January 10, 2012

How Nice Is Your Dorm?

When the summer is in full swing, millions of incoming freshman like you make their way to college. This may be your first time away from your parents. This is an eye opening experience and a life lesson for you. After selecting the college you want to attend, one of the most important decisions left to make is the rooming situation, a.k.a. dorming. There are many different options and combinations that colleges can offer you. But most likely you are to find the following two options, a traditional double or a suite style double room.

The 1st type of dorm (traditional double) is one that houses two students with most basic amenities. Incoming freshman are placed with one roommate in their dorm, sometimes through personality polls. These polls are great for matching up two night owls or quiet studiers together. Colleges try their hardest to find roommates that would be compatible matches. For sleeping, the beds will be situated on opposite sides of the room, with a desk and some sort of storage space given to each student. Depending on your dorm, some offer sinks in the dorm room. This is way more convenient than walking down the hall just to brush your teeth and definitely something to look for. The entire floor or wing of a dorm will share a common bathroom facility. Meaning you will have a large bathroom with many individual bathroom stalls to shower. In the higher end dorms, there are sometimes kitchen facilities to prepare your own food. If not though, a quick walk to the College Café solves the hunger.

The 2nd dorm type (suite style double room) that a freshman would be placed in has a little bit more privacy than the 1st. You do still have a roommate (but that is what the college dorming experience is all about). You and your roommate share a bathroom with another dorm room. Meaning that instead of a community bathroom, two pairs of students would share a bathroom in between their dorms. This provides much more privacy and a lot less student traffic. Sinks will be located in the bathroom, so it is much easier and convenient than the community bathroom set-up. Whether or not these rooms have a community kitchen entirely depends on the college.

When searching colleges and especially during a campus tour from a guide, ask questions!!!! Tour guides have been dorming at college for at least a semester and know the ins and outs of dorm living. A tour guide will be able to show you inside a dorm, so you can see exactly the type of room you will be spending your college years in. Make a list of questions about dorming and take them with you and just maybe you will find the right accommodation for yourself.

-Dylan Swartz

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