Knowing Your Options: Which Dorm Is Best For You?

Ah, the choices you’ll make in college. One of the biggest choices is selecting which dorm you should live in. Most schools have a lottery system to decide who will get first dibs among you and your fellow incoming freshman. (Actually, if you’re already in school and looking to dorm again next year, you’ll probably be subject to the same lottery system, but you should have a better ranking given your seniority.) Regardless, you’ll probably have a couple options to choose from. Don’t just go with your gut! Do a bit of research.

If you visited your school prior to enrolling, you probably got to see at least one dorm. Some dorms are designated as freshman-only, while others have upperclassmen too. In truth, this factor probably isn’t that significant; don’t be afraid of sophomores hazing you! (That would be so high school.) There are some other big factors, however. First off, there’s location. Living closer to most of the academic buildings around campus obviously means a shorter commute to class and less instances of you being late. Both of those are nice benefits. Most buildings on your school’s campus are likely broken up into subject-specific areas. For example, a few buildings may hold the majority of science classes while one or two buildings may be where all engineering classes are taught. So if you know what classes you plan to take, you can potentially live close by.

Most on-campus cafeterias are located near or within the same buildings as dorms, which can be super convenient! Given college life’s changing and sometimes hectic schedule, it can be easy to skip meals and just eat snacks throughout the day. Yet if you live right by the cafeteria, you’re that much more likely to eat something decent at least a couple times a day. You can even grab breakfast while still wearing your PJs and slippers! Ok, that sounds a little strange, but keep your eye out. You’re bound to see at least a couple diners who quite literally just woke up.

Not all dorm buildings are created equal. Some might very well be newer than others, so try and research your school’s website a bit or ask which dorms were more newly built or renovated. You might not necessarily want to live in a newer dorm, but oftentimes they do have nicer-looking rooms and all-around better upkeep. While touring a school, most colleges like to showcase their newer dorms, but be aware that you might be stuck in a much older dorm your first year! Once again, try and research the various dorm buildings, and if you’re lucky, you can land a spot in a freshly renovated living facility.

While not all dorms have a cafeteria connected to them, some could have a nice gym or even a pool connected or nearby. It’s worth checking out what extras are included in your dorm. No, they’re not hotels, so don’t go looking for any ice machines. But if there is a gym right on the ground floor of your dorm, it’ll take that much less motivation to go.

Where you live your first year probably won’t make or break your freshman year of college. However, if you do find yourself with options, it’s worth taking the time to make an informed decision. Last but not least, the size of your dorm room will probably vary by which dorm you live in! Some will be tiny, and others will still be small yet slightly more spacious. So if you want more space (and who doesn’t?), take a peek inside a few different dorms if you can. And if you can’t actually enter the dorms, ask your friendly campus staff about it!