@emmasilver2332

2 years ago

My other tips for surviving college dorm life: 1: If you have the option of getting apartment-style living, do it. Then you won't have to do the 200 meter dash every time you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, and you don't have to worry as much about foot fungus or any of that crap. It's often more expensive that way, but trust me, it's worth the extra money. 2: Set a code of conduct with your roommate(s)/suitemate(s) the day you move in, possibly before that if you know who your they will be and how to contact them ahead of time. Trust me, laying down some ground rules first-thing will prevent a lot of arguments down the road. 3: If you have any kind of food allergies (especially if they're uncommon), don't get a meal plan unless it's required and/or your campus has enough dining options that you can be sure are safe for you. If you're required to get a meal plan and your diet doesn't really mesh well with what's offered, and the school won't make an exception for you, purchase the cheapest meal plan that's available. This way, you can have maximum control over what's in the food that you eat while losing the smallest amount of money possible. 4: Know what's allowed and not allowed in your campus housing BEFORE you decide to move in. A lot of campuses have restrictions on pets, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, candles, and/or other things that you may already own. The worst thing about moving is having to get rid of stuff because either there's no room for it or it's not allowed where you live. The only thing worse than that is being evicted because you get caught possessing something that violates the housing policies. 5: If you don't have a private bedroom that has a working locking mechanism, purchase a high-security safe for all your important documents, prescription medications, and other valuables that you can't easily replace. I'd recommend getting that anyways, you can never be too careful. 6: Be aware of what your roommate(s)/suitemate(s) already have before purchasing any sharable items and checking to see if your dorm already comes with it. You don't want to spend money on a toaster, a crockpot, a blender, a stand mixer, a blow dryer, a rice cooker, a mini-fridge/freezer, pasta strainers of six different sizes, twelve different cutting boards, two muffin pans, two cookie sheets, a knife set, and a whole bunch of various kitchen utensils only for your roomie(s) to show up with their own stuff that they were planning on sharing with you anyways. I'd recommend meeting up with your roomie(s) over Zoom beforehand to discuss what you already have and what you collectively need to purchase, then coordinate who's going to purchase what. 7: Purchase some earplugs, earmuffs, or noise-cancelling headphones. Trust me. You'll need it. 8: Maintain a regular cleaning schedule between you and your roommate(s). We typically use Saturdays as our cleaning day; we clean the floors, shower/tub, toilet, sinks, stove, mirrors, windows, doorknobs, and microwave once a week; we deep clean the cabinets, doors, fridge, and oven once every couple of months; and we wash the walls and baseboards once a quarter. Daily cleaning chores include dishes, tables, counters, and just cleaning up messes as they happen. You can pick whichever cleaning schedule fits for you, but make sure all of your roommate(s) are in agreement. 9: Do not, I repeat do NOT use tape, nails, or screws on the walls; these will damage the walls, and the university will charge you for the damages. If you want to hang posters, use poster putty instead. If you have anything that's too heavy for poster putty, put it in a cheap frame and prop it up on your desk, shelves, windowsill, dresser, or other flat surfaces you have available. 10: Check to see what's already provided by the university before you purchase ANYTHING, especially if it's expensive. If the university has a fitness center, chances are you won't need to purchase a set of weights. If your dorm room comes with a refrigerator, you won't need to buy your own. You get the picture. 11: Learn basic conflict-resolution skills, so that if a conflict happens between your roommate(s)/suitemate(s), floormates, or anyone else you happen to interact with, you can deescalate the tension and help facilitate an environment where you can work together to solve the problem before it creates future conflicts. 12: Voice your concerns and pet peeves to your roommate(s). Don't automatically assume they're doing it specifically to ruin your day. Chances are, they're only doing it because they don't think it's bothering anyone. So long as you're diplomatic in your approach they'll likely be willing to stop the behavior, or at least come up with a compromise. But when you bottle up all that stuff inside you, that's a recipe for disaster.

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