Dorm Research

Dorm Life.

Eng.1000C

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000023.htm

The truth about dorm life is that it's mostly what you make of it. Sure, you can get stuck with a roommate whom you not only dislike but who is also the biggest slob (or neat freak) you'll ever see. Colleges and universities have ways to fix problems between terminally incompatible roomies. They usually reassign the parties involved, but only after the situation has been judged to be beyond repair.
Dorm life is about patience, compromise, and giving. When both parties (or sometimes three or four in the same room complex) have these qualities, life can be a whole lot less stressful. Dorm rooms are a combination of library, recreation room, bedroom, and haven from the storms of the first year of college. They're truly an all-purpose room.

Dorm Life 101
As the person who shares such close quarters with you, your roommate is a very important part of college life, but there's a lot bigger population surrounding you, and for probably the only time in your life, the vast majority will be about your age and going through the same experiences you are. Even if you come from a family with twelve children who all shared a rather small living space, you won't be prepared for dorm life, as those around you won't be your siblings and Mom and Dad won't be around to act as referees. Sleep-away camp is the closest experience most young people may have had, but with counselors constantly supervising you, and no responsibilities as far as school work is concerned, it's not really comparable either. So the key word that you'll have to incorporate into your lifestyle is "adapt." What will you have to adapt to? Noise. Late hours. So-so food. Social pressures. Academic pressures. Nudity. Drugs. Alcohol. Constant interruptions. Playful mayhem. In short, exactly what you'd expect from living with a building full of people who are like you in so many ways.
http://www.studentnow.com/features/dr_ruth/dormlife.html