Moving from the comforts of your parent's house to a college dorm on campus can be exciting and liberating. But a change this big inevitably comes with a unique set of challenges. To help you prepare for dorm life and get the most out of living on campus your freshman year, here are five common mistakes new college students often make that you should avoid at all costs.
1. Secluding yourself in your dorm room
After a long day on campus, all you want to do is shut your door, plug your headphones in, and relax on your bed. I get it! Just remember, though, that shutting yourself in your dorm sort of blocks you from meeting the people on your floor or your building in general. By keeping your dorm door open, you’re signaling your interest in making new friends. As people walk by, they’ll greet you, and soon enough you’ll begin recognizing faces and feeling more at home in your dorm space. If you want to take it one step further, be proactive and walk around your floor, saying "Hi" to everyone you come across. College is the perfect place to be social and outgoing.
Related: 5 Easy Ways to Have the Best Dorm Room on Campus
2. Getting upset with your roommates and not communicating
“They never take out the trash,” you furiously text your mom but continue to boil in your anger. Frustration like this tends to build...and build...and build. Yet you don’t say anything because, as aggravated as you are, you don’t want to start anything. By not confronting the issue, you’re harboring your irritation, and that’s never healthy—in fact, bottling up your feelings is probably one of the most frustrating feelings ever. Prevent this from happening by setting up ground rules with your roommate(s) up front. A dorm roommate agreement is great for these situations! Make a schedule for things like taking out the trash, cleaning the bathroom, or tidying up the room every week. And if something still doesn’t go smoothly, say something politely. “Hey, have you taken out the trash this week? Just a friendly reminder!” is all that’s necessary.
3. Not cleaning up after yourself
So maybe they're not the messy on, and you're actually the problem. Trust me when I say there’s nothing more annoying than having a roommate who won’t do their part. Cleaning up after yourself is a basic requirement of sharing a living space. Don’t leave food and beverages all over the room (gross!), always pick up your clothes, and make sure your textbooks and notebooks aren’t strewn across the floor for your roommates to trip on. Try to contain your messes to your half of the dorm. We all become untidy sometimes, but pick a day every week to straighten up—Sunday’s a great day for this, because you may need to clean your dorm after a possibly crazy weekend. Plus, it’s easier to begin a new week of classes with a neat living space.
Related: 5 Quick Tips to Make Things Work With Your College Roommate
4. Rooming with all your friends from high school
Entering college surrounded by your high school friends may make you feel secure as you make the transition to campus life, but in the long run, it can prevent you from branching out, having new experiences, and making new, long-term friendships. By rooming with companions you made in high school, you’re essentially trapping yourself in a bubble that’s difficult to burst. Go in blind! As scary as it may sound, you’ll be forced to make new friends if you're rooming with a stranger, and sometimes, you need that kind of push.
5. Drinking in the dorms
If you’re underage, you shouldn’t be drinking anywhere, especially not in your dorm. If you’re of age and you’re going to drink, you still shouldn’t do it in the dorms. I repeat, do not drink in the dorms. Policies regarding drinking on campus and in dorm rooms vary by school, but it's still best to just avoid it altogether. RAs are watching more carefully than you’d think, and the last thing you need is a letter home to your parents with a warning and/or a fine to pay. (And if your parents are helping you pay college fees, getting caught drinking on campus is a great way for them to stop funding you and lose faith in your ability to act as a responsible adult.) So when it comes to consuming alcohol, your best bet is to avoid it entirely if you’re underage, and if you are of age, do it off campus, be safe, and never drive under the influence.
Related: Urgent Do's and Don'ts for Safe College Partying
Your first-year college dorm experience is all about finding your balance as a student, communicating, and building new connections. Avoiding common mistakes—like isolating yourself, ignoring roommate issues, or relying too heavily on high school friends—will help you create a positive dorm atmosphere. Embrace this chance to build new friendships, maintain a clean and friendly space, and respect dorm policies for a rewarding college experience. Remember, these simple choices can make a big difference in feeling safe and at home on campus!
Have you chosen or been assigned your college roommate yet? Ensure you end up with the right person with this advice on How to Be Smart When Picking Your College Roommate.
