Hope You're Not Claustrophobic

I could go so many places with that title, and not all of them are pretty. Haha but I'm sure you remember what I said in my last post - that these next few are all going to be about time period in which most people really come into themselves: college.

So, have you figured out what my title means yet? That's right - dorms! I know it's a generalization that all college dorms are small, but they usually are... Unless you're going to Gustavus or some other fancy pants private college (emphasis on the fancy pants). But yes, I will be discussing dorm living today.

There are generally 4 main thoughts and/or concerns when it comes to dorm rooms: roommates - will they be crazy or will you become BFFs?; (for the ladies) decorating - how much is too much?; alcohol - is your campus dry?; and, last but not least, parties - who's going to have them and how do you get  invited? Let's go over them, shall we (or shall I, I suppose).

ROOMMATES
I'm sure everyone remembers when that movie came out about the psycho roommate. If not, check it out - The Roommate (2011). I never actually saw it, but I'm sure it made people start wondering just how...different their roommate might be. Most people get lucky and get either a reasonable roomie or someone they mesh with perfectly. As for the unlucky ones, they rarely have a problem that extreme. It's usually just someone who's a huge pain in the ass. Still, no matter how 'cool' you guys are together, you need to work out a system or something - who takes which side, how studying will work, etc. Once you do that, feel free to soak up all those college experiences.

DECORATING
As women, we tend to want to pack up our entire lives and take it with us to school. Unfortunately, there isn't a vehicle big enough to do so, let alone a dorm room big enough to hold all our shit. Therefore, we end up facing a dilemma when it comes time to pack. I'm not gonna tell you anything about what to do when it comes to your clothes or shoes, cause trust me - I am NOT the person to ask about that. As far as putting homey touches and decorations in your room, that I can handle. How much is too much? you might be asking. What you want to avoid at all costs is clutter. Bring a few posters, maybe a cute rug, some adorable storage options (ottomans work great), two or three stuffed animals - if you're into that, cute bedding that you can layer, a lamp would be good too (dorms have horrid lighting), and one thing I would absolutely bring is a photo album to keep all my friends close to my heart. :) I know that sounds cheesy and lame, but you know you're all thinking the same thing.

ALCOHOL
Most campuses these days are dry - no alcohol allowed whatsoever. This can really be a bummer, but there are ways to avoid it, if you wish. Option 1) sneak in booze. Option 2) find a friend who has a house or apartment off campus. There are probably other options, but this is getting long already. So what I'm trying to say is A) find out if your campus is dry or not and B) work around it if it is.

PARTIES
Partying is what usually first comes to mind when teenagers think about college. And yes, there are some really cool parties. Maybe they're not what you expected or even had in high school, but they can be fun. What I've seen a lot of are themed parties - neon, toga, etc. While there may be alcohol, there also may not be. So find out beforehand and dress accordingly. No one wants their night to turn from dream come true to a nightmare. Who's having them? Usually older students, like juniors or seniors. Sometimes you'll see a sophomore, but rarely a freshman host. How do you get invited? Know people! Ask people! It's as simple as that. It's not like there's going to be "a list."

So, this has been an extremely long post about living in dorm rooms across the nation. I hope I gave you some good info, and didn't get too boring or preachy.

No matter what I say, be sure to have fun and enjoy these years. :)

Another post, possibly college related, coming soon!