Kayla
What are some things I should know about living on campus?
I have almost all of my stuff for my dorm, but is living in a dorm going to be hard adjusting to? What are some things I should expect while living on campus? Is it easy to make friends with people who live in the same hall as you? #college #college-bound #college-student #college-life #outdoor-recreation
2 answers
Sharon Owens, MBA, CPSM
Sharon’s Answer
Hi!
Living in a dorm turned out much better than I expected. I never had to share a room before but was fortunate to know my roommate in advance. It's important to discuss "rules" for the room. For example, having friends/boyfriends over, falling asleep with tv on, etc. Living in a dorm can be a wonderful experience because you get a chance to make friendships outside of the classroom. These bonds can last a lifetime. You do have to be cautious that you may be sharing a bathroom with many people and they may not have the same expectation of what's "clean". Also, sometimes it can be a bit noisy but if that bothers you than invest in good headphones. :)
Overall, it's an exciting experience so soak it all up and enjoy it.
Gloria Ortiz
Gloria’s Answer
I think that your challenges are going to depend on where you are going to school and what is important to you. I went to college in a small town with the surrounding town did not have a lot of young people or diversity. There was limited mass transit and I didn't have a car, so I was stuck on campus a lot of the time. Looking back, I would have gone to a school in a bigger city with more options on things to do and people to interact with.
Otherwise, the hardest thing is dealing with homesickness. With that, the most important element to me would be finding yourself in the area where you live. Make sure that you continue things that you did at home - find a church, find a dance or art class, volunteer, etc. Also it is a good idea to join on campus groups to connect with people who have shared interests.
Gloria