Since campuses are opening back up, a lot of us are new to dorm life. It’s a big adjustment going from living and taking classes at home to being at school 24/7. It can be a bit challenging to adjust to this lifestyle where you have friends around you constantly, share a room, have to figure out what you’re going to eat everyday, on top of having to keep up with your classes.
Here are some tips to help make your transition a bit smoother.
- Set rules and boundaries with your roommate.
When I was a freshman and lived in a dorm, my roommate and I sat down together to make a list of rules. This list included things like: what time was going to be “lights out”, when we were going to clean, who could come over and when, and what we agreed were shared items in the room.
This is important so boundaries and expectations aren’t a surprise. This allowed a space where both roommates could be comfortable, and there was accountability between us as roommates.
- Keep in touch with family and friends
Even with all of the new people you meet living on campus, it is still important to have a good support network back home. It is stressful for anyone to adjust to a new lifestyle, and your friends and family can be a huge help in overcoming this stres.
- Explore outside your dorm
Your dorm isn’t the only place you can meet new people! Spaces like the library and the Webb Center can be ways to make friends and meet new people. There are also tons of clubs and extracurriculars to participate in at college. If you’ve ever wanted to try something new, now is a great time to do that. ODU has things like sports, greek life, advocacy organizations, and professional organizations to help you branch out, develop some great skills, and make an impact on campus.
- Make time to Study
There are tons of fun things to do and people to meet at college. However, we’re all here to get a degree. It’s important to make sure you go to every class and make time to study outside of class time. If you’re not sure where to start or how to tackle your academics, there are many campus resources at your disposal.
Make sure you know who your academic advisors are. They are there to help you be successful and make sure you know what you need to do to graduate. You could also schedule an appointment with an academic coach. At the Academic Resource Center, academic coaches are available to help you gain the skills to be successful in your classes. ODU also offers tutoring services. You can use these services to help you get one-on-one time for a subject you might need the extra help with.
- Get in touch with your RA if you have any questions
Your Resident Advisors are here to help you. Whether it be trouble with a roommate or trouble doing your laundry, your RA can help show you the ropes of dorm life.
(Written by: Peighton)
