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Everything You Need to Know About Living in a Dorm

Living in a dorm is an exciting time for college students, but it does come with its fair share of challenges. When you move into your college dorm for the first time, you might be surprised how different it is from living at home, which can take some getting used to.

It’s common for students to feel a little homesick or lonely as they get accustomed to their new college lifestyle. Once you spend some time adjusting to your new living conditions, you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in the college environment and make some pretty awesome memories. And It’s okay to feel nervous about moving away from home for the first time — trust me, you’re not alone.

The information ahead will cover everything you need to know about living in a dorm, as well as key tips to help make your dorm life more enjoyable. By utilizing this guide, you can prepare yourself for life on campus and overcome challenges that many students struggle with.

What's Living in a Dorm Like?

Sharing a tiny room with a complete stranger over a long period of time can seem scary, but it’s not as bad as the horror stories you might’ve heard. Living with a roommate (or roommates) will have its difficulties early on as the both you get used to one another.

Some students get lucky with a roommate that is just like them, whereas others end up with a someone who is polar opposite. Regardless of your roommate situation, it’s important to always be respectful of their lifestyle. While their background or culture might differ from yours, it doesn’t mean the both of you can’t get along.

It’s not uncommon for roommates to become good friends despite having completely different personalities. Roommate relationships play a big part in the quality of your dorm life, so when disagreements occur — and they will — try your best to properly communicate with them and resolve the situation.

Living in a dorm also means having less privacy than what you’re probably used to. And the amount of privacy you do get will be determined by the style of dorm you live in. The residence halls vary from college to college, but most freshman usually live in shared rooms known as doubles, which include two beds, two desks, and two dressers.

Additionally, freshman will likely have to share communal bathrooms with other students on their floor. However, not all colleges have dorms like this. Some colleges have suite-style dorm rooms consisting of multiple bedrooms, a shared bathroom, and a full kitchen.

Living in a Dorm: Pros and Cons

We’ve covered some of the basics about what it’s like to live in a dorm, but there’s still a lot of information that needs to be covered. Dorm life is filled with many valuable learning experiences. Once you figure out how to stay productive and look after your well-being in a college environment, you can take what you’ve learned and use it to become a better version of yourself.

Living on campus isn’t for everyone, but there’s no denying how well it can bring students together and create a unique way of life.

It also forces students to become more independent and take more responsibility for their actions.

Many colleges require students to stay on campus their first year. If this is the case with your college, then knowing the advantages and disadvantages of living in a dorm can give you a better idea of what it’ll be like.

Pro: Sense of Community

Campus life is all about socializing and building connections with fellow students. Being in close proximity to everyone can feel like a burden at times but also makes it really easy to meet new people. Staying in a dorm on campus helps antisocial students overcome their anxiety, which means they’ll spend less time isolating themselves and more time making friends.

Once you move into your dorm, you’ll have your own social network that’s unique to your school. Dorms are a key part of the college experience because it gives students a place to bond and support one another.

And what brings it all together is all the fun activities and community-events that go on within every residence hall. Expect your resident advisor to host a number of different activities — movies nights, dinner parties, game nights, and holiday decorating — to boost student engagement.

Pro: Safety

Feeling unsafe is a fear many new students struggle with when they move away from home for the first time. Luckily, colleges work very hard to maintain a safe environment for everyone. Every college has security personnel that patrol campus grounds, along with 24-hour surveillance and a safety office in case you ever need to report an emergency.

Your campus may also have panic buttons or blue light boxes scattered around campus, which provide an easy way for students to alert authorities and campus officials if they ever feel their safety is in danger.

Additionally, colleges are starting to take a more proactive approach when it comes to spreading awareness about safety on campus. Through programs and seminars, students can learn about crime prevention strategies, risk factors to avoid while on campus, and ways to better defend themselves.

Pro: Amenities

One of the great things about college is the amount amenities you have access to. And since you’ll be on campus, you can use them nearly anytime you want.

Need a quiet place to study where no one will interrupt you? Head to the library. Getting hungry? Walk over to your dining hall and grab something to eat. Looking for a place to hangout at while you have some free time? Try one of the student lounges. Want to get a good workout in? Use the gym on campus.

All the services and facilities you need to achieve success and maximize your time in college are all within walking distance. The convenience factor alone is a huge advantage for dorm students. That’s not even mentioning all the other helpful resources, such as career services, academic advisors, and learning centers.

Con: Lack of Privacy

As I mention earlier, dorm life doesn’t come with much privacy, especially if you have to share a room with one or more roommates. Your room isn’t the only thing you’ll have to share with other students. Between communal bathrooms, shower rooms, and laundry facilities, it’s safe to say your alone time will be quite limited.

And having loud neighbors in the dorm rooms beside yours can make things even worse. With so many people causing distractions around you, it becomes difficult to study, get work done, and sleep. With any luck, your floor will have mandatory quiet hours so you can actually focus on course assignments and get some much-needed rest.

Con: Expensive

Despite some dorm rooms being really small, they can still cost ten of thousands of dollars a year. It all depends on the type of college you attend. Private schools are, of course, going to be more expensive; public ones won’t be cheap either, especially large universities.

You also have to take into consideration the price of your meal plan, as well as paying to do laundry and buying groceries. What’s more, if you have your car on campus, you’ll have to pay for a parking pass — most schools don’t let first-year students bring their cars, though.

You soon realize how expensive college can be once you combine dorm living costs with the price of tuition and other expenses. It’s important to weigh all your options before you decide if living on campus is for you. You might find you’re better suited living somewhere off campus.

Con: Strict Rules

Dorms have a handful of rules that are enforced by RAs and other staff members. Expect your dorm to have strict visiting hour policies for guests. Depending on where you go, your college might not allow overnight visitors or visitors after a specified time. You also might be required to leave your door open whenever you have people over.

What’s more, colleges have a list of prohibited items that aren’t allowed in dorms, which includes alcohol, illegal substances, weapons, and anything deemed a fire hazard — pets will be prohibited as well if the college isn’t pet-friendly.

It’s standard policy for colleges to perform regular dorm room inspections at least once a semester. Whoever does the inspection will search for contraband or any other items that aren’t allowed on campus.

Key Tips for Living in a Dorm

Since dorm life can be such a big part of your overall college journey, it’s important to prepare yourself for the challenges that come with it. The more prepared you are, the less overwhelmed you’ll feel when you move in. Don’t let your dorm become an unbearable living environment. Learn how to make your dorm a place you actually enjoy spending time in by checking out the tips below.

1. Communicate With Your Roommate

Never take for granted the importance of a healthy roommate relationship. Your roommate is the person you’ll be sharing your living space with, so it’s crucial you get off on the right foot with them by establishing good communication; the same can be said for any other roommates you have.

Start by getting to know them a little bit and learn what their interests are. This is a good way to become more friendly with each other and discover what you two have in common. From there, you and roommate can begin to set some ground rules to avoid future conflicts.

There’s a good possibility the both of you will have different habits, schedules, and personalities, so when creating ground rules, try to accommodate for those differences. Be willing to compromise on certain things in order to respect your roommate’s needs. Here are some basic living arrangements to discuss with your roommate:

Having friends over
Sharing items
Cleaning responsibilities
Study times
Allergies
Buying groceries
Privacy/alone time
Sleep schedules

2. Keep it Clean and Organized

Having a messy dorm room isn’t good for you or your roommate’s overall health. By prioritizing the cleanliness of your dorm, you’ll create a healthier living environment that boosts productivity, reduces anxiety, and even improve sleep quality.

Be sure to invest in cleaning supplies, such as a vacuum, an all-purpose cleaning spray, and disinfectant wipes, to make the process of cleaning your dorm easier and less time consuming. It’s also a smart idea to add in some extra storage to your dorm, which will help limit clutter and keep your things more organized.

Check out the guide below for effective tips on keeping your dorm organized, along with storage solutions that can be used to maximize your small living space.

3. Get to Know the RA

Whether you need help getting situated when you first move in, have problems with a roommate, or need some academic advice, your resident advisor (or resident assistant) will be there to help in anyway they can. RAs are trained mentors who serve a key role for students living in dorms and other housing on campus.

Their main duties are to enforce the rules of the dormitory, as well as promote a safe and enjoyable living environment for students by hosting fun dorm activities, mediating roommate conflicts, and helping students adjust to their new living conditions.

You might’ve heard stories of how strict RAs can be, but most of the time, they are very understand since they are students themselves. When it comes to dorm life, RAs are an invaluable resource. Make an effort to get to know your RA because they can make a huge difference in your college journey.

4. Invest in a Mini Fridge

Any student who has lived in a dorm before knows how crucial it is to own a mini fridge. Having one in your dorm allows you to store drinks, perishable foods, and any leftovers all in one convenient location. A mini fridge gives you more options when it comes to the foods you want to eat and when you want to eat them.

Instead of being forced to eat at your dinning hall everyday, you can buy some healthy foods at the grocery store and keep them in your mini fridge. This way, you’ll be able to grab a quick snack before class or eat a meal in your dorm without wasting time and energy running over to the dinning hall.

You won’t have to throw out food you don’t finish anymore either. Mini fridges are perfect for storing any leftover foods you get from a restaurant or somewhere on campus.

5. Upgrade Your Dorm Bed

Dorm beds are notorious for being uncomfortable. Unfortunately, most colleges don’t allow you to bring your own mattress if you’re living in one of their residence halls. An off-campus apartment or suite might have different policies, but typically, you’re stuck with the worn out twin XL mattress that’s supplied by the college.

If you actually want to get some decent sleep on your dorm bed and not wake up stiff, then purchase a high-quality mattress topper for it. Another good addition to your mattress is an ergonomic pillow that properly supports your head and neck for perfect alignment. These two items alone will drastically improve your sleep quality.

6. Make it Feel Homey

In college, your dorm essentially becomes your home away from home, but it won’t feel that way at first. It’s important to decorate your dorm and add some personality to it. This way, it won’t look so bland and depressing.

Decorating also allows you to showcase your interests. Make the dorm your own by hanging up your favorite posters or memorable photos. With the right lighting, some decorative items, and a few mementos to remind you of home, you’ll be able to transform your dorm into a warm and inviting living space.

7. Stock Up on Food

It’s always convenient to have food in your dorm in case you get hungry when the dinning hall isn’t open. There’s plenty of other situations where having food in your dorm can come in handy, too — having friends over for a movie night, need to make a quick meal, or just get a craving for something.

I recommend having a good mix of healthy snacks and nutrient-rich foods, such as low-fat yogurts, nuts, apples, and carrots, just to name a few. Adding in more nutritious foods to your diet can improve your immune system, cognitive skills, and academic performance.

8. Prioritize Necessities

More often than not, students end up packing way too much stuff their freshman year of college. It’s not until summer break that students realize they should’ve focused on packing necessities instead of a bunch of nonessential items.

To prevent yourself from doing this, try prioritizing the things you’re going to need in college, such as school supplies, toiletries, and a durable backpack. Avoid packing too much clothes because the amount storage space in your dorm is limited. Additionally, try not to bring too many valuables or sentimental items so you don’t risk them getting stolen or misplaced.

9. Spend Time Away From Your Dorm

Isolating yourself in your dorm room when you feel stressed out or overwhelmed will just make your mental health worse. Instead, get outside and spend time at other places besides your dorm more often. Just taking a walk around campus can help clear your head and boost your energy levels.

Being away from your dorm also means you can get some alone time, which even the most socially confident extroverts need once in awhile. Check out some local coffee shops, the library on campus, or even an empty classroom. These are perfect places for getting some alone time to study and focus on coursework.

What’s more, if your college has a recreation center, you can use their facilities to workout and play games with friends. Another quick tip: take advantage of your school’s learning center — it’s a great resource to use if you’re ever struggling with certain assignments.