The Do’s and Don’ts of Dorm Life

Do

• Contact your roommate before you move into your dorm room. It is a good way to learn about who you are rooming with and you can also find out who is bringing what. You can also send each other a roommate contract to fill out and discuss prior to moving in. Writing down the rules that both have agreed to into a roommate contract and signing it (send a signed copy to your roommate) will help keep problems down to a minimum. Both students will retain a copy of the signed roommate contract to refer to if needed. Be sure to give a copy of the roommate contract to the RA as well.

• Participate in dorm activities. The best way to meet people is to be where the people are.

• Be aware of your roommate’s schedule. Understand that while you don’t have Friday classes, she or he might.

• Lock your room when you are not in there. That means whenever you leave your room for the bathroom, visit a friend down the hall, etc.

• Line your trashcan. Old food and liquid can stick to it and make your room a smelly place to live.

• Bring your key and Student ID card with you everywhere. Without your key you can’t get into your room and without your Student ID card you can’t obtain any student discounts, items, etc. on campus.

• Respect the quiet hours.

• Keep communal bathrooms clean. It’s bad enough having to share a bathroom without making situation worse.

• Get a microwave and mini refrigerator. They are good for a late night snack.

• Stay healthy. Viruses like the cold and flu spread fast in dorms. Wash your hands and do not share drinking glasses.

• Wash your clothes often. Make a schedule to wash them at least once a week. Make sure you know how long it takes to use the dorm washers and dryers. If you arrive late, you may find your clean clothes on the floor.

• Schedule your time for everything. That means classes, studying, eating, sleeping, showering, etc. This is so you will use your time efficiently and not waste any.

• Schedule your life around your classes. Make the best grades you can. Studying is more important than playing a video game or watching TV.

• Work out a shower schedule with your suite mates.

• Wear shower sandals in the showers and in the bathroom. It prevents you from getting a nasty foot fungus.

• Clean up after yourself. Keep your room clean, wash dirty dishes, keep junk off the floor, etc.

• Go to floor events and meetings. It’s a good way to meet the people on your floor.

• If you did not contact your roommate prior to moving in, make a roommate contract and have everyone sign it. In this contract specify room cleanliness, quiet hours, visitors, etc. This will help avoid problems and for some reason there is a problem in the future, you can use the contract to settle the issue.

• Lock up your stuff. Take the five seconds to lock up your things. You don’t know everyone in the dorm and some people that are in the building don’t even live there.

• Follow the rules. No one wants to be kicked out of housing.

• Get to know your resident hall staff. They are there to help you if you have any questions or you need someone to talk to.

• Label your belongings. Sometimes it can get confusing whose yogurt is in the fridge and what not.

• Communicate with your roommate on a regular basis. Even if it is just saying hi and asking about their day, you shouldn’t ignore them. You live with this person and it is vital that you get along with them.




Don’t

• Don’t leave your door open if you are not there. Having strangers snoop around in your room and possibly take something is not a good way to start out the year. Someone can also hide in your room and attack you when you close the door.

• Don’t be anti-social. Enjoy sharing a floor with many people and take advantage of the group activities.

• Don’t lock yourself out of your room. Lockouts can become expensive.

• Don’t take over your roommate’s space. If you want to co-exist peacefully, keep your mess on your side of the room.

• Don’t click snooze multiple times on your alarm clock. If you have an early class and your roommate doesn’t, try to avoid waking them up.

• Don’t let your trash overflow. It gets gross so empty it.

• Don’t use the Study Lounge if you plan on studying. It tends to become social hour.

• Don’t use or consume your roommate’s food or personal items without asking. Manners are key.

• Don’t let someone stay over night without making sure it is okay with your roommate.

• Don’t smoke in the room. If you signed up for a non-smoking room, you nor your friends should smoke in the room.

• Don’t prop a door open to the building.

• Don’t let issues between you and your roommate pile up. Talk with your roommate. Nothing is worse than having a loud argument over something trivial like not turning off the light. Discuss what is bothering you. Your roommate might not even know that they are doing something that is driving you up the wall.

• Don’t be a pain in the butt. Get along with your roommate. Everything is about compromising.

• Don’t bring everything from home. These dorm rooms are small and space is limited. Only bring what you need to survive.

• Don’t gossip about your roommate.

• Do not go barefoot in the dorm. That’s a good way of getting some nasty foot fungus.