What To Expect From College Dorm Life
Year after year, incoming freshmen tremble at the very thought of communal living. Their fears are exaggerated by rumors, movies, and other sources of false information. Two of the most dreaded components of college dorm life are living with a roommate(s) and sharing new facilities. Here, we will hopefully shed some light on the infamous college dormitory, while providing you with tips to help you cope with your new home away from home.
Some college students will be sharing a room for the first time, and with a perfect stranger(s). So, set aside all of your preconceived fears about the idea of living with a roommate(s). Remember that these students are just as afraid as you are, so you both have this adjustment in common already.
Actually, you may have more in common with your roommate than just fear. The survey that your university sent to you with housing information was done in order to match you with a roommate(s). So, in theory, this person should be more compatible with you than most other students in the dorm. Here are some tips to help you kick-start your relationship with your new roommate.
1. Break the ice. Start a conversation by finding out why your university might have thought that you two would be compatible as roommates.
2. Create a schedule and a checklist of rules. Build these rules around not only your class schedule, but also work, studying, and even daily routines. This will allow you to get to know one another more completely. It will also help prevent friction later in the semester over room use, noise, and varied sleep patterns.
3. Be open and patient. You need to get acclimated to this new person in your life. Although things will not be what you are accustomed to doing, eventually, you will get used to one another. So, exercise patience as much as you can.
At first, dormitory life can seem a little bleak. There are no private bathrooms, and you may have to enter a dark, windowless room to wash your own clothes. However, things are not as bad as they may appear. Again, you will eventually find yourself getting used to college dorm life by the end of one semester. Until then, here are some ways for you to cope with your new environment.
1. Familiarize yourself with your college dorm during orientation. You can get a head start at becoming more comfortable with your new living situation if you remember where you are and what you will be doing there.
2. Wear shower shoes in the bathroom at all times. This rule is for your own safety and personal hygiene.
3. Be patient. There are limited facilities in your college dorm, so expect delays in your schedule. Being flexible with your personal routine can help you to reduce, and even avoid, jam-packed bathrooms and laundry facilities.
4. Do not leave your door unlocked. Unfortunately, there may be someone in your dorm who is not as honorable as the rest of the students. So, consider using a decorative trunk with a lock for your electronics and valuables, when you are not in the room.
5. When washing and drying your clothes, try to stay close to your belongings. Of course, this is a very dull task. However, leaving your items in a dryer is not only careless, but inconsiderate to others. Again, remember that your dorm facilities are limited.
6. For your own safety, become familiar with all fire routes.
7. Do not be afraid to consult your Resident Advisor with any important issues, or, for that matter, anyone else, with the events that bother you.
Hopefully, these tips for college life, noted above, will help you to acclimate smoothly into your college dorm life. Above all else, just remember to be patient and flexible in your new surroundings.