The other day I was reminiscing about my dorm decision experience and recalled a few things I fussed over. I’d like to share a few of the thoughts that came to my mind with other college-bound or curious students.

What if I have roommate issues?

First of all, if you have roommate issues, your college’s Residential Life will be more than willing to help settle those concerns. For the most part, if you have roommate problems, you can bring it up with your RA, Residential Assistant, who will try to settle the issue(s). If conflicts persist, your RA can help you request a roommate switch through Residential Life. Res Life is there to help make your college experience wonderful!

How should I choose my first-year roommate?

Personal Experience: I went with a random when choosing my first-year roommate and things are great! I highly recommend choosing a random roommate for your first-year. Many people build strong and long-lasting relationships with their first-year roommates. At least, if you don’t become the best-of-friends, you will probably get along well. But just a word of caution, a random is a hit-or-miss situationthere is always the unlikely possibility that you get a nut-job of a roommate. Social events hosted by the college are another interesting way to choose your first-year roommate. Open-house for accepted students, Orientations, and Summer Programs are great ways to meet your peers and choose a potential roommate. Then again, how well can you know someone after one-day? The guy/girl could be the weirdo everyone else will be talking about! Other college freshmen have turned their attention towards social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook to meet their peers. On the “Bentley Class of 2012” Facebook group, there is a discussion board posting called “Roommate Application.” Through this electronic medium, some incoming freshman found friends and prospective roommates. But as always, beware! Be cautious when meeting people off the Internet. Also, please note that not all colleges allow you to choose your first-year roommate. Most colleges have you fill out a questionnaire to match you with an equally interesting roommate.

Should I have more than one roommate, or any?

Opting for housing with more mates can be a great decision. The most common type of housing is the double, where you have one roommate, but other interesting options include triples and quads. For many people, the triple can be the way to go. My peers who have triples love the living situation. The room is a little bigger compared to doubles and as I like to say, the more the merrier. Quads are also fun, if not better. Quads are significantly larger than doubles and triples and with the extra room, you can bring in more stuff, or just more people and have a nice social get-together (a clean one of course, unless you, your roommates and guests are 21 or over). Lastly, you really lose out if you choose the single. Yeah, get more room for yourself and don’t have to worry about adjusting to and accommodating for another person’s lifestyle, but it gets lonely when you’re all alone, ALL THE TIME. At least with a roommate, you have the luxury of company.

What’s the deal with co-ed dorms?

Co-ed dorms. That’s in interesting issue. Here at Bentley, the dorms are co-ed, but the situation is that girls live on their own floor, or the other half of the floor with segregated bathrooms. Guests of the opposite sex are allowed in all rooms (there is no rule against it, unless you or your roommate dislike that). Other schools that aren’t co-ed may have a restriction on the opposite sex staying over past a certain hour, and may segregate the opposite sex by having all-male and all-female housing halls.  A word of caution: guys and girls go through entirely different issues, issues that the opposite sex may not be able to handle. Also, if sexual relationships build between roommates, the situation may be awkward because of the on-going relationship or because of tension after a break-up.

Well, that’s all folks.

Sincerely,

Danny Wong Bentley Class of 2012

Leave a comment or drop us any unanswered questions. To share some of your dorm experiences with the myCollegeSTAT community, reply to this post. We love to hear about the goods, the bads, and the uglies of your college experience. Thanks for sharing!

]]> http://blog.mycollegestat.com/2008/09/roommates-friend-or-foe-how-many-is-too-many-co-ed/feed/ 1 http://blog.mycollegestat.com/2008/09/residential-life-dorm-must-haves-and-housing-inquiries/ http://blog.mycollegestat.com/2008/09/residential-life-dorm-must-haves-and-housing-inquiries/#comments Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:44:07 +0000 Danny http://www.mycollegestat.com/blog/?p=9

So, I arrive at school and like most freshmen, I’m surviving on the bare minimum because I could only fit so many things in my two suitcases and two carry-ons…and it gets worse, I forgot a few things too! Fortunately for me though, I received a bunch of free items from school-sponsored events during Bentley College’s ALANA Weekend and First Week for freshman. I got a dryer bag, a few shirts (that’ll keep me from doing laundry for another week), plastic bags for my garbage pail, and snacks galore. But once classes started, I began to realize that I was missing a few necessities and running short on others. To help all other incoming freshman and returning college students, I have compiled a laundry list—please excuse the pun—of college necessities. Below is my list of Dorm MUST HAVES for every freshman in college:

-laundry basket/hamper/dryer sheets
-bed sheets (usually size Twin XL)
-pillow
-blanket
-toiletries/bathroom necessities (shaving cream, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
-hangers
-computer and Ethernet cord (if school doesn’t provide one already)
-clothes and shoes (pack according to local year-round climate! Don’t bring a heavy jacket to Stanford)
-credit/debit card
-school and office supplies
-telephone/cell phone
-first-aid kit (just in case)
-flip flops
-febreeze/lysol
-white board
-headphones

-music speakers
-duffel bag (provides many uses!)
-cups, forks, knives, spoons, dishes/plates
-5-plug outlets and power cords
-personal items (posters, pictures, etc.)

-sports related-items/equipment
-lots of cash!

Things you may have to buy or rent if you are an International/Exchange Student or don’t have a car for transport:

-TV
-fridge
-microwave
-trash can

Remember, you can always buy personal items, school supplies, and bathroom necessities at the campus store or a nearby convenience store! Pack wisely and don’t get to school saying, “ugh! I can’t believe I forgot that at home,” or, “where’s the nearest Wal-Mart?”

Lastly, don’t forget to ask about these things concerning housing:

1) Housing flexibility (singles, doubles, triples, quads, suites, apartments, townhouses, etc; and cultural housing and clean living)*

2) Room sizes and bathroom arrangements (most dorms and suites have communal bathrooms)**

3) The things that come with certain housing options (Beds, Tables, Chairs, Desks, Closet, etc.)

4) Distance from dorms to facilities (dorms are most convenient if they are within walking distance of all campus facilities)

5) Miscellaneous information about living on campus:

a. I need help! Is my RA, Residential Assistant, available when I need him/her?

b. I hate my roommate! What can be done to fix this issue?

c. I’m hungry! What are the meal plan options? When does the cafeteria close? And what can I do for a late night snack?

Where you live is important! Don’t find yourself in crummy living arrangements because you didn’t do research!

* Some housing is reserved for upperclassmen, and other housing is only available to freshman.

**Dorm sizes may vary depending on school, housing option, and housing hall.

Danny Wong – Bentley Class of 2012