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What is it like to dorm in college?
I'm going to college soon and I want to know how it's like to dorm with someone. #college
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9 answers
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Adam’s Answer
Hello!
Dorm life is an experience! To me, it teaches you to get along with a person or a group of people depending on the room set-up. As we progress through life, there are always going to be people in it. Living in a dorm exposes you to that experience very early on. Living in a dorm gives you the opportunity to experience all different walks of life that you may not have been introduced to. As we all know, we aren't always going to like everyone, but this experience gives you the opportunity to learn how to get along with or interact with people. I lived in a dorm where there was a community bathroom. This was an adjustment as I wasn't used to sharing a bathroom/shower area with any one. Since this was the set-up, I adapted and it wasn't too bad. I also lived in a dorm where the rooms were suites and we shared a bathroom with the room next to us. This allowed me to learn to set boundaries and adjust to other people. Ultimately, it was a great experience as I met quite a few people that have become friends well past graduating.
The one thing that I recommend is: compromise. When you are sharing small quarters with someone the best thing to do is come to agreements on how things should be done. I think for the most part, it becomes an awesome experience for most involved. Essentially, it is what you make of it. While your roommate may not become your best friend, that doesn't mean that you can't have a great experience. You may learn new things from them!
Good luck!
Dorm life is an experience! To me, it teaches you to get along with a person or a group of people depending on the room set-up. As we progress through life, there are always going to be people in it. Living in a dorm exposes you to that experience very early on. Living in a dorm gives you the opportunity to experience all different walks of life that you may not have been introduced to. As we all know, we aren't always going to like everyone, but this experience gives you the opportunity to learn how to get along with or interact with people. I lived in a dorm where there was a community bathroom. This was an adjustment as I wasn't used to sharing a bathroom/shower area with any one. Since this was the set-up, I adapted and it wasn't too bad. I also lived in a dorm where the rooms were suites and we shared a bathroom with the room next to us. This allowed me to learn to set boundaries and adjust to other people. Ultimately, it was a great experience as I met quite a few people that have become friends well past graduating.
The one thing that I recommend is: compromise. When you are sharing small quarters with someone the best thing to do is come to agreements on how things should be done. I think for the most part, it becomes an awesome experience for most involved. Essentially, it is what you make of it. While your roommate may not become your best friend, that doesn't mean that you can't have a great experience. You may learn new things from them!
Good luck!
Emily Bentley
Senior Pension Benefit Analyst/Jr. Project Manager
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Emily’s Answer
Hi Katrina!
My experience in a dorm was really fun, and I would recommend it, especially as a freshman. As a freshman, everything is new. Living in a dorm can be a way to connect to people easily, as many colleges start with team building activities for your floor, building, or school(depending on the size of the school). Some dorms are singles, but most are with 2-3 other people. This can be challenging to some, like myself, that never had a sibling share a room with them, but it is a learning experience and gives you some people immediately to connect to, and possibly even hang out or study with. I didn't become best friends with my roommate, but we were respectful of each other, and looked out for each other's well-being. I feel living in a dorm really helps to make the college experience more immersive.
That being said, you should definitely think of what's best for you. There are some people, especially in the first couple semesters, that may find the social pressures you find in dorms too much. It's important to find a balance between social life and studying, or grades may suffer. I also think many colleges offer many different living situations, so it's a great idea to check out all the options available to see what's best for you to succeed in school and in your classes.
Hope this helps! Best of luck!
My experience in a dorm was really fun, and I would recommend it, especially as a freshman. As a freshman, everything is new. Living in a dorm can be a way to connect to people easily, as many colleges start with team building activities for your floor, building, or school(depending on the size of the school). Some dorms are singles, but most are with 2-3 other people. This can be challenging to some, like myself, that never had a sibling share a room with them, but it is a learning experience and gives you some people immediately to connect to, and possibly even hang out or study with. I didn't become best friends with my roommate, but we were respectful of each other, and looked out for each other's well-being. I feel living in a dorm really helps to make the college experience more immersive.
That being said, you should definitely think of what's best for you. There are some people, especially in the first couple semesters, that may find the social pressures you find in dorms too much. It's important to find a balance between social life and studying, or grades may suffer. I also think many colleges offer many different living situations, so it's a great idea to check out all the options available to see what's best for you to succeed in school and in your classes.
Hope this helps! Best of luck!
Updated
Sylvia’s Answer
Hi Katrina, it's an interesting experience that you will learn how to get along with people with different background and living style. When you first enter a new school and environment, you could explore everything with roommates and you have someone to accompany with, which will make you less lonely when you miss home. But there is some cons living with others, like you have to share the common area and some people may not be very clean or some people may be messy, which on the other side you could learn how to communicate these things with others and how you can try to accommodate that. Good luck!
Updated
Caroline’s Answer
Hi! This definitely depends on the school, location, and weather but overall I would say that it’s fun to be around allot of people your age but note a few things.
Take your vitamins, more people, more germs all in close quarters and people get sick
Wear shower shoes
Make friends with your roommate more than people on your hall, try to meet them before you pick a roommate
Talk to people at the school your going to and get input on what forms are the best and or are in the best location. If your going into Greek life make sure to not pick one super far away
Bring a fan/warmer if you live in a cold/hot place
If your room is small loft the bed and get an area to hang out
Keep your side of the room as clean as your roommate
Be quiet if you leave before your roommate in the morning
This should help you have a great fun experience
Take your vitamins, more people, more germs all in close quarters and people get sick
Wear shower shoes
Make friends with your roommate more than people on your hall, try to meet them before you pick a roommate
Talk to people at the school your going to and get input on what forms are the best and or are in the best location. If your going into Greek life make sure to not pick one super far away
Bring a fan/warmer if you live in a cold/hot place
If your room is small loft the bed and get an area to hang out
Keep your side of the room as clean as your roommate
Be quiet if you leave before your roommate in the morning
This should help you have a great fun experience
Ken Meier
Information Security Team Lead | Identity Access Management | MS Cybersecurity | CISSP-ISSMP
34
Answers
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Ken’s Answer
Generally speaking living in a college dorm is a positive experience that's hard to get any other way. You live among your fellow students who are also pursuing their education while trying to have a good time along the way.
That said it does depend a lot on who your room/dorm mates are and other situation-specific factors. If your roommate has vastly different ideas about hygiene or etiquette that can be a challenge. But life is full of such challenges and learning to cope with them is an essential skill.
That said it does depend a lot on who your room/dorm mates are and other situation-specific factors. If your roommate has vastly different ideas about hygiene or etiquette that can be a challenge. But life is full of such challenges and learning to cope with them is an essential skill.
Updated
Yasemin’s Answer
Hi Katrina ! I did not dorm during college but many of my friends did! It isn't bad, sometimes there can be disagreements but usually there is a resident adviser (RA) that helps facilitate things in the dorms. My best friend actually met her good friend initially as roommates so who knows?! There's also a lot of opportunities as well for living near campus; for example after first or second year, close friends can rent an apartment. This is also a cheaper option than dorming but it is important to be wary and make this decision with individuals who you have gotten to know and can trust well especially since you will be sharing the rent/utilities fee.
I hope this helps!
I wish you the best future undergrad!
I hope this helps!
I wish you the best future undergrad!
Updated
Jezreel’s Answer
I’ve never formed myself but I used to visit my friends in their dorms. I remember vividly in suites, where there’s multiple rooms in a suite and a couple bathrooms, there were several people with different household etiquette, and there was always drama due to differences. I agree with Ashley, try to get along with your roommates; if not, you’re not going to be happy living everyday with people and habits that bug you. Aside from that aspect, college is fun and enjoyable, so despite the differences, everyone primarily has the best time their college years! Good luck!
Updated
Noah’s Answer
It's a fun experience that I enjoyed in college. You have an opportunity to build relationships with people from different places and also live a bit more independently. Be open to people who have different experiences, perspectives, and ways of living from yourself and you will get plenty out of it.
Updated
Ashley’s Answer
Living with someone in a dorm can be a really fun experience! Typically, rooms are shared by 2-3 students of the same sex. Living with another person is always an adjustment. If possible, try to room with someone who has similar interests and habits as you do. My roommate in college became one of my best friends - we both were athletes in high school and business majors in college. Having common interests makes it much easier to room with someone else!