When it seems every other friend is moving away from home, it can be easy to feel left out if your family can’t afford for you to go somewhere other than a community college, or if you’ve chosen to attend one. There are so many positives to living at home, though, and if you have the right attitude, you can enjoy the experience and thrive in the environment.

Home cooking: You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving break to enjoy a home-cooked meal!

Comfy bed: There’s no sleeping on uncomfortable beds and longing for a good night’s sleep on your own bed, because you’ll be getting that every night.

Emotional support: Your family will be right there to cheer you on and support you when you need it. They’ll see you every day and will know when something’s wrong.

Nearby friends: Since most of the people attending your school will be from the same area, they won’t leave to go home on breaks, and they won’t run out of money and move back home; most already are home!

Easy scheduling: Instead of trying to cram scheduling for the next semester during finals, you can drive to campus at your leisure during breaks and avoid the crowds in the admissions office.

Work: You can keep the job you already have, and if you’re a loyal worker, they’ll likely work around your schedule each quarter as class times change. Plus you won’t have to look for a seasonal job every time you come home on breaks – you can just ask your boss to up your hours for a few weeks.

Money: Since you won’t have to pay a lot of money for dorm rooms, food plans, and eating out, you can use that money to pay for classes and books, thus avoiding huge student loans to pay off after graduation.

I attended a community college, and it was a great experience for me. I loved living a few minutes away from school, and making friends close to my town. I enjoyed meeting various family members in my school cafeteria for lunch, and I liked being able to stay on campus to study in between classes (going home to watch TV isn’t so tempting when you have to drive several minutes each way!).

Community colleges may not be everyone’s top choice, but they can definitely have a positive impact on people’s lives, and the same degree can be obtained for a fraction of the price. If money is an issue, consider attending a school near your town, at least until you have most of your prerequisites out of the way.

In the end, where we went to college won’t even matter. All that will matter is that we’re Christians and lived our lives in obedience to God, sharing His love with as many people as possible. Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”

– Davonne Parks

Read parts one through three of “Making a Dorm a Home” here, here, and here.

The Suite Life

As with living with a roommate, living with several suitemates can be an adjustment. Probably more so. The more people living together, the more personalities there may be to clash. But the more friends you will also make and good memories you will share. Just as we discussed with having a roommate, there will be several things you’ll want to consider when sharing with suitemates.

Decorating

Although you will still probably only have one or two roommates within the suite you are sharing, there will be some common areas for all the girls to share. You may have to wait until you all arrive to school for the year to talk about what to do with the shared space. That’s fine. Sit down and discuss how to decorate the space and what each person can contribute to the room. Someone may have a couch or chair that could be used. Someone else may have a TV that can be set up. While considering everyone’s tastes, enjoy decorating this new “mini-home” you all are sharing.

House rules

One important thing to consider when living with anyone else, but especially several very different people, is privacy and respect. You will likely have a shared bathroom. And you will likely have different friends to invite over. It’s important to establish some basic house rules when you first arrive, while everyone is on good terms. Don’t wait until you’re irritated with a suitemate to bring up certain issues you have with her. This will only make things worse, and may harm a great friendship. Things to discuss: visitors and guests, quiet hours, snacks and food––each girl for herself, or everything shared? What if you break something that belongs to someone else? Who takes showers when? Does someone have priority on a certain day?

Cleaning

While discussing the house rules, you need to come up with a cleaning plan. This is a great idea for the organized, tidy person, but not so fun for the one who doesn’t mind clutter. Decide if each girl should just clean up after herself (sometimes not so great, since some people can leave a mess for weeks and it not bother them). Should there be a rotation for cleaning places like the bathroom, living space, etc.? Is there one time a week designated for all the girls to get together and pitch in for a cleaning spree? (Suggest ending it with a chick flick and popcorn, and you may have some positive reactions!) Although you may have certain neat-freaks in the group, it’s important that everyone helps out in order to make things work.

Get started!

Now it’s time for you to get started! I’ve given you some helpful tips on the new and exciting experience of living with a roommate (or 4) and making your dorm into a home you can settle into and love. It may not have your mother’s kitchen, but hopefully you can make it feel just as warm.

By Lisa Grimenstein

Read parts one and two of “Making a Dorm a Home” here and here.

Computers

We’ve discussed the different appliances that you may want to include in your new dorm room, all of which are optional. But there is one thing that, while still not a necessity, is a huge benefit to your dorm life––the computer. If you’ve made it through high school, you may very likely already have your own. But if you’ve been sharing the family desktop to do your essays and researching, a computer of your own might be something you’ll want to ask for. (Dell usually has a lot of good deals around the beginning of the school year on basic computers and laptops.) This is assuming, of course, that you or your parents can afford one. If you can’t afford a new computer, look around for remanufactured or used ones (Craigslist is a great place to start). Or let people at your church know that you’re in the market to buy a reliable, simple laptop for college. Someone may have just what you need. Keep in mind that many colleges have now started providing laptops for all students, included in the cost of tuition. Resist the urge to spend all of the graduation money that comes in – if you save it, you may end up having enough to purchase your own computer or another item you need later.

Other electronics

The other thing you may want to consider buying for your room is a printer. It doesn’t have to be fancy, with all the extras that are often included with a printer. But it is nice to have one when you finally finish that research report at two in the morning, when the computer lab is closed. Again, this is something you could find on Craigslist or at yard sales, or you could buy an inexpensive one with some of the money you got for graduation. This is also one item you may not need duplicates of in your room, so check with your roommate first to see if she already has a printer.

Although scanners and other electronics are nice to have, wait until the school year starts to see how much you’d really need other electronic items. You may find that the girl down the hall has one that will suffice for the two times you need it a semester.

Or you may find yourself living in a suite, with a whole army of electronics within your reach.

By Lisa Grimenstein

Go here to read part one of “Making your dorm a home.”

Sharing a room

One of the best, and most challenging, parts of moving to dorm is having a roommate. Whether you’ve had to share a room for years with a sibling or you’ve had your own space, it can be an adjustment to live with someone else, even if it’s the best friend you’ve known for years.

If you’re going to be living with a friend you already know, get together and decide on a plan for your room. Who is bringing what? What kind of style do you each have? Are you both tidy people, or does one tend to leave clothing scattered on the floor? These are things you may want to consider when planning your shared space. If you’re rooming with someone you’ve never met, as a result of random selection by the college, try to contact the person beforehand to talk and get to know one another. Discuss your interests and styles and what each of you can provide for the room.

Decorating with a roommate

You may not care that you and your roommate have mismatched, clashing comforters on the beds––but your plaids and stripes with her dainty flowers might drive her crazy. You may love the smell of hydrangea candles––but she may get a headache any time she lingers near a floral scent. Make sure you discuss decorating ideas with your roommate, if possible, before you start purchasing everything for the room. However, don’t feel like you have to sacrifice your tastes to make her happy. Sharing a room is going to be about compromise, and it’s important that you are both willing to do so. Talk openly and kindly about what styles you each like and how you’d like to arrange and decorate your room.

Two’s too many

You probably don’t need two mini-fridges. Or microwaves. Or sets of curtains. Try to determine beforehand who will bring what. Does she have a microwave her parents are getting rid of for a newer one? Let her bring it! Did you find a great deal on a set of cute curtains? Let her know so that she doesn’t start shopping for some. Some things may be fine in duplicates, but consider the expense and whether you’ll ever need more than one at the same time. Another option is to go in together and purchase something larger for your room, like the mini-fridge. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll eventually have to decide how to split these items up.

Decorating and planning can be exciting with your new roommate. Just remember to lovingly consider one another’s ideas and preferences. And while it’s not necessary to have duplicates of certain items in your room, there are some things that you’ll probably each want for yourselves––like a computer.

By Lisa Grimenstein

Entering college means for many of us entering a whole new realm––dorm rooms. Whether you have a roommate or are on your own, a private room, or a suite shared with several girls, there are some things you want to consider before moving in. In this series, we’ll cover some of the basics of dorm living and what you’ll need or want to make it your temporary home.

Appliances

There are several appliances you might want to have in your dorm room. However, before rushing out to buy any of them, check with your dorm policies regarding which appliances and such are allowed in the dorm. Some schools don’t allow hot plates or other like items, since they can pose a fire hazard.

Microwave––A microwave is a very handy appliance when living in a dorm. While many dorms may have a small kitchenette for everyone to use, which includes a microwave, it’s nice to have one for yourself when you need to heat up a late-night snack or cup of hot chocolate. Look around at yard sales or clearance sections for a good deal on one, or check with people you know to see if they’re getting rid of an old one. Try to keep the size small, as most dorm rooms are not that large to begin with.

Mini-fridge––A small refrigerator is a great asset to your room. It allows so many options. Having a small fridge means you can stock healthier snacks for late study nights––yogurt, string cheese, orange juice. Or even the occasional roll of chocolate chip cookie dough. There is also a small freezer inside to keep a frozen meal or two for those times you aren’t able to make it to the cafeteria for dinner before it closes. Mini-fridges are often on sale toward the middle to end of summer, as the school year approaches, so start looking now if you’re considering buying one.

Iron––If you have anything at all that will need ironing––and you probably will––you need an iron and ironing board. The iron doesn’t need to be top of the line––a simple one should do the trick. If your dorm room is very small, a white towel can be laid on a table or desk in place of an ironing board.

Remember that these appliances are not essentials––don’t go tell your parents you have to have them!––but they can be helpful. There are many other items you may want to take with you to make your dorm a home––toaster oven, coffee maker (cheaper than buying Starbucks every morning!), or electric kettle. Keep in mind the amount of space you’ll have and whether or not a roommate may be bringing that same item. Which leads us to our topic for next time––sharing a room.

By Lisa Grimenstein