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Survive Dorm Life: Rules to Live By

Where else can you make lasting friendships, have too many all-nighters and eat lots of ramen all under one roof? Dorms add a lot to the college experience, giving you the opportunity to live with students who are going through the same things you are. Know what to expect once you move in and get the most out of your dorm experience.

Get the Scoop

Get informed about your housing office’s policies to make sure your dorm life starts out great. “Read your student handbook, or at least gloss over it. Many of your questions are probably answered in it,” says Danielle Knabjian Molina, Associate Director of Residential Life at Vassar College. If you have further questions, ask your residential advisor or another representative of the housing office.

• Find out what electronic appliances are allowed in your residence hall. “Due to fire safety regulations and electricity constraints, some colleges restrict the types of appliances you may have in your room,” Molina says. Regulated or banned items include microwaves, hotpots, halogen lamps and coffee makers. Though some personal items are not allowed, many colleges contract with refrigerator companies to provide refrigerator/microwave units which meet special electrical restrictions.
• Decorating your room is allowed, but prepare to follow a few guidelines. Ask whether or not you can use tape on the walls, because some colleges only allow less damaging sticky tabs or tacks. Also, for fire safety, there are colleges that won’t allow you to display large tapestries on walls, hang fabric from the ceiling, light candles or burn incense in the room.
• Every college has a different policy on pets. Some only allow fish, while others allow slightly larger pets as long as they’re in a terrarium or a confined space. Dogs and cats are generally not allowed. If you do have a pet, you will have to arrange for feeding and care during long breaks.
• Ask what the residence hall’s rules are on smoking. “State regulations and college policies play a determining role in how residence hall rooms are regulated,” Molina says. Whether you are or aren’t a smoker, find out which residence halls are right for your lifestyle.

Keep Your Keys

Make sure your keys and ID card are with you at all times. “Getting locked out or losing these items can be a big inconvenience and lead to a large fine,” Molina warns. And don’t keep your keys and your ID together -— if you lose them, whoever finds them knows what room they can get into.

Use Your Resources

Resident advisors, house officers, resident directors, academic advisors, and all administrative offices are there to help you. If you don’t know where to go for help, these people are trained to find the resources you need. But you must be proactive, insists Molina. If you have a roommate problem or need something fixed, take action. The only one who can start the change for you is you.

Get Involved

The great thing about the dorms is that they offer leadership positions for everyone. Take advantage of them! From individual hall governments to the Residential Hall Association to volunteer groups, there’s definitely something to help you get more connected to your hall and to your campus.

Know the College Calendar

Arrange your travel plans around the residence hall’s opening and closing dates each semester. “Although some may help you out, many colleges will not make special arrangements for you if you have not planned ahead,” Molina says. This means you have to be out before the hall closes and you won’t be able to get back in until it opens again.

Keep an Open Mind

The best part of residential life is the diversity it exposes you to. Students of all kinds live together and share their college experiences. As Molina says, “Whether you see it as a learning experience or a social playground, enjoy it for what it is.”

Once you’ve moved in, the dorm will be your home away from home. Get all the facts on dorm life at your school and make the most of this incredible experience.

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