Design Your Dorm

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A good night’s sleep is essential for a whole slew of reasons. There’s strong evidence that regular sleep keeps down weight, keeps up brain power, and generally, ensures you won’t doze off during O-Chem and miss the pop quiz.

But suddenly being with a roommate, in a noisy dorm, with way too much going on, sleep is often one of those first things to go.

Don’t let it! If you’re one of those people blessed with being able to sleep through a freight train (or the school marching band playing outside your window—been there, done that) then may the force be with you, but for the rest of us, here are some tips to be like this kitteh and fall asleep anywhere.

1. Set a bedtime

It may sound crazy, but mentally deciding when you want to hit the pillow will give you more motivation to get off Facebook and actually get into bed.  Crucial when you have a big day tomorrow. And just a note: it may make sense to work out right before bed, to exhaust yourself, but it’s one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Working out runs endorphins through your body, and actually, gives you a boost of energy, making you fidgety before bed.

2. Take some tech-free time

Before bed, take some you time to unwind. Do your bed-time ritual and then  read (not for school). Use a mini light if you have to, but turning off the laptop’s blue light and hunkering down with a book  or magazine you actually want to read will ease you into sleep. Especially if you’re reading one of these toughest books.

3. Or make tech your friend

Listening to music on full-blast is not gonna go well with your roommate, but grab an iPod and make a playlist. Make sure it ends after a few songs (so a sweet and unexpected  drum solo doesn’t wake you up at 4am) and lull yourself to bed.  It sounds cheesy, but try layering the sound of rain over a soft song. Just try it, and see how quick you’re zonked out. Got an iPhone? Check out this sweet app that analyzes your sleep cycle, and wakes you up gently.

4. Arm yourself

Having a roommate means you’re gonna get interrupted. Whether someone needs a light on when you’re trying to sleep, or you’re experiencing the lovely intocxicated-roommate-back-at-4am-and-wants-to-enter-a-discourse-about-Cheetos syndrome, you’re gonna be woken up. UNLESS You’re armed. Try a sleep mask and some earplugs. Hearing your own breathing and sleeping with something on your face can be tough, but give them a try for a week or so and see if it works for you.

5. Nap!

Studies have shown that taking a short (read: not three-hour in front of the couch watching Real Housewives) nap actually resets your brain, refreshes you, and prepares you for cramming a lot more in there.  Got early classes?  Slap on the eye mask and sleep for an hour in the afternoon. Just make sure you get up and get going again after.

Got any sleeping tips of your own? Let us know! And get some inspiration from CuteThingsFallingAsleep.com.

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Figuring it out
First off you need to figure out why you are joining a fraternity. This helps because it gives you an idea of what kind of fraternity you want to join. Some fraternities may put a greater emphasis on social life while others may put a greater emphasis on GPA, although most have a balance between the two. There are also fraternities that oriented towards certain religions or ethnicities. So think long and hard and try to figure out exactly what you are looking to get out of fraternity life.

Ask around
Now that you know what kind of fraternity you want to join, you should get opinions from people you meet about which fraternities may suit you best. Beware of people that slander certain fraternities, as they may either be incredibly uninformed or a member of a rival fraternity. Do not make your decisions based entirely off of what you hear about a fraternity, but do take what you’ve heard into consideration.

Rush
During rush go to all the houses that you would consider joining, and then go to a few that you don’t think you’d join (because you might end up changing your mind). Make sure that you meet as many of the brothers in the house, these people want to meet you and you want to meet them (after all, they are your potential future brothers). Also make sure that you ask questions: ask about membership dues, ask how long the chapter has been around, ask about alumni relationships, etc… These factors should come into play into your decision.

Making your decision
At this point you should have all of the pieces of the puzzle, but its time to put them together. Questions to ask yourself: Where did you feel most comfortable? Where do you feel you could see yourself being life long friends with the brothers of the house? Which house do you feel would best meet the needs of your college experience? Most importantly, you need to understand that nobody can make the decision for you. Ultimately it comes down to you and where you think you’ll be happiest.

So…. Good Luck!

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1. Mini Fridge
   Quite possibly the most essential item you can have. Eating and drinking things that are warm is not always desirable. A mini fridge will also pay for itself with the money you save from not having to eat out or order in as often, since you can store food. Opting for one that has an attached freezer is a plus, a frozen meal can be a life saver when they are serving something in the dining hall that you are not a fan of.
2. Microwave
   Microwaves are another essential, and they go quite well with a mini fridge. Obviously they are necessary for heating up frozen meals, but they also come in handy when you want to heat up water for instant coffee or tea for those late study nights.
3. Water Filter
   It can’t be stressed enough how important it is to have a water filter. Too many people living in the dorms don’t drink nearly enough water, which contributes to them getting sick and being tired often. Those that do drink enough water end up spending tons of money on bottled water and they also end up with half empty water bottles scattered throughout their room (or at least I did).
4. Shower Sandals
   This is purely a sanitary issue. If you are using communal showers then shower sandals are a must. You have no idea what kind of fungi grow on the floor of those showers, and depending on what school you are going to, they might only clean them once or twice a week. Do yourself a favor and pick up a pair of completely plastic or rubber flip-flops, you won’t regret it.
5. Toaster Oven (if they are allowed)
   Now if your residence hall allows you to have a toaster oven, then it is highly recommended that you get one. Microwaves are great on their own, but some things are better toasted. Bagels, toast, and English muffins are more obvious, but you can get more inventive by heating sandwiches and leftover pizza. This is a good way to help prevent from getting sick of the dining hall food.
6. Electric Fan
   Most dorms don’t have air conditioning, and even if they do it almost never works very well. A simple electric fan can solve this problem. It will also help circulate bad smells out of your room, just in case you don’t take your trash out as often as you should.
7. Computer Lock
   A simple computer lock that can be attached to your desk and then to your laptop should do fine. Computers are a very common theft among college campuses and it can’t hurt to protect yourself from theft.
8. Noise Canceling Headphones
   These are more optional, but they are still strongly recommended. When you are studying for that big exam and your hall mates are having a huge Mario-kart tournament, you will be glad that you brought these. They were a complete life saver to me.

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1. No one is a mind reader.  [Kindly] tell your roommate what you like and what you don’t like, that way they know when and how to stay out of your way.
2. How is your roommate supposed to know you can’t fall asleep with the lights on?  They are too busy alphabetizing their comic book collection.  Ask them to use their desk lamp, it makes a huge difference.
3. Hide your silverware (just trust me on this).
4. You two have more in common than you think.  At the very least, bond over your hatred of homework.
5. If you don’t want someone playing your X-Box all the time, maybe you should just leave it at home.  You can always go down the hall and play with your real friends.
6. When they start playing the Talking Heads album for the millionth time, politely ask them to use headphones.  It’s really not that big of a deal.
7. Set up a “policy” so that when you bring back your crush, your roommate doesn’t greet you two at the door wearing nothing but their Flintstones slippers.
8. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Biblical, I know, but it really works.
9. Think big picture here – you’re only stuck with this person for one out of four years.  Besides, absurd roommate stories make for great conversation.
10. Embrace their inner-freak and set yours free so you can laugh with your roommate, not at them.

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1. Drink a caffeinated beverage before you sit down – caffeine improves your mood, which is always helpful when it comes to hitting the books.
2. Make a list of what you have to accomplish and cross things off as you finish them. Achievement always feels nice.
3. Focus anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour and then take a five-minute break. This will help you clear your head and go back to studying with a fresh mindset.
4. If you’re going to listen to music, make it Mozart (I prefer Debussy’s Claire de Lune).
5. Steal quick glances at your loud neighbors – everyone speaks the universal of “you’re annoying me”.
6. If you don’t need your computer – don’t open it. It’s way too tempting.
7. Concentrate on one course at a time and don’t even think about looking at another class until you’ve finished.
8. Recopy lecture notes – its quick and easy. You’ll be surprised how much information you’ll retain just by doing this.
9. Turn your cell phone on silent, it just adds to the bevy of distractions. Plus, it makes you appear mysterious when you don’t text back right away.
10. Keep your headphones in even if you aren’t listening to music, this way people won’t feel the need to stop and chat.

Seriously though, just get up and move. Loud = lazy and you need to do well on your exams.

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1. In terms of decorating, try and remain gender neutral. Ladies, no guys wants to hang out in a room that looks like a pieces of sugar free bubblegum and guys, the girls might be a little freaked out if you have your college mascot splashed across your pillowcase.
2. Seating is limited – your bed might turn into a makeshift couch. Make sure it’s comfortable by investing in an egg crate and some cool throw pillows. Throw pillows are essential – you don’t want peoples sweaty hands playing around with where you lay your head at night.
3. Set the mood with some different lighting. Floor lamps, desk lamps, and clip-on lights are all easy and cheap ways to do this. Flip off the fluorescent lights and use that floor lamp (colored lampshades are always an interesting way to mix it up).
4. Make sure your floor mates know you have some snacks to spare. The most economical way to do this is keep the food you rarely eat on display and hide the candy (what they don’t know won’t hurt them).
5. Everybody likes to play DJ – keep your i-Pod out and easily accessible so you and your friends can karaoke to everyone’s favorite songs.
6. Like most other things in life, the bigger the TV the better.
7. Invest in some TV series on DVD (think Lost, Friends, 30 Rock)
8. Storage bins are your friend. No one wants to relax in a cluttered room. Use these to keep your things organized and out of the way. In a pinch, these bins can double as an extra place to sit.
9. Get a whiteboard to hang outside your door. Write your own messages, but always make sure there’s a marker available for others to leave little notes.
10. Keep your door open when you’re just hanging out or watching TV. This is a great way keep a fresh flow of traffic inside your room and meet new people.

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1. XL Bed Sheets – no one wants to sleep on a naked university mattress, ever.
2. Clip-On Fan – attach it right above your bed. It helps keep you cool and blocks out noises from your rowdy neighbors.
3. Shower Caddy – you’re going to have to shower after you’ve finished hauling all your earthy possessions up several flights of stairs all day long. You don’t want your body wash on the community bathroom floor, do you?
4. Alarm Clock – you don’t want to miss your first day of class. First impressions are important.
5. Mini-Fridge – do you really want to walk all the way to the cafeteria for a soda?
6. I-Pod Speakers – because your computer just isn’t loud enough.
7. Television – the common rooms are creepy.
8. Coat Hangers – who knows what your roommate might do to your clothes after a night out.
9. Picture Frames – show your parents you care.
10. Dry-Erase Board – hang it on the outside of your door to let your friends know what’s up.

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So little space, so much to do – so little time. 

In just a few short months, you’re going to be moving into your freshman dorm.  Whether you know your roommate or not, designing your future room must seem like a daunting task.  The cubicle you will call home for the next nine months needs to be outfitted with so many things, from extra long bed sheets to mini-fridges to accent posters that show off your eclectic taste in music.  Coordinating who needs to bring the microwave and the TV has to be difficult with you and your roommate’s contrasting schedules.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have all of that arranged without playing phone tag and sending hundreds of Facebook messages?  Design Your Dorm is a new 3D virtual dorm room creator made to do just that.  This website acts as your own personal interior design tool, allowing you to choose your future residence hall and drag and drop furniture and other accessory items into your actual room.  You can customize your dorm room any way you like and then purchase your favorite items and have them shipped directly to your residence hall so they are waiting for you on move-in day.  Forget trying to figure out what you need to buy and what your roommate is bringing – you can use Design Your Dorm to select all the items you will need, save the changes you’ve made to your dorm room, and show your future roommate – saving each of you the precious little time you have left to hang out with your high school friends.