Kayla
What are some things I should know about living on campus?
I have almost all of my stuff for my dorm, but is living in a dorm going to be hard adjusting to? What are some things I should expect while living on campus? Is it easy to make friends with people who live in the same hall as you? #college #college-bound #college-student #college-life #outdoor-recreation
4 answers
Raisa Anan Mustakin
Raisa Anan’s Answer
I have lived on-campus for three years and I would love to share some tips with you.
1. Don't store too many stuffs in your dorm room. It is also a very limited space, so use it diligently. Bring your essentials and try to avoid bringing stuff that you can do without.
2. Don't keep sweets out in the open. I did it once and ants attacked me from everywhere. Learn from my mistake.
3. Don't put wet clothes in the wardrobe.
4. If you are sharing the dorm room with roommates, be polite and ask if they are okay with you bringing your friends over for hangout (if you do).
5. Personally, I did not have the need to know other people in the same hall since I usually had three roommates. However, I highly suggest that you at least know a handful of people living in your hall, if you don't have roommates. This is for your security, so that you can call them in case of emergencies.
6. Save a couple of emergency phone numbers. This could be the hall warden, the dorm security, the student living next door etc.
7. Finally, be considerate and polite.
Sean McEvoy
Sean’s Answer
Living in a dorm is a fantastic way to get used to college life. You'll find it feels like home because there are always people around who care and can help if you need it. I spent all four years in a dorm when I was in college, and I made great friends with my suitemates and the residential assistants. Feeling homesick is normal, but once you settle in and start joining fun activities with others in your building, you'll make new friends, and everything will fall into place.
I wish you lots of luck as you start this new adventure. Don't worry; you're going to have an amazing time!
Gloria Ortiz
Gloria’s Answer
I think that your challenges are going to depend on where you are going to school and what is important to you. I went to college in a small town with the surrounding town did not have a lot of young people or diversity. There was limited mass transit and I didn't have a car, so I was stuck on campus a lot of the time. Looking back, I would have gone to a school in a bigger city with more options on things to do and people to interact with.
Otherwise, the hardest thing is dealing with homesickness. With that, the most important element to me would be finding yourself in the area where you live. Make sure that you continue things that you did at home - find a church, find a dance or art class, volunteer, etc. Also it is a good idea to join on campus groups to connect with people who have shared interests.
Gloria
Sharon Owens, MBA, CPSM
Sharon’s Answer
Hi!
Living in a dorm turned out much better than I expected. I never had to share a room before but was fortunate to know my roommate in advance. It's important to discuss "rules" for the room. For example, having friends/boyfriends over, falling asleep with tv on, etc. Living in a dorm can be a wonderful experience because you get a chance to make friendships outside of the classroom. These bonds can last a lifetime. You do have to be cautious that you may be sharing a bathroom with many people and they may not have the same expectation of what's "clean". Also, sometimes it can be a bit noisy but if that bothers you than invest in good headphones. :)
Overall, it's an exciting experience so soak it all up and enjoy it.