your relationship early on. If you have troubles with your roommate, the best thing to do is to take about them honestly. If you can't talk with your roommate, or the situation is simply impossible, then you can ask for another roommate. Most schools will do what they can for you if the situation is intolerable, but you need to try to work things out first. Many students recommend creating a contract at the beginning of the semester that sets out rules for late nights, cleaning up and other common areas of concern. A contract may help everyone stay more organized and friendly, while setting down some guidelines that some roommates might not even have considered.
What to Bring
One of the most important decisions on dorm life really begins before you move in. What will you take? If you can find out who your roommates are going to be, you can contact them before school starts, and find out just what they will be bringing with them. You don't need three televisions, three snack makers, and three boom boxes. Of course, you'll need clothing and personal care items, such as shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste. You'll also need sheets, towels, and the basic necessities of living on your own, like an alarm clock and pens, paper, and a computer, if you can. Your room may have a microwave and even a small fridge, check with the school. If not, these are very handy items to have for times when you just don't feel like going on campus to eat, or you're up late studying and need a quick snack. One of those little sandwich/snack makers could be handy too, along with a combo television VCR or DVD player, and a personal Walkman. There are many small items you can bring with you to make dorm life more appealing.
Free At Last!
Many college students are living away from home for the first time in their lives, and they take advantage of their freedom by staying up all night, partying with new friends, and skipping classes. This is often known as the "freshman slump," and while it may be natural, it isn't very conducive to your grades. Part of heading off on your own to college is learning how to be responsible - so get the partying out of your system, and then settle down to studying, you'll be a lot happier at grade time, and so will your parents!
Dorm life can be one of the best experiences in your life. Just use a little common sense, learn how to communicate, and bring along the right equipment for the best college experience!