I can still remember the first day of move-in and how welcoming the grand, white doors of Pattie Cobb Hall looked. It was my sophomore year of college and first year at Harding. I had been randomly assigned a roommate and was pleasantly surprised to find her normal and relatable to my personality.
Picking out housing seems simple, right? Through my experiences here at Harding, I can confirm that a good deal of thought goes into it. After multiple roommates, switching housing every semester and factoring meal plans into the mix, I have put together a short crash course to hopefully aid in the process.
The standard dormitories are where most students their years in college. Though before college we hear horror stories about dorm life, it is definitely an experience that everyone should have.
The greatest benefit I have found from living in a dorm is the chance to meet new people. My first year in Pattie Cobb, my roommate and I had our door open constantly just waiting for others to drop in and say “hi.” Curfew worked out to my advantage, and I got to meet a ton of my friends from having late-night dance parties in their rooms.
After two years of living in a dorm, however, an apartment starts to sound appealing. You are growing up and are ready to move on to the next step. An apartment will give the luxury of a kitchen and a living room. A kitchen? That means less cafeteria food and more home-cooked. Having a living room helps to make it feel homier as well. After living in a dorm, getting to go back to my apartment after class and sprawl out on a couch was so much more appealing than having to jump up on my top bunk in a cramped dorm room.
While most of the apartment-style dorms still have curfew, they give a lot more leeway on things and help move you closer to being a full-on self-supporting adult. There is also an option for single rooms, so if you are tired of having a roommate, that is a good way to go.
Speaking of roommates, choosing a roommate is one of the most important factors when considering housing. College is hectic to begin with, and throwing in a roommate who has opposite views or personality tends to make things messier.
My dad used to always tell me never to room with my best friend. I ignored his warning and went ahead and did it anyway. He could not have been more right. Spending copious amounts of time with someone who has a different sleeping schedule, temperature and routine could throw you over the edge.
It is important to choose someone that has the same sleep schedule. If you prefer to go to bed early, having a night-owl roommate will be the bane of your existence. It is also important to find someone that meshes with your personality and has similar views. The last thing anyone wants to do is argue every day with a roommate.
Keep in mind other qualities such as cleanliness levels, temperature preferences and communication methods. Don’t be afraid to lay down the law on what they can take and what is strictly yours. Though it may seem overboard to talk about all of this before rooming together, it is important to spot a red flag early so that you are not killing yourself over it the rest of the semester.
After some thought, housing can look a little intimidating, but fear not. Paying attention to the qualities above can help tremendously. (Today is March 25, and it is time to go in for housing meetings. Pray about it, and everything will be just fine. Best of luck, friends.)
