One of the most stressful things to deal with second semester is choosing housing for sophomore year. Between picking a roommate and deciding the best place to live, choosing housing for next year can be a traumatic experience. There is just so much to think about like, whom you should room with? Will they make a good roommate? Do I want a suite or a double? All these questions and options can make anyone want to pull their hair out, and ultimately the question that crosses all of our minds, should I just live on the street next year to avoid the whole experience all together?
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Stage 1: Deciding if you want a suite vs. a double
The first stage in deciding housing for next year is deciding whether you want a suite or a double, which is a deciding factor on how many roommates you will have next year. If you want to live with more people and have a small little group to call your roomies, then a suite is best for you. If you want more of a quiet/ low key living style maybe a double is what you’re looking for. After sophomore year you can throw in the added drama of choosing to live in groups of 4, 6, 8 or even 10.
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Stage 2: Choosing a roommate/roommates
The second stage and definitely the most stressful are choosing roommate/ roommates for next year. As the semester moves along, each passing day without a roommate for next year can give anyone mini panic attacks through out the day because it’s a big decision. Although you might be best friends with someone that does not mean that they would be the best roommates, because lets face it, some people you just can’t live with. So choose wisely collegiettes and do not make a decision you will regret!
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Stage 3: Choosing a residential college vs. regular dorm
The third stage is deciding whether you want to choose a residential college or a regular dorm. At Fairfield the university offers dorms called “residential colleges” where you are in a living and learning community and take some of the same classes as the people in your dorm. Being in a residential college offers a learning-based community where you can really connect with those in your dorm. However, there is the other option, such as living in a regular dorm and keeping school and living two separate things, which some people prefer.
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Stage 4: Choosing the dorm
Once you decide what kind of dorm you want the next step is actually choosing the dorm you want to live in. There are a lot of different factors to consider while choosing a dorm such as where on campus you want to live. Location is a huge factor while choosing a dorm and it all plays into what you want out of your dorm. Also certain dorms have different rooms and bathroom situations so deciding what you and your roommate(s) want is important.
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Stage 5: Filling out the paper work
Finally when everything has been decided it is time to put in writing and fill the paper work necessary to get a certain dorm for next year. But once the paper work is all filed all you can do is hope and pray that you get in the dorm of your choice!
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May the odds be ever in your favor, collegiettes…Â