Dorm life in the United States is very different from how it is represented in movies and on TV. While living on campus certainly comes with some great social opportunities, the real benefit is having quick access to valuable resources for furthering your education.
Dorms—short for dormitory—typically house one or more students per unit. They are built for function and used primarily for sleeping, eating, and studying, but most also contain communal space for gathering with roommates and entertaining guests.
Before You Arrive
The more you learn in advance, the better your stay in an American dorm will be. If possible, take a virtual tour or visit campus in person. Study maps of both the campus and its surrounding areas. Also, e-mail your new resident advisor (RA) and ask for the measurements and specifications of the dorm where you will be living. This will help you decide what to pack for your trip.
In terms of luggage, pay special attention to international flight regulations. Keep baggage to a minimum by packing only essential items (clothing, documentation, etc.). Leave appliances and electronics at home—electrical output in the United States will likely differ from that of your home country anyway—but bring a few sentimental items to personalize your new surroundings. Also, be sure to bring a few favorite toiletries or snacks—paying close attention to restrictions on liquids in carry-on luggage—that are not typically available in the United States.
Staying Safe
Most dorms feature secure entrances, well-lit hallways and parking lots, self-locking residence doors, emergency phones and call buttons, and safety windows that open to no more than 6-8 inches. But despite the high priority that universities place on protecting students, it’s important to incorporate a few simple safety measures into your daily routine:
- Keep dorm windows and doors locked at all times.
- Don’t “buzz in” visitors unless you know them personally.
- Make sure that any guests to your dorm are properly signed in.
- Walk with friends, especially at night.
- Know the phone number for campus security in case of emergency.
During spring break or summer vacation, groups of students may travel to parts of the United States to help rebuild communities devastated by natural disasters such as what happened to Mississippi and Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Students travel to help rebuild schools and houses. Other groups are organized to travel to parts of the United States that are disadvantaged—some in inner cities and some in remote communities. You may find projects in inner cities such as Baltimore or Washington, DC, or in Native American communities in the West. Some projects may have more exotic destinations such as orphanages in Tanzania or Guatemala.
Living with Roommates
Sharing a home with strangers for the first time can be slightly challenging. Get in touch with prospective housemates as early as possible to discuss how chores and shopping responsibilities will be divided as well as other personal obligations or requests. For example, will you be expected to notify your roommates if you plan on spending the night elsewhere? Are there behaviors or activities that you simply will not tolerate? Discussing your expectations up front will help prevent confrontations later.
In general, dorm residents are expected to…
- Be considerate, especially when engaging in potentially disruptive activities like playing music or entertaining guests.
- Share cleaning and shopping responsibilities.
- Establish a personal schedule and budget time as necessary for study, rest, and social activities. (Sharing your daily schedule with roommates is good practice for safety’s sake, but the choice to do so is ultimately yours.)
- Arrange your own meals and transportation.