Transitioning to Dorm Life

 

College is an exciting time, and for freshmen, this move can be exciting, but also quite overwhelming. While it’s a whole new chapter, you might wonder the best way to get into the transition. To start off correctly, here’s some good tips for college freshmen to try, especially when they’re looking to properly succeed with this transition. 

The Move itself 

The move from your home you’ve lived in all your life to a dorm is definitely overwhelming. You do want to pack what you need, especially since space is limited, and you’re going to share it with a roommate, so you want to make sure that you don’t try to bring the whole bedroom, but think of this more like a new start, and use this to decorate the room in a way that’s fun, and really showcases your personality. 

You should also check with your college through to figure out what’s fine and what’s not fine to bring to a college campus. For example, appliances to cook, heaters, or items that require exact installation are usually not okay, but always check before you do move. The best thing to do in this case is go to the basics, stick to this, and don’t just try to bring everything out of house and home for school. 

Using the space aptly 

Dorms are small, and they usually fit at most, three people. It’s likely that you’ll probably have at least one roommate in college, so make sure you’re using the space effectively. Arrange your furniture so that it fits your needs. Work with the roommate to rearrange the room. This is also a good way to get to know them better so it’s not super awkward. 

Bed raisers and lofting is a good way to help make sure that the bed is comfy for both of you. Some colleges do have bed frames that are adjustable, but not every school has those. Lofting also offers for storing toes better, reduces the floor space, and let you organize better, lowering the messes and limiting this to offer a more friendly and welcoming place. Consider getting those stackable drawers to help keep a small space properly organized for a long time. 

The rules 

Every single dorm will have some kind of rules. When you move, you should learn this, and also know who the resident assistant, or RA is, or the student leader is. They will usually call what’s called a floor meeting to talk about the rules, including when guests can sign in, the quiet hours, and also etiquette in the halls. 

Some dorms may not allow drinking, which can result in expulsion from housing. The same is for drug use. Guest policies vary on colleges but are usually set based on certain hours where residents can have guests around, the guests that are allowed, and any other qualifications necessary. 

The roommates 

Some people may have a roommate. This is usually good to help socialize, but many of them do become friends for the rest of their life. This is something that’s important to make sure that you get right, since this is someone you’re going to be living with. 

If mismatched, let them know right away, and see if there are solutions.  Sometimes, you may need a different roommate if the disagreements get to be too much. The best way to go about this is to treat them how you’d like to be treated, don’t touch stuff that’s not yours, and obviously, don’t bother them if they’re studying, and you’ll have a good experience even if mismatched.