Dr. Ruth Dorm Life 101

As the person who shares such close quarters with you, your roommate is a very important part of college life, but there's a lot bigger population surrounding you, and for probably the only time in your life, the vast majority will be about your age and going through the same experiences you are. Even if you come from a family with twelve children who all shared a rather small living space, you won't be prepared for dorm life, as those around you won't be your siblings and Mom and Dad won't be around to act as referees. Sleep-away camp is the closest experience most young people may have had, but with counselors constantly supervising you, and no responsibilities as far as school work is concerned, it's not really comparable either. So the key word that you'll have to incorporate into your lifestyle is "adapt." What will you have to adapt to? Noise. Late hours. So-so food. Social pressures. Academic pressures. Nudity. Drugs. Alcohol. Constant interruptions. Playful mayhem. In short, exactly what you'd expect from living with a building full of people who are like you in so many ways.

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