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College Dorm

College Dorm Living

College dorm living is one of the biggest changes a new college student will face. First, many dorms are at least two people to a room. Next, there are shared resources like bathrooms, common areas for eating or studying, and there is usually nowhere to get any real privacy.

Then there are the few hundred new friends that you need to interact with on a daily basis. Knowing how to play in that big of a sandbox can be a bit overwhelming. Add that many dorms are coed; it brings new issues to the table. For many new college students this is their first experience with being away from home and loosing the support of their family and friends.

This may be the first time many new college students make all their own daily decisions like when, where, how to eat; sleep; even get up in the morning. Not to mention fitting some class and study time in each day. That's a lot of changes and self-discipline to absorb in the first few weeks of college life.

The social aspects, the peer pressure, the grades pressure, and being on your own is a new experience. And the temptations of every kind can be alluring. Some may adapt quickly, some may need a little real world example to demonstrate the obvious (well, obvious once you've been through it).

What can you do to help? That's a tough question since every new student is different. My mother and father handled it very differently. My father looked me in the eye and said that my grades will reflect my judgment. I had to thing about that one for a while. My mother told me to just act myself, be friendly, and make sure I made it to class everyday. Of course she ended with don't worry too much about the small stuff, pay attention in class, and always make time for studying.

There was much more mentioned but that's pretty much what stuck with me. I was paying my own way so money rarely entered into the conversations although my parents helped out when ever they could. I also got at least one phone call a week (if I didn't call home) to see how things were going. Some weeks those phone calls really helped when I was having trouble with one thing or another.

I think that's the best position for most parents and family members to take. Be supportive, add a little parental guidance, and be there when they have questions. Check up on them but don't over do it. Everyone in the family can be part of the support group. Older siblings, aunts and uncles, and grandparents can all participate too.

Care packages help too. My family often sent me stuff from food to blankets. The contents always came in handy but I think the fact that you knew someone was out there and cared enough to send you something was a good thing too. Packages always had a short note on family news and even pictures.

The bottom line is every new student has to find his or her own way in learning how to deal with college dorm living. Being supportive can mean just being there when needed. Offering advice when asked, and often just listening can help make sense out of the new lifestyle. There are going to be mistakes, that's what learning is all about. The key is to try to let them know that we all go through these trials and tribulations when we are young.

About the Author

College Dorm Furniture
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What are the essentials to buy for a college dorm?

The upcoming fall is my freshman year at college! So I'm staying on campus and going to go dorm-shopping this summer or so. What things should i buy?

Essentials for Daily Living:
Pillows, Pillow Cases, Bed Sheets (Twin or Twin Extra Long if your dorm has extra long beds), Mattress Pad, Clothes Hamper, Clothes Basket, Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, Clothes Hangers, Your Clothes, Table/Desk Top Ironing Board, Iron, Over the Door Full Length Mirror, Over the Door Shoe Rack, Shower Tote/Caddy, Shower Shoes (an absolute must have), Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Soap, Razor, Shaving Gel, Body Lotion, Wash Cloths, Hand Towels, Body Towels, Bath Robe (an absolute must have), Toothbrush, Toothbrush Holder, Mouth Wash, Blow Dryer, Hair Spray (if you use it), Hair Accessories (if you use them), Perfume (if you use it), Make-up (if you use it), Back Support Pillow (for sitting up and reading or viewing television in bed), Garbage Can, Garbage Bags, Alarm Clock, Desk Lamp, First Aid Kit that Includes: Band-Aids, Ace Bandage, Small Packets of Tylenol, Benadryl, and Icy Hot, Small Bottle of Nyquil, Cough Drops, Ice Pack.

Ideals for Daily Living:
Mini-Fridge and Microwave (Can be purchased at Bed, Bath, and Beyond), Floor Lamp, Television, Stereo/Radio with CD Player, DVD Player, DVDs, CDs, Ipod or MP3 Player, Small Vacuum or Dust Buster, Coffee Pot, Bottled Water and other Beverages, Easy to Microwave Foods, Plastic Washable/Reusable Plates, Bowls, Cups, Forks, Knives and Spoons.

Essentials for Academics:
Pencils, Pens, Highlighters, White-Out Pen, Mini Stapler and Staples, Pencil Cap Erasers, Paper Clips, Index Cards (work well for flashcards and test study questions and answers), Post-It Notes, Folders with Pockets and Prongs, 3 Ring Binder (at least one), Loose Leaf Paper (for the binder), Notebooks, Graphing Calculator, Dictionary, Thesaurus, Textbooks (You'd be surprised at how many students fail to buy the books and then wonder why they fail the course!), Daily Planner/Assignment Book, Large Desk Calendar, Dry Erase Board and Dry Erase Pens.

Ideals for Academics:
Laptop Computer, USB Cord (for connecting to the internet on campus), Printer/Scanner/Copier In One Unit, Printer Paper, Extra Printer Ink.

Stuff to Make the Room Pretty:
Tape (for hanging posters), Posters, Cork Board and Thumb Tacks (for hanging up pictures), Pictures of Family and Friends, Framed Pictures for the Desk

Keep in Possession at All Times:
Driver's License or State Issued ID Card, Student ID Card, Debit Card, and Minimal (no more than 20 dollars) Cash.

Have on Move In Day:
Two forms for Proof of Identification- License or State Card, and Social Security Card.

Look at Purchasing:
Renter's Insurance (Most students and parents don't think the student qualifies, but you do, because you signed a contract, which is similar to a lease and you'll be paying/renting the room for about 9 months. Get this to protect you and your belongings from fire, storms, and/or theft.)

If Your College Allows It:
Loft Your Bed! (This gives you a lot of extra space to store things, like clothing that didn't fit in the dresser drawers or closet.)

Contact your roommate to see who is bringing what when it comes to ideals for the dorm. You don't want 2 fridges and 2 microwaves and stuff like that because it will take up too much room.

Dorm Tour! Finally in college!

Tags: college, college dorm, college dorm bedding, college dorm checklist, college dorm rugs, college dorm supplies, dorm, school, shopping, tips

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 18th, 2009 at 12:35 am and is filed under bedding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.