Living Away From Home

One word can really sum up typical dorm life: cramped.

On campus space is valuable and limited, and they will not hesitate to cram you into something the size of a utility closet--with two other people.

First and foremost, plan on spending most of your time outside of your dorm room. Its good to get out and about on campus. Find the student union. Find the 'main street' in town. Find the good places to pick up a 3 am late night meal when you are cramming for the test tomorrow or are trying to finish off that paper last minute. Tour the surrounding area; find out where things are and what's fun to do. Cinemas, pool-halls, diners, arcades, cafés, bars (if you got the age or the fake I.D.). A lot of places will give discounts if you have your Student ID card.

Get a stand fan or a window box fan. Ventilation in dormitories can be unreliable at best, especially in the days closer to summertime. A window box fan can help ventilate the odors and keep things cool.

Get a bath robe and bath tote to carry your toiletries. Chances are, you are going to have to use a shared bathing facility located at one end of the dorm, and marching down the hall half naked with just a towel while trying to carry all your shit is a pain in the ass.

Collapsable laundry totes are damn convenient. Space is a premium in a dorm room, but you still need something to carry all your stinky dirty laundry down to the laundromat. Stock up on quarters, and be very wary about leaving your laundry unattended in the laundromat.

Its been mentioned, but I can't stress enough: empty the trash cans often. I had a roommate who would refuse to do this, filling his trash can with food and refuse and then starting another pile next to the full can rather than emptying it. He left a full can in the room over winter break--the resulting odor upon return was horrid.

Student meal plans suck. 'nuff said.

Jam it back in, in the dark.