Dorming 101
We invite you to ask questions via convocation@pace.edu, participate in this blog with current student Danielle Cosgrove or contribute to the interactive discussion with other students, faculty, and staff. These comments may be used as part of Convocation, Academy Day, or UNV 101. Happy reading!
Danielle Cosgrove
July 8, 2009
Dorming 101
Moving into a dorm at college is like moving into your own apartment. You finally get to live on your own and make your own decisions. There are three HUGE decisions when moving into your "new place."
1. Who to live with.
2. Where to live.
3. How to decorate.
I remember watching my mom send in the deposit to Pace and wondering how I was going to figure ANY of that out. All I could picture was living with someone that was my polar opposite in a building I didn't like, in a room full of colors and decorations that make me anxious. But then I started talking to a senior at Pace who gave me some wise words of wisdom. So, let me enlighten you all.
1. You will most likely meet someone at orientation that you get along with really well. That what orientation is for, to meet lots and lots of people that you will be spending the next four years with. Some of those people WILL become your best friends, and others just your acquaintances, but there is a high chance that one (or maybe a few) will be your roommate(s). I met my roommate at orientation, and she is now one of my best friends, and my sister (we pledged the same sorority). She will be one of my best friends for the rest of my life, and there is no doubt in my mind when I say that. But! Do NOT fret! You don't HAVE to find someone at orientation. Some people don't! There are many different orientations, and it's possible that your "perfect roommate" will go to a different orientation than you! Pace has a really good "pairing system" (as I call it) where they evaluate each person that doesn't pick a roommate at orientation and matches him or her up based on the form that was filled out and sent in with the deposit. If you don't remember this form, allow me to refresh your memory: clean/messy/both, bedtime: 10 pm/12pm/2 am, sleep with music/tv/nothing, etc etc etc. Do you remember now? Those forms allow Debbie Levesque and the rest of ResLife (the people that deal with everything to do with dorming) to match people up really well. So, either way, you will find a great roommate, no worries! A good way to start looking is to add people from the Pace 2013 groups on Facebook. Networking is a HUGE part life, and the best place to start is COLLEGE! So, here's to the start of your network. (Did you just get a flashback of a Verizon commercial? "These are 'my people'")
2. If you haven't already checked out the buildings, you will see them all at orientation. There are 7 different buildings for undergrads (that's anyone working toward a 4-year-degree): the ones on Briarcliff: Dow, Valley, Hillside, and New Dorm, and the ones on Pleasantville: Martin, North and the Townhouses. Freshman are not allowed to live in New Dorm or the Townhouses, but that still leaves you with 5 different choices. Each building has a lot to offer, in fact if you go to the Housing and Residential Life site, you will be able to see each different residence hall. Just click on your campus on the left hand side, and you'll end up on a page that gives some details on each building. But, my best advice is to check each one out in person before you sign up. I personally lived in Dow Hall my freshman year, with my previously mentioned beloved roommate, and we actually chose to live there again this coming year. (So! If you do choose Dow, I'll be a walk down the hall away in case you need any help! =) )
I know there was a question about sizes of rooms and such... you can find this information on the site I provided a link to above.
3. In terms of decorating, it is best to decide with your roommate, so that you both know what will end up being in the room once you are both moved in. My roommate and I had our 2 beds, 2 dressers, 2 desks, 1 armoir (my closet, my roommate had a closet that was like, part of the room, not a peice of furniture), and then we had a rather large TV, desk chairs, each of us had an end table... AND we had a floor fan that was like, the size of a mini-fridge, AND our MicroFridge (which is the only kind of microwave you can have in the room- it must be attached to the fridge. These are called MicroFridges and can be purchased or rented at RentalCompanyOne.com. My roommate and I rent one each year. They move it in for you and everything if you rent it- it's great.) So basically what I'm saying is, you can actually fit a LOT of stuff, and still have room to move. I am the type of person that has to have everything she owns with her wherever she is residing, so prettttty much EVERYTHING from home came with me. (Okay I'm exaggerating.. it was like 3/4s of everything.... hahha) And we were fine. We collaborated and decided on a base color and accent colors for the whole room. The colors and such are really just something you and your roommate will have to decide. If you don't pick your roommate at orientation, you'll find out who he or she is in time for you to make decisions on what to buy. If not, just buy what you want! Your half of the room is your half.
Also, just a sidenote: you CAN put things on the wall, as long as you can remove them at the end of the year without damaging the walls. AKA, no nails, thumbtacks, etc, but Target/WalMart/Kmart type stores all sell fun things for college dorm rooms that stick to the wall but don't damage it and can easily be peeled off if need be.
If I missed anything, feel free to post your questions!
Check out Danielle's previous blogs: Caution: Dangerous Curves Ahead
