Almost everyone has to do it, but everyone dreads going through it. It’s living in a dorm.
You could be living in a traditional style, suite, or a apartment. No matter what living style you’re in, a dorm can be quite the adventure.
Hopefully these tips listed will help you have the best dorm living adventure!
1. Decorate! Decorate! Decorate!
That room is yours for a whole year, and you are going to live, breath, sleep, and eat in that dorm so make it more YOU. When someone walks in the dorm make him or her see a reflection of your personality inside of your dorm.
2. Pack some and then unpack more
That top you want to bring, because you never know when that one special event is going to happen, needs to STAY at home. When moving into a dorm it is always best to under pack than over pack. Move in with the items that you brought, and then see how everything fits into you small space. Later on, if you think that top is still necessary you can go get from home on a break, or you can get your parents to mail it to you.
3. Personal space, everyone needs it
Whether you know your roommate or you just met them, invading personal space is a no no. Setting ground rules from the beginning can really help with what both of you consider personal space, and if you don’t mind them borrowing your stuff from time to time. If you become overwhelmed, you can always find a quiet place on campus to get out of your room for a minute.
4. Get out of your bed
Try not to stay cooped up in your dorm room and waste away the day. If you live in traditional or suite dorms you will usually have a living room down the hall or a place where you can hang out, so you can get to know the people in your building better!
5. Get to know your Residential Advisor or Community Mentor
Whether you know them as RA, CM, or the personal who always says hi to me even though I don’t know who they are; well get to know them. They are usually upperclassman so they will know more about your school, residence hall, or clubs you are interested in that you can use to your advantage. They are there to talk to you, and help you out with in the best possible way.
6. Stay open-minded
Staying open-minded will help with being around different personalities, and people you may have to deal with on your hall. Everyone goes through college differently, and you have to respect everyone’s space.
7. Talk to the people on the elevator!
I cannot tell you how many people I have met on the elevator. Some cool some not so cool, but they will remember you. It’s a social norm to just get on and say nothing, but you are living in the same building as them, and may see them again so you might as well as say something. And if things didn’t go as planned, the elevator will stop, they will get off and you may never see them again.