One of the bigger shocks to the system that occurs when a student goes from living at their parent’s house and going to high school to starting the college experience is going to be dorm living. As a college student, you’ll be staying in a dorm for at least four years, and this is where you’re expected to thrive on your own.
And there are as many different types of dorm experiences as there are people living in the world. But, a few things you can always rely on in terms or organization and adjustment are listed below.
These points of interest include the types of lodging in dorms, the culture that comes with them, the noise you’ll be dealing with, the hours of sleep and activity, and the opportunities that present themselves within the mediated hive mentality that comes with signing that first lease.
If you’re about to start your journey as a college student, read on so you’ll know what to expect when you start living in a dorm:
The Lodgings
For the most part, college dorms aren’t going to equate to the Ritz hotel. And though you won’t be charged for it, dorm rooms will often need window repairs, door repairs, and even things like new carpets. If that last occupants were particularly rowdy, you may end up even having to figure out ways to brush up some holes that may have been put in the walls. All in the course of normal, homework-centric days, of course.
Still, you can choose to stay in dorms that have been properly maintained by its management. Omnia Space, for one, is a great option if you want to start living in your dorm ASAP and not spend time on repairs or replacements.
The Culture
It’s difficult to explain dorm room culture in general, and it’s even harder to pinpoint what kind of cultural phenomenon you’re going to experience in specific buildings at specific colleges during specific times. The one thing that’s for certain is that especially your first time around in any dorm room experience, there’s going to be a culture shock that you’d better be prepared to handle!
In a dorm, you’ll be living with several students who come from different countries and have different cultures. If you want to easily adapt to this kind of environment, always have an open mind and accept that other students will behave differently. Instead of expecting them to have the same tradition as you, respect their culture or learn more about it.
The Noise
If you’re used to sleeping and living in a quiet environment, you’re going to be in for a bit of a transition period when you move into your first dorm room. Even though there are certain places that are often designated as quiet areas, it’s important to understand that because of the amount of activity going on around you, the idea of sleep in college is going to take on an entirely new meaning.
Even if you’re planning to stay in a dorm alone, don’t expect that the environment will be quiet at night. Keep in mind that there are several other students staying in the building, most of which will be wide awake up during your sleeping time.
When you’re in bed trying to get some sleep, expect that you’ll likely hear noise from students who are chatting or even playing sports in the hallway. You might even see yourself struggling to get some shuteye as some students walk loudly in the halls.
The Hours
If you’ve only lived by yourself or with your parents before, then you’re pretty used to making your own hours when it comes to your sleeping and waking arrangements. However, once the college experience starts, you’ll quickly have to adapt to the people around you. The better your attitude about this arrangement, the better your experience will be.
If you’re going to live alone in your dorm, you need to wake up a little earlier as you have to prepare your meals on your own. Your parents won’t be there to do this so you’ll have to make changes to your schedule.
The Opportunities
One thing that living in a dorm brings to the equation that can often be overlooked with all of the perceived negatives of the situation, is the fact that there are so many more opportunities to connect with people than you’d have otherwise. Dozens if not hundreds of people will be available within walking distance for you to share ideas with, and that in itself is a reason to choose dorm life in the first place.
Takeaway Points
Living in a dorm comes with pros and cons. If you want to maximize your experience as a college student, you should be prepared for all of these. This information will help manage your expectation and even encourage you to look for solutions for possible problems that might occur when you start living in a dorm.
