We’ve all heard the dorm horror stories from college students who’ve had to endure the hell of dealing with obnoxious roommates, 4 a.m. fire alarms, grimy community showers and killjoy residential advisors. But amid all of the bad is a lot of good, and you’ll find that choosing to live in a dorm for at least your freshman year will be the best decision you could’ve made.
Living on campus is the best way to become connected with your fellow students, which is important as you move to a completely new environment. Most incoming freshmen make many more friends than enemies with their roommates and neighbors on the same floor. Participating in the usual college high jinks that occur in dorms – like the hallway slip-and-slide – will make it easier to deal with the stress that comes along with your studies. Opportunities to join clubs and organizations on campus are abundant, and it’ll be easier for you to participate in them while living just a stone’s throw away from where they meet. They’ll enable you to befriend like-minded peers. For example, at UCLA, there are more than 800 registered campus groups that appeal to a diverse range of students, including the Pacific Islands Student Association, Biggest Loser Buddies and Bruins for Liberty. You can burn off the "freshman 15" by walking over to the campus recreation center, where you’ll find plenty of attractive students from the opposite sex. If you’ve learned how to navigate the showers and managed to land a date, you and your companion can easily walk over to the nearby bars and restaurants that are the mainstays of your campus community.
Practically speaking, living in a dorm can save your parents money because you won’t have to worry about monthly rent and additional energy and water bills. You’ll save gas money because everything you need is right under your nose, like food, entertainment and resources for class. Some studies have shown that students who live on campus earn higher GPAs and are more likely to graduate on time. It’s easier to go to class when it’s just a five minute walk away. You’ll be able to reach your professors at the spur of the moment when you need extra insight into a particular topic or assignment. Plus you can find a quiet place to read, research and study in your campus library. If you need some extra money, there are plenty of campus job opportunities that can fit into your schedule. Ultimately, living in a dorm means more convenience and more fun. You’ll get to experience college life the way it’s meant to be experienced.