Transitioning to Residence Hall Living
After living at home, living on campus is both a rewarding and a challenging experience.
You are entering college life and all those perks of living at home will become your responsibility. It is an adjustment, but it is a necessary adjustment. In taking responsibility for your life, you will experience the excitement and challenges of building and creating your own future.
College is a rite of passage and a time of growth. The lessons you will learn, both in and out of the classroom and the dependence upon yourself rather than your parents are the building blocks of success beyond your college years.
Prepare in advance…
It is important that you prepare in advance for the transitional issues you will face. Doing so will maximize your success academically and personally. It will create less stress, and it will create the feeling of confidence, both for yourself and for your parents, of your abilities to manage your life and succeed in college.
Managing class schedules…MWF and T/TH… class assignments, studying for tests, writing papers - learning to manage/balance your time - without mom or dad nudging you along - is of essence. It will allow you to get your assignments done and have time for enjoying fellowship with your friends. There is nothing worse than waiting until the last minute to write a paper, then having the ink cartridge run out of ink at 2 a.m. for an 8 a.m. class.
In the men’s and women’s residence halls, the washers and dryers are centrally located in the building and are used by the community of residents. Basic knowledge of how much soap to use, how many clothes you can stuff into a washer and still get them clean, which clothes to wash together and how many minutes does it take to dry a load of clothes; then watching the time and taking them out of the dryer for the next person to use are seemingly simple skills that truly make transition to dorm life go a little smoother.
Should a difficulty arise in your life or you just can’t understand how to get the formulas in a math class, there are resources and individuals on campus to assist you, but it is up to you to ask and make use of them. Oftentimes students wait too long to ask for help or guidance and then call home and complain. You are responsible for your own experience, and with God’s guidance, for creating your own future.
Looking forward to move-in day
A good place to start in preparing to move on campus is to take a look at yourself and to understand yourself. Your likes and dislikes, quirky habits you may have, a spirit of compromise, etc. You and your roommate are bringing your own personalities into a new living arrangement. You are both faced with changes. Neither one of you will have all that you want – after all, you have left the nest at home and are now entering collegiate life.
Everyone has things they need in their living environment to make them more comfortable: a TV, VCR/DVD player, a CD player, pictures, pillows, a blanket, a computer, an apartment size refrigerator, etc. You will want to bring these things with you as you create your new home environment. However, be sure to check with your roommate(s) to see what she/he plans to bring. Floor space is limited. If you have headphones to your stereo and TV, be sure to bring those - your roommate may be a light sleeper, have a paper to write or need to study for a big exam. Remember, showing consideration goes a long way in getting along with your roommate.
Your roommate assignments for the fall trimester are sent out in mid July. Prior to move-in day, plan to meet or at least call your new roommate. Learn about one another and look for ways to compromise, so when differences arise you will have a resolution in place for handling the conflict. Planning ahead will help make your dorm room a haven and will create an environment conducive to learning, laughter, friendships and success.