College LivingBy Joseph Benedetto

Go Where?

A lot goes into the decision of whether or not you want to go to college.

If you decide that you do, you may have the following options:

Option 1 – Live at home

Option 2 – Live on campus

Option 3 – Live off campus

Option 1: Live at Home

Percentage - 58.5% in 2009 (according to the National Retail Federation (NRF))

Potential Benefits – Lower cost, easier transition, more support, more personal space and time, greater food options

Potential Issues – Parental needs/expectations, less opportunities for social activities, less independence, transportation

Option 2: Live On Campus

Percentage – 15.8% in 2008 (according to the NRF)

Potential Benefits – Accessibility to school, increased social life, simplicity of financials

Potential Issues – Lack of privacy/space, lower grades

Option 3: Live Off Campus

Percentage – 22.4% (according to the NRF)

Potential Benefits – Independence, privacy, sense of responsibility

Potential Issues – More expensive, transportation issues, isolation, lower grades

Residence Halls

Most college campuses prefer freshmen to live in an on-campus residence hall.

Residence halls usually feature primarily two-person rooms with a select number of one-person rooms for those with special needs.

Most rooms are same-sex. It is not uncommon to have males and females living in the same building, however.

Residence Halls (Cont.)

Residence halls usually have shared bathrooms and laundry facilities. There may be a kitchen in traditional dormitories.

A resident director often lives in an apartment within the residence hall of which he or she is responsible.

Resident assistants usually live in a one-person room located in each hall.

Resident Director (RD)

Responsible for supervising the resident directors in building the community.

Handles or forwards facility operations and maintenance.

Usually acts as a campus judicial hearing officer, meeting with policy offenders and assigning the appropriate sanctions.

Resident Assistants (RAs)

Build community by creating and attending events.

Live close to residents (usually in the same floor/hall.)

Work with the resident director to plan programming and handle violations.

Are available to talk to residents.

Set up programs inside and outside of the hall to build community.

Adjustment

For most people moving into a residence hall, it is their first time living away from their family.

Students moving a distance away from their hometown may become homesick and miss their family and friends.

Resident assistants provide community-building activities and personal attention to ease the transition and make new students feel at home.

Adjustment

For some people, living in the residence hall brings about new responsibilities such as… Self-care (Sleep habits, organization, hygiene) Interpersonal courtesy (Sharing a room, hall,

bathroom, etc…) Academic motivation (Going to class, doing

homework, studying independently)

Residence Hall Policies

Most resident halls have designated “quiet hours” that are enforced overnight.

Students who request quieter, study-friendly conditions may be placed in a section of a hall or possibly an entire dormitory designated for quiet study.

Normally, overnight guests are allowed in public colleges for a limited number of nights within a month.

Residence Hall Policies (Cont.)

The majority of first year students are under the legal drinking age and will be held responsible for possession of alcohol.

Possession of alcohol and/or recreational drugs may result in university police and/or student judicial action.

Some college campuses are completely dry (no alcohol allowed) or smoke-free (no smoking even outside on campus).

Support

For students struggling with adjusting, colleges offer programs and services to help to make the transition easier.

Programming held by student clubs as well as the college provide anything from live music and comedians to multicultural events.

Tutoring and other academic services are almost always offered in core subjects.

Health and counseling services are usually offered for those in need.

Information / Questions?

For more information, check out these resources: General college info:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/ Special needs transition: http://

www.cleinc.net/Home.aspx

Any questions about what I said or college in general?