Living on campus during your first year of college is a definite must. A student on his or her own will feel disconnected from campus life and the rest of the student body. Dorm life is part of the first year experience. You are near students who are also away from home for the first time. For most, they are in a new city or state – and do not have many friends. A lot of people would say that your new roommate is your new best friend. However I think that living in a single person dorm room allows you to meet just as many people.

During my first year of college, I lived in a dorm which housed 800 people; 100 students per floor, and a mix of single and double stocked rooms. Luckily, I was in one of the single occupancy rooms. This room was meant for two students but housed only me. The cramped quarters were a perfect size for all of my belongings, but not much more. It is important to have your own space during the difficult transition to college. Having your own dorm room, without a roommate allows a you to escape and be on your own when they need to. Having a roommate in such a small environment is a set up for problem after problem.

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For example, if I have an exam on Tuesday and my roommate does not: obviously I am going to study. However, there is nothing that will stop my roommate from blasting music at high volumes or staying up all night, besides common courtesy. I have heard stories from many of my friends who describe this exact situation and how it occurred time after time throughout the year.

Having your own room forces the student to go out and make friends with similar interests. Having a roommate puts two students into a situation where they are forced into friendship or at least into a relationship where they can get along. These types of friendships do not often last for long, because of the constant struggle to find a middle ground’. The same goes for two best friends attending the same college. You do not want them to be your roommate, because in most cases the friendship will be ruined. The statement “you do not know someone until you have lived with them” holds true in almost every scenario. Until you live with someone you do not really know how they act behind closed doors.

A roommate in a college dorm is nothing but disaster. You have no privacy and can never get away from the drama that is bound to occur during your first year in college. And having a place that you can call your own is a definite live saver during midterm week.

Justin Capasso

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New College Student Advice: The Dorms