Home on the On Campus Housing
On campus housing isn’t just for undergraduates these days. First-time students, returning students, and graduate students can all enjoy the benefits of living on campus (and a five minute walk to that 8:00 a.m. class). Here are some words of advice for preparing for your college living situation, whatever it may be.
Dorm Rooms & Roommates
If you’re enrolling in an on-campus program and plan on living at school, chances are you’ll end up living in the student dorm. There are several room configurations you can expect (and choose from, depending on how your school is set up):
- A single room, where you have a room approximately the size of a walk-in closet all to yourself
- A double room, where you will share a room approximately the size of a walk-in closet with a roommate
- Or a suite, where you and a roommate will share a approximately the size of a walk-in closet, which will be connected to a bathroom, living room, and an additional bedroom approximately the size of a walk-in closet, which two other roommates will share.
Understandably, the source of anxiety for most students lies with the roommate situation. You want to know what he or she will be like, whether you’ll get along, and what to do if you don’t.
To make sure you get off on the right foot, contact your roommate before you move in to get to know one another (if you’re going in blind). Find out who’s got a spare TV to bring, who might be able to borrow a small fridge from their extra brother, and how much personal space you both need.
This is also a great time to let your roommate know your personal boundaries and pet peeves, like taking the last scoop of peanut butter or leaving the TV on all night. Even if you’re rooming with someone you know from high school, it’s important to have an open conversation about likes and dislikes to avoid conflict down the road.
For any conflicts that do arise between you and your roommate, open and direct communication is the best policy. If something is bothering you, it’s better to confront him or her about it right away rather than allowing it to build up.
If an issue really can’t be resolved between the two of you, resident advisors are great resources. They go through extensive training in order to be equipped with solutions for drama-rama.
In the event your RA can’t find a plausible solution, your resident director has seen and/or heard it all and can definitely provide some guidance. Worst case scenario, you can always file a request to transfer to another room or floor or dorm. If you can make it through the first semester, a lot of people are looking to transfer or swap for the spring semester.
For more information on your school’s specific room set ups, rules, and roommate policies, visit the new student section of their website.
Campus Housing for Graduate Students & Families
While undergraduate students typically live in dorms, returning, graduate or doctoral students can often find other living accommodations, such as apartments or even rental houses, through their graduate programs. And if you’re picked up some additional passengers since the last time you were in school, such as a spouse or a child, this arrangement could be a perfect fit.
Rather than the dorm rooms of the undergraduate experience, most graduate student and family housing comes in a variety of sizes for single students with dogs, married couples, children, extended families, etc. To find out if your school offers graduate student housing, contact the Admissions Department.
