Why Should You Choose a Student Dorm?

Pillows – check. Blankets – check. Lamps, shelves and slippers – check. Emergency food – check. The list goes on... Leaving home and moving into student accommodation is, for most of us, quite a big deal. While many students are able to continue living at home, and some take the leap straight to renting privately, a large number of first-years end up in university accommodation – the student dorm.

Here are some benefits of living in a student dorm...

1. Let’s make friends!

It’s easier to make friends when everyone lives in student accomodation. Everyone will be nervous, excited and ready to mingle at the start of the year, so by living in a student dorm, you can take advantage of the friendly atmosphere and make some close bonds. Some dorms even comprise of mostly international students, so that’s an added bonus if you want to make friends from all over the world!

2. Convenience of student accomodation

Apart from getting more opportunities to make friends, living in a student dorm can also be useful when it comes to studying. Still up at 3am and need to speak to someone about tomorrow’s exam – see who else still has their light on! Need a particular book that you couldn’t find at the library? Post a note on the notice board to see if anyone in your dorm has a copy.

3. Distance to classes

Living in a student dorm means you can set your alarm later in the mornings, as student accommodation is usually located very close to the main university campus. In some cases, you may even have classes and facilities right in the same building or group of buildings (you should probably still get changed out of your pyjamas though...) An example of this is the self-contained colleges of Cambridge and Oxford University, where students live and have classes all within the college site.

4. Increased independence

Living alone or with a roommate is very different from living at home. Many of us, including myself, grew up not having to do too many household chores, repairs or paying bills. So if your choice is between staying at home or student dorms, the latter is a good opportunity to learn how to be less dependent on your family, without being completely out there on your own!

So, to student dorm or not to student dorm? That’s the question, and it isn’t a hard one. I’d strongly recommend that students should experience, at least once in the next three or so years of their university lives, living in a dorm. Besides the practical perks, it’s mainly just a lot of fun!