Five tips for making living on campus easier

Moving on campus, whether for the first time or for the fourth time, always seems like a hassle, but there are so many ways to make campus living easier and more enjoyable.

Here are five tips that may help make your experience on campus easier.

Don’t Over Pack

Moving into your dorm room and unpacking everything can be a tedious process. The rooms are not that big, and most people share that space with another person. 

Chances are, you will not need or use as many items as you think you will. Overpacking will only leave you with a cramped space and a ton of items that end up sitting without being touched. 

Same goes for clothes. If you second guess whether or not you will wear something, you probably will not.

Pack lighter, and if you are missing something you need, things can easily be shipped to you on campus. There are many places close to campus too, like the mall, where you can find a ton of items and clothes.

Get Things to Organize and Store Your Stuff

Organization will be your best friend. Having a more organized dorm will keep the space from feeling too cramped or cluttered, and for some, help you focus better.

Getting things to keep your items organized, like storage drawers or racks, gives you extra space to set your stuff on top of the shelves and dressers already in your dorm room. Many closets are big enough to fit extra storage compartments, so that leaves you with more floor space in the room itself.

Make The Dorm Yours

While you do not need to go out and buy a ton of new decorations, make the room yours. Customize the dorm and fill it with things that make the room feel more like you. 

The room is your home for the semester or year; make it a space that you feel comfortable in and that you want to be in. That is your space, so show that. Whether it’s posters, pictures, lights, knicknacks, or even your bedding, find ways to make the space your own paradise or comfort place while you are living on campus.

Set Boundaries with Your Roommate(s) and Discuss Schedules

If you have a roommate, or multiple, make sure to set boundaries and discuss schedules. 

When living with another person, communication is key to ensure that issues are avoided. If issues do come up, communication can help resolve those issues and smooth them over.

As soon as you move in with your roommate and get settled in, discussing boundaries and schedules is a good idea. 

Talk about what you are comfortable with and what you are not comfortable with. Bring up things that are a “must” and things that you want to avoid. Having rules and boundaries with your roommate(s) right off the bat will let each of you know each other’s preferences and it gives you an idea of what living together might look like.

Having that level of communication can also help avoid potential conflicts in the future, as comfort levels and “rules” have already been gone over. 

Discuss schedules too, such as class times and extracurricular times, so each of you has a sense of when one will be free or busy. It is also good to know each other’s schedules in case someone has an early morning class or a night class.

Take Advantage of the Campus and Make Friends with Other Residents

One of the quickest ways to adjust to living on campus is to take advantage of what campus has to offer and to make friends with other residents.

Late night study session? The Library and Founder’s Lounge offer great places to study that are open late if you need a quiet place to go. 

The Roost stays open late as well if you want a bite to eat or just want a place to hang out with friends. 

During the day, many of the buildings have study spots tucked throughout them, the campus has many benches and little spots outdoors too.

Elmhurst University has a pretty campus with many spots to go both indoors and outdoors. Take advantage of them if you do not feel like staying in your dorm.

Making friends with other residents is a great way to feel more comfortable as well. Hanging out around campus or in each other’s dorms is always fun, and having more familiar faces will help you feel a little less lost as you settle into your dorm and college life.

Dorm life can seem scary at first, especially if it is brand new to you, but it can be a lot of fun if you make the most of it and put in the effort to ensure your comfortability. 

Make the dorm yours, communicate with your roommates, take advantage of the campus, and talk to other residents. Living on campus will not seem so bad if you find the good things in it. This is your home for the next few months, so make it one.