Every college student should first decide whether to live on or away from campus.
If this is your first time, congratulations; your choice has the potential to significantly change your college experience.
Despite being a significant choice, many people are taking a huge leap into the unknown.
You should consider living arrangements with colleagues who are also going through it for the first time if your academic goals require you to go out of town and be far from your family and friends.
This may make you feel more at peace. Living on campus will be the best option for experiencing college life directly, even though residing off campus may be more tempting to you.
To help you, take a look at this article by SharedEasy, it has both pros and cons of living on and off campus. Today, we will discuss more about college life.
The On-Campus Life
Living on campus is something you’ve seen in movies, heard about from elder siblings, or perhaps even done on a trial run or lengthy campus tour.
The minor things that await you during your adventure include roommates, cafeteria meals, Greek life, and late-night sleeplessness cookies.
Some schools require out-of-state students to reside on campus at least for their first year, and sometimes even longer.
This higher education approach fosters a sense of community.
Building self-reliance and a feeling of community while assisting undergrads in adjusting to independent living reduces homesickness, which can occasionally lead to a student deciding to quit or transfer to a college closer to home.
As students navigate a world without the constraints they may have experienced at home, living in the dorms offers a vital support network.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Living on Campus
It’s simple for a first-year college student to become overwhelmed by all that goes on every day, but life will be easier if you abide by these dos and don’ts of campus life.
Contrary to popular belief, college life is not all crazy weekend parties, romantic dinners, and impromptu road trips.
Yes, there are a couple of such things. But because many students stayed up the previous night, they now spend their time rushing from one class to the other with very little sleep.
Anyway, it is simple to become overwhelmed by everything that goes on in a day as a freshman (or even as an upperclassman), but by adhering to these dos and don’ts of living on campus, you’ll be able to make the most of each productive and stress-free day of campus living. They include;
Do Get A Planner
Although using a planner may seem silly and like something old people do, we frequently hear about students missing classes or significant activities due to how stressful college living can be.
There is almost no reason not to have a planner to keep track of your commitments these days, kudos to technology and the fact that most college students own smartphones with calendar apps.
You should add your class schedule as soon as you receive it to your calendar app, mark those hours as busy, and set a reminder.
In addition, list all of your other frequent club activities, jobs, etc. You should also enter any upcoming special events so that you can plan your time accordingly.
Take a glance at your schedule every night to mentally get ready for the activities of the next day and to ensure you’ve set aside enough time to eat, unwind, etc.
I assure you that this task will ultimately save you tension, despite the fact that it may appear absurd and even a little tedious.
Don’t Overcommit Yourself
As a freshman, you will be very excited to join all of these clubs//units and go to all of their activities and meetings during the Dorm Fair.
In reality, though, you will not have the time or stamina to do everything, so it’s best to focus on just a few activities that you really enjoy or that you can see yourself pursuing after you graduate from college.
You do not need to do a lot of things to “become well-rounded” because this is not high school.
You can still sign up for information and attend the first few meetings of a number of clubs that interest you, but sooner or later you’ll need to choose a few favorites that you can truly commit to and stick to.
Do Attend Resident Advisor (RA) Events
RAs are more than just dorm-dwelling students who keep an eye on residents to make sure they are abiding by the rules.
For the benefit of building community and friendship, the majority of RAs frequently organize enjoyable events or outings for the entire hall.
These events are wonderful opportunities to get to know the folks you will be residing with for the remainder of the year.
It is very beneficial to at least recognize a few other people in your dorm while you are strolling through the hall.
Movie nights, game contests, and craft-making are a few of the things you might experience or participate in. The events will certainly vary based on your college and RA.
Don’t Overlook Your Mental Health
According to a 2012 National Association of Mental Illness poll of college students, 27% of them experience depression. According to other reports, college students’ mental health problems are becoming a bigger issue.
Students frequently struggle to recognize the signs and seek assistance when they do because of things like the stigma associated with mental illness, a lack of proper education, and the fact that many of us are living alone for the first time.
It is crucial to look after your mental health, whether that means scheduling time for self-care (such as exercise, a healthy diet, etc.), attending to your spiritual needs, or simply venting to a friend about your worries.
Start by speaking with a campus mental health adviser (typically located in the health center), a dependable faculty member, or a RA if you are unclear of what to do or believe a close friend is experiencing mental health concerns.
Final Thoughts
Whether or not you decide to live on-campus, that’s a choice you’ll have to make by yourself.
But if you do, take the points discussed here to mind, as they will help you in no small way.
