It's August, and I know we're all eager to get the hell out of our hometowns and set off on a new journey: college. Getting the full "college experience" is an incredible thing, but it doesn't come with its struggles. Here's what your mother didn't tell you about living in a dorm:
1. You are going to be living in a matchbox.
There is no reason to sugarcoat this: your dorm is nothing like your room at home. It's small, it's cramped, it's musty - but don't complain about it! We are all living in tight spaces and we all know that it sucks - the best that you can do is make the most out of your space and learn to love it.
2. Half of the things that you think you need, you won't.
Going back to #1, your room is like the size of an airplane bathroom - and odds are you are going to be sharing it with somebody. Don't overpack for college - you're going to find that you don't use half of what you thought you would. If you need something that you forgot - borrow it from somebody! And to ladies who think they are going to be dressing up for class, you're going to end up wearing the same three groutfits over and over again after the first week.
3. Have cozy clothes!
One second your dorm room will feel like you're right smack in the middle of the Sahara desert, the next you'll be living in an arctic tundra. It's so important to have cozy clothes and *probably illegal* heated blankets for those times. Most rooms don't have their own temperature controls, and if they do they probably don't work anyway.
4. Communal bathrooms are disgusting but you have to brave it.
People are so turned off by communal bathrooms. I'm not going to pretend like they're not gross, but get used to it. This is what you're going to be dealing with for most of the year, and I promise that you'll survive. With this being said, shower shoes are an absolute must. Even if you're not showering, never walk into that bathroom barefoot. Toenail fungus and other gross things are probably rampant on those tile floors.
5. You and your roommate may not be best friends...
It's great if you're best friends with your roommate, but you don't have to be! My freshman year my roommate and I got along great even though we weren't best friends. College is all about meeting new people, and while it may start in your room on move-in day, it doesn't end there! Get out there and make new friends!
6. ...In fact, you may end up not liking each other at all.
Roommate problems aren't uncommon and you're definitely not alone. If you two don't get along, try writing a list of what the other person does that bothers you, and see if you can make the best of the situation. If you can't see eye to eye, roommate swaps are usually offered after the first couple of weeks in the semester.
7. Don't study in your room.
Studying in your room is a huge no-no. It's almost impossible to get work done when you're exhausted from class and have a warm, comfy bed right beside you. Try to get most of your studying done in the library or in a different building, and then finish up last-minute things in your room. Trust me on this - you won't regret it.
8. You will get sick. A lot.
I almost never get sick, but my first semester of school I got strep five times, mono, and some sort of tick-borne virus (how?). You are living in close-quarters with tons of people in an unfamiliar environment, so I urge you to bring emergency cold medicine, ibuprofen, and anything else from home that you might need during the year. Also, please take advantage of your campus' student health center if you're not feeling well. It's better to just go and take care of it early rather than to wait and get even sicker.
9. Be courteous of the people you live with.
This one's pretty self-explanatory, but mostly just try not to be an asshole. Keep your side of the room clean, talk to your roommate if something's bothering you, don't make a ton of noise if you come home late (or drunk) and your roommate is trying to get rest.
10. Stay clean and organized.
Keeping your room clean and staying organized is essential in college. When everything is together in your room, your life will feel more together and it's one less thing to stress about.
