I move into my dorm on friday and I really don't know anyone who has been in the same position before, so any advice/stories/tips/tricks would help me out greatly. I'm an only child so even advice on sharing a bathroom would help!
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-On A Never Ending Quest To Be Sexy Without Being Trashy
I'm going into my third semester and the best thing I can tell you is to do all of the cheesy orientation things at the beginning, you really do meet people. Other than that, the first week or so, leave your door open so people can pop in, and you can do the same. It sounds weird but it does work, a meet your neighbors kinda thing. As far as sharing a bathroom, I only had to share it with one person so I won't be much help there :/ but I've been told by friends that it isn't that bad, you just have to get used to it... and definitely get a pair of flip flops, just in case.
Many years ago, I found myself in the dorms at UAH. My best advice is to get to know your room mates and don't sweat the small stuff. Get used to the idea that you will buy stuff that you prolly won't use, like toilet paper and random food stuff. Since you are new to the college scene, you have a fresh start to define yourself. Just get ready to realize that college is just like high school except the classes are tougher and you don't ever have to go. Clicks are still present, but just be yourself and you will attract cool people like yourself.
Showing up for classes is optional Crystal, but don't miss to many or you will fall behind fast.
The freshman year is actually the hardest since they use it as a way to weed out those that are there to party from those that are there to learn.
I was able to room with a friend I had gone to high school with which made it easier then rooming with a stranger so never really had any dorm type problems. One bit of advice I can give you is to hide away some backup items like toilet paper, so that you have a reserve just in case.
Kisa is right about the cheesy orientation. I skipped those but later wish I had gone.
I agree with Sii about not sweating the small stuff. You will end up buying things that your room mate uses, as long as you don't let yourself become the dorm piggy bank you will be fine.
After a month or two with the new roomie you will have the wrinkles worked out. Have Fun!
Going to university myself at the end of next month. On the one hand I can't wait to move into a new place and make new friends, but on the other hand I'm dreading having to deal with so many new people and the 'let's go get wasted' culture that is so pervasive on campus. Dancing, getting drunk, 'having a laugh' with random people - really not for me. Can't we all just stay home, watch Family Guy, play Worms and have a chat? Oh, and play kitty
im going into my second year at uni, and over here you can only go in in uni accomodation for the first year so i had to find my own accomo this year
but living in dorms isnt that bad... well im guessing it isnt, the accomo i was on was loadsa little houses for 5 people.
i would say try and socialise as much as possible to begin with so you get to know people - espeshially those you are living with as for sharing a bathroom its really not that bad, just keep your own bathroom stuff in your room to begin with and make sure you tidy after yourself, also try and find out the timetables of those your sharing with - so that you dont find the bathroom in use when you desperatly need it :p
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kitten xxx
*to be in service is to constantly strive for perfection* *Masters little kitten*
all of your advice was incredibly helpful, I'm here for my 5th day 3rd day of classes and doing well. Still getting used to living in a swamp [the rooms are super humid] but i think I'll survive!
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-On A Never Ending Quest To Be Sexy Without Being Trashy
Maybe you should try buying a fan? I had to do that. I live in a suite-style dorm, and for some reason my room is the furhest away from the other three girls I live with. I guess I don't get the air as much as they do because it's always hot in my room. (My alarm clock has a thermometer on it and says it reaches eighty degrees sometimes. This kitty don't like that!) I went and just bought a cheap personal fan and it does pretty good. I keep cooler, that's for sure. (Well, that and because it's my own room I'm pretty much almost always naked.)
A good way to lower room humidity is to drop the temp of the room. I live in Huntsville Alabama where it can be humid 80% of the summer, but I tend not to notice it too much with the dial set to about 69 (teehee =^.^=) or so degrees. A personal fan might help in your room, but you best and cheapest bet is to lower the thermostat some. And the best advice I can give you from experience of living in dorms, always lock the main door. I had someone sneak into my room while I was sleeping and he stole like $130 out of my wallet. There is usually a small strings of robberies every semester on campus and a surprising number of sexual assaults that could easily be avoided if you keep your doors locked. Make sure your room mate follows through. Cause there is nothing more frustrating than having your items stolen and having to deal with brain dead campus cops who will never do any actual work and will never recover your stolen goods.
Don't play drinking games with mixed drinks. Would you beleve 4 years of my life and thats the only tangable thing I have for you. Wow thats like a 80,000$ tidbit. O and don't get a creadit card theres a reson there pushing them so hard at you. I know a guy made a lot of money selling hot dogs, coffee, ice cream from his doom room. Any time day or night just wake him up. And as far as guys.... Please remember most freshman are just high school boys without supervision.
So far so good, the room temperature seems to have nothing to do with the humidity. It just appears that the room sweats. The one thing I can't get used to is how much older I seem to be than everyone in the freshman class. Not just mentally (everyone running around OMG Boys/Girls) but physically (everyone looks like they're 12).
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-On A Never Ending Quest To Be Sexy Without Being Trashy