|
Almost all U.S. colleges and universities provide
their students with the option to live in residence halls
or dormitories (also called "dorms"). These are
usually for single students, not for married couples or families,
and are situated on or close to the campus. It is a great
place to meet U.S. students and make new friends rapidly.
Dormitory rooms are equipped with basic furniture, and many
dormitories in the United States also have a cafeteria. In
some dorms there may be a kitchen for those who would rather
cook for themselves. Dormitories usually have common rooms
where students can get together to watch television, play
games, or simply be with friends. Supervisors, often called
"residence advisers" or "resident directors,"
often live in dormitories to keep an eye on safety and cleanliness
and to make sure the rules are observed. Most of the time,
these residence advisers are students themselves, employed
by the university. The residence adviser can also be a great
source of information and support throughout the academic
year.
Usually there is a great demand for residence hall space,
and it might not be easy to get a room. As soon as you receive
your acceptance letter from your chosen school, return the
housing application. An advance deposit may be required. At
some colleges and universities, dormitory rooms are so much
in demand that a lottery is held to determine who will be
granted space.
Some campus housing closes for holidays, vacations, and break
periods; others may be open year-round. If you require campus
housing during vacations and holiday periods, be sure to inquire
well in advance regarding availability. Also check with your
international student adviser regarding the possibility of
a homestay or off-campus housing options
Many rooms in dormitories are shared with one or more roommates.
Many universities require first year students to share a room.
Your roommate will be someone of the same sex, whom you will
not know. Be prepared to live with someone who could be very
different from you. Roommate arrangements often lead to life-long
friendships, but on rare occasions roommates can prove mismatched.
If you have problems in your living arrangements with your
roommate, do not hesitate to contact your residence adviser
or anyone else in charge of housing at your university to
discuss the situation. In extreme cases, it is possible to
change rooms or roommates.
Dormitory rooms usually do not have a private bath or toilet.
Instead, residents share large "community" bathrooms,
which are separate for men and women. In the United States,
a bathroom includes a toilet, a sink, and a bathtub or a shower.
Generally, students living in a dormitory have to follow
a set of rules to ensure smooth community living. There are
rules to control the noise level, the cleanliness, the number
of visitors, and other aspects of living. These rules can
vary from building to building to cater to different student
tastes. For example, some dormitories might be designated
as "24-hour quiet" buildings for students who prefer
a more studious lifestyle, while some others might not have
strict noise regulations for students who have a more spirited
lifestyle. Make sure you are familiar with the rules before
you move into a residence hall to avoid unnecessary discomfort
or misunderstandings.
Examples of typical campus housing
Coed residence halls: Coed dormitories
have both men and women living in the same building. For some
international students, this might be a new and very different
concept, but it works very well on U.S. campuses. However,
male and female students do not share rooms. Sometimes men
and women live on different floors or in separate suites,
which are small apartments that contain several sleeping rooms,
a common living area, and one or two bathrooms.
Single-sex residence halls: These
dormitories are for those who prefer to live in an all-male
or all-female environment. Universities may set aside a residence
or at least part of a residence building that houses women
and men separately.
University apartments: Some universities
operate apartment houses on campus. Apartments are always
in high demand. Usually priority is given to upper-level undergraduate
and graduate students and to students who are married.
Fraternity and sorority houses:
Fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women) are close-knit
social organizations of undergraduate men and women who live
in a house operated by the organization. Fraternity and sorority
houses may be either on- or off-campus. There is emphasis
on social activity in fraternities and sororities. New members
are chosen through various means during a period called "rush
week." Rush week is often held the week before classes
begin. Living in a fraternity or sorority house may be restricted
to upper-level students.
Married student housing: At some
universities certain apartments or houses are owned and operated
by the university exclusively for married students and families.
Usually, only a limited number of units are available. These
houses and apartments are usually furnished. The demand for
these units is very high. Married students should inquire
as early as possible about the availability of these houses
or apartments.
"Before I left for the USA, I knew that as a first-year
student I would have to live in the university dormitory in
a shared room. I was afraid that life in the dormitories would
be too loud and would not help my studies. I also did not
like the idea of having to share my room with a complete stranger!
I contacted the international student adviser in my university
to ask for advice, and he wrote to me that the university
offered what he called '24-hour quiet' floors for students
who wanted to live in a more quiet and studious environment.
I eventually got a single room on a 24-hour quiet floor. It
was strange at first to share my room with another person,
but I soon got used to it. My roommate and I eventually became
good friends. Living on campus also had many advantages, for
example, being able to get up later in the morning for class!
Of course, as in any living arrangement, there were some times
when the residence was not so quiet or studious, but we had
a residence adviser who made sure the rules were observed.
I do not regret taking the decision to live in residence.
It made me enjoy my time in the United States even more!"
— Christina, Sweden
Back to the top
|
