This guide talks all about my first year living in the dorms and everyday stuff that comes up in college!
If you are going into your first year of college, you will love these tips, and hopefully, after the first year never want to leave!
I currently go to college in North Carolina and I absolutely love it. I am going to give you the best tips, advice, and the actual truth about living in the dorms and college in general.
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The Truth About Your First Year In College.
1. Wallet for your student Id.
In college, you will need to have your student Id with you all the time. When you live in the dorms, you need your Id to get to your dorm room, school building, and even to pick up mail.
So this phone wallet is a great tool for your first year of college! Hook it to the back of your phone and have your student Id whenever you go.
2. Become friends with your RA.
You do not want to make enemies with your RA. They are students just like you so don’t be afraid of them and become friends with them.
One of my friends walked into his dorm room drunk and because he was friends with the RA, he didn’t turn him in. I’m not saying to become friends with them so you can get drunk but there are benefits to befriending them.
3. Talk to everyone!
Your first year of college can be scary especially when you know 0 people BUT spoiler everyone is scared.
I remember reaching out to a “school” friend that I had in high school, that I knew was going to my college. She ended up bringing two other people to our freshman orientation and I became friends with them. BUT I had to go out of my comfort zone and text her.
Don’t be afraid to text people!
4. The bathrooms are nasty and you will need shoes.
Please buy shower shoes.
The communal bathrooms are disgusting and you do not want to get any diseases from them. The freshman that I know have those shoes linked above for their shower.
5. Airpods are a lifesaver when walking to class.
This one could sound silly but I lost my AirPods this semester and walking to class is awful.
When you are a freshman, it can seem like everyone is staring at you, and listening to music for that 5-min walk can change your whole mood for the day.
6. Check your school email regularly.
I have my school email on my school computer so when I turn it on, I can check them daily.
It is so important to check your school email because your teacher can email you about a problem, send you a reminder, or even cancel the class.
7. Get extra storage for your tiny dorm room.
Your dorm room is so tiny. It will most likely be the smallest place you live in or share with somebody. Make sure to use storage tricks to get full use out of it. I actually have a post about it listed below.
(RELATED) 19 Genius Dorm Room Storage Ideas Perfect For Small Spaces
8. Never go out alone.
This tip is especially for girls.
Your college town or city is full of bad people (even if you don’t believe it). Its a hard balance of staying vigilant but also staying safe. However, the best thing you can do to protect yourself is never going out alone.
Call a friend!
9. School over parties.
Your first year will feel like a party frenzy. There will be parties on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and sometimes on Tuesdays.
If you do not get your schoolwork done, you will hurt yourself in the long run. There will also be another party.
10. Buy snacks for your dorm room.
When I first moved into my dorm room, I told myself that I was not going to buy any snacks and only healthy meals.
As you probably guessed that did not go well, I ended up spending so much money on Doordash or Chickfila. Just buy some snacks.
11. Explore your city.
Please do not stay in your dorm room all the time.
Go out and explore. You will meet so many people and the memories will last.
The picture above was from a last-minute plan that I went on with 2 new friends. I had so much fun and even laugh looking back at it.
12. Lift your bed so you have more space.
Your dorm room is TINYYYYY!
Lift your bed so you can use the space underneath for a dresser, storage cart, and other essentials. I recommend buying a bed skirt so you can hide it too!
13. Amazon is a game changer!
Did you know students get a discount for Amazon prime?
You get course hero for 1 month free, free shipping, fast delivery, and access to thousands of discounts. All for 50% off their normal rate!
14. Don’t take early morning classes.
Even if you are a morning person, do not take early morning classes.
I used to wakeup at 7 am for high school so I thought I would be able to easily wake up at 10 am two days a week.
I was soo wrong, I skipped that class so many times and will never take an early class again. If you are still wanting to take a morning class, just wait until the second semester.
15. Think about Greek life!
There are definitely pros and cons of joining a sorority but I can give you some of my opinions on it.
It does cost money but its the best way to meet people fast. Once you get a bid, you become sisters with tens to hundreds of people overnight while raising money for charities.
Or if you do not want to join a sorority or fraternity, consider joining a club. Anything to get out there and meet people!
(RELATED) The Truth About Greek Life | Should You Go Through Sorority Recruitment?
16. Be careful studying in your bed.
Having a separate place to study and sleep is very important.
Your bedroom should be a safe place to relax and watch TikTok.
17. Do not bring all of your clothes to college.
You only need your essentials in your packing list and a few extra going-out tops.
The dorm room will have limited space so make sure to keep that in mind. I would stick to about 3 suitcases full of clothes and 2 jackets.
18. You can get fined for certain parking areas.
THIS TIP WOULD HAVE SAVED ME SO MUCH MONEY!
Most colleges have awful parking spaces for students. I currently live in the sorority house and the only parking places I can park are 10+ minutes away from my class.
However, if I was to park in a different parking area, I would be fined tens to hundreds of dollars. So be aware of where you can park.
19. Do not be afraid of the library.
During my freshman year, I was terrified of the library.
The school I go to had 9 levels and students would be there 24/7. I ended up not using the library as I should have and would do all my school work in my dorm. This sounds fine but it can affect your mental health if you do not have a “safe” space to just relax.
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