Dorm life is part of the great college experience – and it comes with its upsides and downsides. Like freedom from parents, and also the bathroom being occupied when you really need to go. Up until this semester, I, like most people, shared with roommates, and luckily became great friends with them. Now I’m living in a single with my own bedroom, bathroom, and lounge, and I feel pretty pampered in comparison. Here are a few of the luxuries I’ve enjoyed thus far.

1. Not having to take shifts with the bathroom.

The struggle can be so real when you’ve got roommates or you have a communal bathroom on the floor. My freshman year, we all had classes at the same time in the morning so everyone was trying to get in there in the same window of time to shower, do their makeup, etc. and it was a mess. Now I never have to worry about it being unavailable, or about finding someone else’s gross mess.

2. Maintaining just the right temperature.

Everyone prefers the temperature different ways, so sometimes you end up shivering when your roommate feels the room was getting to hot, then they’re sweating when you readjust it, and back and forth and back and forth. In a single, you enjoy picking whatever temperature you want, whenever you want it.

When your roomie likes it nice and freezing

3. Quiet study time.

I’m a believer that if you live in a dorm, you should have the right to be able to study peacefully when needed. It turns out this right is kind of forfeited much of the time if your roommates decide to watch TV, throw a get together, invite a significant other over, or do any number of other distracting activities. You either end up uprooting yourself and seeking out a more suitable environment, or gritting your teeth and trying to tough it out but not being as productive. Well, when roommates disappear, so do the inconvenient distractions. It’s comfortable studying galore.

4. No “sock on the door”.

This goes both ways. Living alone, you won’t ever get kicked out so your roommate can get it on, and you won’t have to worry about getting interrupted if you decide to have some sexy times of your own. Privacy is a wonderful thing.

Now can I come in to get my books?

5. Sleeping in or staying up.

It can be hard to catch zzz’s if your roommate’s alarm goes off at 6:30 am for their early class, and similarly so if they decide to stay up being noisy or leaving the lights on. And we’ve all probably subjected our roommates to this at one point as well. Obviously these things can’t be helped and people do need to attend classes and do homework, but it sure is nice to sleep without interruption.

6. The extra space, obviously.

Getting to arrange furniture in more ways, being able to decorate to your taste and not feel squished in. So many items did not make the cut in the years I had to split my room with someone else – things like kitchenware for cooking, keyboard, some shoes and clothes – or were stuffed in anyway, creating a claustrophic and messy setting. Now I’ve expanded to add a bookshelf, lamp with a dimmer for mood lighting, a small extra desk for makeup, pots and pans, way more shoes, and lots of decorations. Now my room is so cozy!

Welcome to my crib