Welcome to college! You're settling in at your university, thinking about all the friends you're going to make and all the classes you're going to take...But academic life and social life aren't the only aspects of college. The dorm where you live is going to play a big part in your experience too! These are just a few of the things every college dorm resident understands.

1. The laundry room is a cutthroat place.

You've got to get it in. You've got to get it in fast, before someone takes the washer. And oh-- you have no idea how this detergent thing works. Good luck!

2. Food disappears quickly.

Who wants to go all the way to the cafeteria when you have a mini fridge two feet away?

3. Fire alarms.

You would rather chunk your microwave full of burnt popcorn out the window than face the wrath of everyone who was dragged out of bed and forced outside by that infernal screech.

4. You never appreciate locks on bathroom doors until they're gone.

Hopefully this isn't universal, but my bathroom has no locks. Ever had someone walk in on you changing? Ever had to scream "I'm not wearing pants!"? Ever had to face the inevitable shame of being caught on the toilet?

5. You can survive with less space than you thought you needed.

Can you fit two beds, two desks, a bookshelf, a mini fridge, a dresser, and a piano in a room smaller than your kitchen at home and still have room to sprawl out on the floor if needed? By some miracle, yes you can. Maybe you broke physics, who knows?

6. Someone's always sleeping when you want to dry your hair.

And they will let you know. Embrace your wet hair life.

7. The loud people always seem to live on third floor.

On the plus side, you pick up the skill of sleeping through EVERYTHING.

8. The walls are paper.

They can hear you talking from down the hall. They can hear you whispering from down the hall. THEY CAN HEAR YOU BREATHING FROM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE HALL.

9. Rainy days are the bane of your existence.

Where do you put wet umbrellas and muddy shoes in a dorm room?

10. Rugs are your lifeline. Also, fuzzy socks.

Tile floors in the dorms get cold (especially in the morning). If you have carpet instead of tile... well, you still probably want some socks. Because socks. You can't go wrong with fuzzy socks.

11. Dorm showers are a whole new world.

It's a frightening experience.

12. Christmas lights aren't just for Christmas time.

There is always room for Christmas lights. Everywhere. Anywhere. Over the desk, over the bed, over the door. They really do give the room a cozy feel.

13. The walls of your dorm room are a lot more interesting than your textbook is.

Sometimes Netflix is the only studying that gets done.

14. The mattresses are hard... but it's still impossible to get out of bed in the morning.

Don't hit snooze. Your roommate will hate you.

15. The best moment of the day is when your roommate comes back from class.

I know by now they must sound like a terrifying place, but honestly, dorms are one of the best parts of college. Living with your friends will create SO MANY MEMORIES, and you'll probably laugh harder in that dorm room than anywhere else on campus. Your dorm room is where the conversations get deep at two a.m. and where you forge friendships that will last forever. While no dorm is perfect, you still won't want to miss out on dorm life for anything!