Living the Dorms

It is important to contact your roommate as soon as you find out who they are. A good way to do this is through Facebook. Once you get a hold of them you should decide what each of you should bring. Some must haves for the dorm are a microwave, mini-fridge, carpet or rug, and TV. Of course you may want to bring more things like a futon or bean bag chair, but you should start first with the items you can't live without.
When move in time comes most stores around the school will have pretty good sales on most of these items and you should be able to get a reasonable price so it is a good idea to wait until you move in to get what you need. Another good way to get these things is from older siblings or friends who are moving out of the dorms and no longer need them. Garage sales are also a good spot to look for these things.

There is always that lingering fear that you won’t like your roommate and this is a possibility. Hopefully this won’t happen to you but if it does there are a couple things you can do. You could find something you both have in common an activity or TV show you both like and try to spend time doing something you both enjoy together and you may find you will get along for at least a short time.

If this is not a possibility for you, you could try and make friends with the people on your floor so you can have somewhere to hang out when your roommate is bugging you. Plus it is always good to have friends around you.

If your roommate is just absolutely horrible and you’re afraid they’re going to kill you in your sleep you can always talk to your dorm supervisor about switching rooms. Yes it is a hassle but you would rather be comfortable in your own space then have to walk on eggshells around your psycho roommate.

Living in the dorms is great fun but it can be dangerous if you don’t know how to protect yourself. The dorms can often give you a false sense of security. Although you may feel that everyone around you is your friend you still have to keep in mind you just met these people and you don’t know what they are capable of. To stay safe in the dorms always make sure to lock your door when you are showering, sleeping, or alone at night and of course always lock it when you leave to prevent theft.

While keeping your door locked at certain times is good leaving your door propped open during the day especially the first couple of weeks at school is a great way to meet people. Leaving your door open makes you much more approachable and don’t be afraid to go to other rooms with open doors and introduce yourself. They left it open for a reason and remember everyone is in the same boat as you, moving away from their friends and family at home, everyone is looking to make friends.