Design Your Dorm

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The typical “dorm” has changed quite significantly over the past two centuries. Previously, dorm rooms looked similar to jail cells and there only functionality was to sleep. Back in the early 1800’s, only men were in residence halls and had to follow a strict dress code, attend chapel service, follow a fitness program, and even adhere to a strict curfew! A century later, more and more women started applying to Universities and getting accepted. Soon enough, women only Residence Halls were built and the rules were twice as strict as the males’ halls.

In order to communicate, the men and women would often send messages in morse code through flashing lights back and forth throughout the campus. As time evolved, so did the dorm rooms. Now, there are Co-ed Residence Halls that have fitness centers, restaurants, tanning salons, and even rock climbing walls! Numerous schools offer “suite” style layouts that have a traditional bedroom, but also offer a living room and kitchen area.

In the past few decades, the dorms have evolved more into “living learning communities” where students can truly call their dorm their new home. Students bring all kinds of furniture items/decorations to make their new living environment as comfortable as possible. Student’s don’t just go back to their room to sleep, but go back to hang out and socialize with their friends. Due to the change in the living facilities, various school administrators have had a recent push to have students call their “dorm” their “residence hall room”, but students still continue to refer to living quarters as their “dorm”.

Living in the “dorms” is an integral part of the freshmen experience. You have the ability to make friends easily, study with large groups of people, stay up late eating, and always have someone to hang out with no matter what time it is. You can’t beat it! Throughout the course of the year, you will become close friends with everyone in your hall and even begin to know the names of most of the people in your building (depending on the size of the building). As always, you have to remember to balance your social life with your schoolwork. Many people that live in your building may eventually dwindle away because they couldn’t seem to find a balance. If you plan on attending college next year, you should definitely plan on living on campus in a dorm. If you’re already living in a dorm, make sure to: talk to anyone you don’t recognize coming in & out of the building, involve yourself in building activities, and make the most of every experience possible.