A little dorm direction
Welcome to your freshman year. If you’re nervous, excited, overwhelmed or all of the above, you’re likely not alone. Erica Peterson, a senior at the University of Houston, and Carey Wang, a senior at Rice University, have great been-there, done-that advice for those of you heading onto campus for the first time. Peterson laughs when she thinks back to her freshman year and all those Hot Pockets and Ramen noodles she zapped in her microwave. It seemed so grown up at the time, but now she’ll be cooking real meals at the UH Calhoun Lofts suite she’ll share with a roommate. She’ll be bringing lots of personal touches, such as family photos, to her suite.
Wherever you go to school, the college website and housing officials have likely offered lists of do’s and don’ts for life in the dorm.
Do bring a shower caddy and your own bedding. You will use them every day.
Don’t bring a 72-inch-screen TV. You’ll probably just send it back home with Mom and Dad when you see how small your space is.
“I saw one person bring a dog — I think it was a Great Dane or something. It was crazy,” Peterson said. “I’ve definitely seen people bring their own mattresses to put on top of the one that’s in their dorm.”
Bedding may be a sticking point. Unless you’re a lucky student who just happens to get a brand-new mattress, you will spend this school year sleeping on a bed that others have already used.
Peterson used disinfectant wipes and sprays on her dorm bed before she added a mattress cover and foam topper.
Wang, too, offered ideas on essentials. First, an old-fashioned alarm clock. Like other students, Wang relied on the alarm in his phone — until the day his phone froze, and he missed an exam because he overslept.
Aside from dorm-life essentials, both Peterson and Wang urge students to make the most of these young-adult years.
“Enjoy your time as a freshman, especially living on campus. It changed my life, and I made a lot of friends,” Peterson said. “You need to spend time meeting new people, not just doing schoolwork.”
Wang agreed, urging students to get out of the dorm room and join some clubs.
At Rice, he said, student life revolves around residential colleges rather than traditional dorms. Each college has its own culture, and students are randomly placed in them. (Think Hogwarts’ Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin — minus the magical powers.) Wang lives in Rice’s uber-competitive Will Rogers College and is active in student government. He’s also one of three coordinators of this year’s O-Week orientation events for incoming freshmen. “It’s comfortable to live in your dorm room, but it’s also very nice to venture outside and do homework in a common area … especially when you’re not in a crunch to finish your work,” Wang said. Also, consider your laptop needs; you’ll keep most of your textbooks on your computer. If you were planning to bring a larger, heavier one suited for gaming, you might want to reconsider.
Wang said that’s exactly what he did and had to retool midyear when he was tired of lugging it around. Though nearly every student wants a personal mini-fridge and microwave, he’s gone without and never regretted it. Many dorms have common kitchens on each floor.
Also on the tech front, gauge your personality. Are you going to be the person hosting parties in your room? If so, make sure your speakers are small but powerful. Consider some extra cleaning supplies and stain removers, too; drinks will be spilled.
Though academics are paramount, Peterson and Wang encouraged another kind of growth.
“If you’re a new student at any university, try new things. Step out of your comfort zone and learn about yourself,” Wang said. “For me, I never thought I would be in campuswide leadership. Three years later, I’m in a big role welcoming new students.”