Residential Life
Andriana talks about dorm life at Carleton!
Andriana talks about dorm life at Carleton!
Happy Halloween!
As you know, I have been excitedly planning for this day for a while, and I’m so happy that it’s finally here! My roommate and I have come up with a list of activities for the special day, including trick-or-treating at Carleton offices, going for a nighttime arb walk, and hanging out with some of the people on my floor. Speaking of which…
I want to talk to you this week about residential life at Carleton! A big thing that I was stressed about before coming to college was dorm life. I didn’t know what to expect, and I was worried about which dorm I would be in, whether or not my roommate and I would get along, and if I would be close with the other people on my floor. It’s very normal to be nervous about attending college and everything that comes with it, including the transition to living in a dorm.
For the record, everyone has a different experience with living in a dorm. Some roommates become friends, but many don’t, which is okay. I think that it is best to enter college with the expectation that you will live well with your roommate, not that you will be best friends.
Of course, it is nice to be friends with your roommate, but you should not feel like it’s necessary. My roommate and I happen to be really good friends, but I know lots of people on campus who really just co-exist with their roommate, and they’re okay with that. The most important thing is to get along well in a shared living space.
In addition, try not to worry about which dorm you are placed in (which I know is easier said than done). At Carleton, you do not get to request a specific dorm, and you are placed into a building with your living preferences taken into account. Every dorm building is said to have its pros and cons, with some being known for nice rooms and others popular for its good floor life.
Regardless of the dorm you are placed in for your freshman year, don’t forget that you have the choice to spend as much or as little time as you want in your room. Personally, I like to study in my room, but a lot of people prefer to spend time elsewhere on campus.
Also, it’s a good idea to bring things to make your room feel like home, such as photographs, posters, nice blankets, etc. One of the reasons why I love my room so much is because I have turned it into my own cozy space. You don’t have to go nuts about buying a lot of things for your dorm room, but it might be nice to bring things from home that you would like to have with you in college.
Finally, floor life is the best part of the residential experience in college. Floor life refers to the bonding which occurs between the residents of a dorm, and is especially nice for freshmen as it helps foster a sense of community. Although I chose not to live in a freshman dorm, my dorm has really good floor life. The freshmen are really close on my floor, possibly in part because there are not many of us, and we do things together like have dinner, watch movies, and hang out in the lounge.
Tonight, we are planning on watching scary movies for Halloween, which will be fun! After all, it’s always better to be scared while you’re hanging out with your friends.
Happy Halloween everyone!
Andriana
P.S. Here is a B(arb) pic for the week:
Andriana is a native of Richmond, VA, and is looking forward to starting her freshman year at Carleton. She is especially excited to experience the Minnesotan Tundra first-hand and learn what the phrase “polar vortex” really means. When Andriana isn’t busy staying warm, you can find her binge-reading, playing music, or watching a favorite movie or show for the umpteenth time. She is hoping to double major in International Relations and English, while also reminding herself to keep an open mind as she begins her college career. Meet the other bloggers!