Living on campus is certainly a change from your previous experiences. Whether it be that you haven’t gotten the chance to meet your roommate in person, aren’t sure what living in a dorm requires or don’t understand the laundry situation, we have all been there. This guide aims to help you understand the basics of living on campus.
First, the essential question: What do you bring to the dorm with you? The real essentials are basic but necessary for campus life.
Bring all the cleaning supplies you can think of — Clorox wipes and Lysol spray are especially necessary. A diffuser or room scent spray can also help keep your dorm smelling fresh, as candles are prohibited in most dorm rooms.
For your bed, bring at least two sets of sheets. If you prefer a softer bed, a mattress topper is also recommended.
Laundry is also an important part of dorm life. Georgetown offers students a $40 credit for those who use communal washing and drying machines, which are typically located on the lowest floor of their building. After the laundry credits are used up, using the machines will cost $1.75 per individual machine. Booking a washer and dryer can be done through the SpeedQueen app, which connects to the machines and sets timers for your laundry.
To transport your laundry, a rolling laundry basket or a bag can be easier to transport than a freestanding basket. Aside from detergent, be sure to buy dryer sheets and a stain remover.
As a courtesy to those who live in your building, please collect your clothes immediately after they’re finished washing, as people may take your items out of the machine for you. Also, be sure to check the drawer of the machine before putting your clothes in to ensure there is no bleach or other residue left from the previous user.
Unless you are living on select floors of Copley Hall, first-year students will have communal showers. Recommended is a shower caddy to transport your materials and shower shoes with holes to protect your feet.
Aside from the practical aspects of dorm life, developing a relationship with a roommate is necessary. Odds are you will have to compromise a lot more than you are used to.
Talk about your sleep habits ahead of time. If you think you and your roommate will have different schedules, bringing an eye mask and earplugs can help you get some rest.
Beyond sleep schedules, open communication is essential to forming a healthy relationship with your roommate.
If you do face a difficult situation with your roommate, don’t hesitate to speak up. It’s always best to try to handle conflict on your own first, so try to have a calm yet honest conversation. If that doesn’t work, however, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Your residential assistant (RA) can help mediate conflicts and determine the next steps.
While living on campus can be a difficult step in the college process, it also allows you to learn outside of class about what it means to live with someone else and be fully independent of your family.