What is college dorm life like?

Question

How many people per floor normally. What are the bathrooms like? is it likely to be seen naked in a dorm room?

Answer 1

It's the most fun you'll ever have.

Nudity is something that just sort of...comes up. Most folks change in the bathroom in the morning after showers. Communal showers aren't common, though communal bathrooms are.

In newer dorms, you're more likely, even as a freshman, not to have a communal bathroom, but instead to have a suite-style bathroom (where it's shared between two dorm rooms) or a bathroom just for your dorm room.

Usually between 30 and 60 people per floor.

Here's a tip that will make your time in the dorms a lot better:
Leave your dorm room door open when you're there. If it doesn't stay open, buy a doorstop at Target or something. You make more friends and have more fun with people when you can see them coming and going. And hang out in the floor lounge - every dormitory has at least a lounge on the ground floor, if not one on every floor.

When I was a freshman, I lived in an older building that got its charm from the fact that I knew everyone there - and I knew people because we all kept our doors open. When I was a sophomore, our doors closed and I didn't know anyone. And it wasn't nearly as much fun.

Answer 2

Depends on the school and the size of the building. There were maybe 200 people on my floor, 100 per hall and a bathroom in each hall, in a 5 story building (all floors made the same). The bathrooms had 1 bathtub inside a separate room w/ locking door and 5 shower stalls, 5 sinks, 5 toilets. We had one rec room on the gorund floor...it was so boring. I hardly ever stayed there, my room was like a big closet for me and I usually ended up crashing at friends' apartments. I'm sure my dorm mate loved it b/c she basically had the place to herself...I really just went there to change and study.

And yes...it's highly likely you'll be seen naked.

Answer 3

Kat - your experience with college dorm life will depend on the school you attend, the roommates and floormates that you wind up sharing space with, the residential assistants that supervise the buildings and your own personality. (and probably a dozen other things as well).

Some schools have long lists of rules and regulations - some restrict socialization between men and women. Other schools take the attitude that college students are "adults", and should be allowed and encouraged to establish their own policies. There are schools where dorms are strictly segregated by gender, and other schools have dormitories where male and female students are arranged in alternating rooms on the same floor. Then again, some schools have lots and lots of rules, but residential assistants who aren't the least bit concerned with enforcing them.

If you're an outgoing person who makes friends easily, you'll probably quickly gravitate towards a lively group of people who are very socially active - hanging out in each other's rooms - partying both in and outside of the dorms. If you're more of a studious person, who wants a lot of quiet time in order to concentrate on academics, you'll probably find yourself spending time in your room wishing that the idiots next door would shut the *$#( up, so you can study (or sleep).

Moving into a dorm is like moving into a new neighborhood - except all of the people who live in your new neighborhood are about the same age as you. There will be new "neighbors" that you like, new neighbors that bore the crap out of you, and new neighbors that you wonder why your school ever accepted them for admission. Whether you become an active neighbor who socializes with the others is pretty much up to you.

The dorm environment is part of what you should be investigating and considering as part of your college application process. If you're looking for an "Animal House" type environment, you're probably not going to be happy at School A - if you're looking for a quiet place to reflect and learn, you probably won't be happy at School B.

If the size of the buildings or the numbers of rooms on each floor concern you - those are things you'll want to investigate in advance. Again, every school is different - some universities feature these quaint little buildings that were originally built as 1800s homes - others house their students in modern new 10 story buildings, with thousands of students sharing the same elevators.

Same with the bathrooms - differs from environment to environment - and sometimes within the same school, where you may have different housing options. A bathroom shared by 100 students on a crowded floor may show the effects of a weekend spent drinking a little too much every Sunday night - a bathroom shared by 4 girls in a private suite arrangement may be decorated with fresh-picked flowers and look so clean that the Ty-D-Bowl man must be living in one of the bedrooms.

There's no one answer to your question. Some people spend the 4 best years of their lives partying all night and sleeping all day - others may spend the worst 4 years of their lives in the same dorm, desperately trying to sleep, and wishing that they had chosen a school with an entirely different kind of dormitory setup.

Good luck to you!

Answer 4

Depends on the college and often depends on the individual dorm. Co-ed dorms have a tendency to be more active and have fewer inhibitions toward accepted behavior.

Some colleges are more restrictive as to what is allowed.

I personally haven't met many that regret living in one for a year or two. But it's definitely something you grow out of.

Remember that it's an environment where your neighbors aren't very far away. You'll likely live closer to other people than you would in even the most densely spaced apartments. It can take a lot of flexibility, but when done well can build a sense of comradely and tight-nitness.

Answer 5

If the college is first rate (and most are), the bathrooms as well as all of the facilities are kept clean. Dorm life can be a lot of fun unless you are antisocial. As far as being seen naked in your room, remember there are usually two people assigned to a room and they are the only ones who have the keys.
I wouldn't fret about your privacy. Use normal common sense and you shouldn't have any problems.
Remember to stay focused. There are a lot of extra curricular activities on a college campus. You are on your own and your parents and or mentors are not around to keep you pointed in the right direction.

Keep your focus.

Answer 6

It can be crazy or quiete, strict or lenient, ultra-clean or pig-pen dirty. It depends on the school, the building, students, the RA, etc. Some floors are all male or all female, while some are co-ed. Your dorm room is your private space that is shared with your roomate(s) of the same sex. The halls and lounges are communal, and many times the bathroom as well.

It definately isn't for everyone, but it will be without a doubt one of the most valuable experiences of your life. I recommend dorming at least one year out of your college career. But you make out of it would you'd like to.

Answer 7

Depends on the building and floor - but can range up to 60 people. Bathrooms are typical - shower and toilet stalls. I don't understand your last question. Are you asking whether you will be naked in your dorm room? Magic eight ball says: Yes, likely.

Answer 8

College life is actually pretty decent, and the bathrooms are small true, however u have to look a the big picture. Parties, Friends, Drinking, it's what's makes u and breaks u. There r around 40 kids per floor. As for nakedness.... better have a bod man!

Answer 9

only in the community bath or in your actual room. Dorm life isn't all that great, unless you're in a dorm with 24 hour visitation, you can't have visitors past a certain time, you have to follow all the rules, and you have to deal with noisy people when you're trying to study. It has some good aspects, some bad. just depends.

Answer 10

Noisy. Bathrooms are busy in the AM. People walking aroudn the halls in robes with their bags or buckets of toiletries. Bathrooms are like locker rooms. You won't be seen naked if you shut your doors and shower curtains. You may see others naked 'cause some folks are not modest at all.