Tips for dorm life: A medley of practical and social advice to help you successfully live in the dorms…while ensuring that you live in the dorms!

Starting tangibly…

• Painter’s tape is your best friend (or at least it was mine!)
  • Command strips and removable adhesive products can become expensive but if you buy high-quality painter’s tape you can put up more decorations for less money! 
• Surge protector power strip (basic extension cords can be a fire risk and are not allowed in Columbia dorms)
  • Safety tip: Remember to always plug your mini fridge directly into the wall! (Mini fridges draw a lot of power and can become a fire hazard when plugged into an extension cord. Even if the extension cord seems strong enough, plugging directly into the wall is safest)
• Assemble a medicine kit because the last thing that you are going to want to do when that freshman flu sets in is walk to Duane Reade, CVS, or the Columbia Health Center. There are plenty of checklists and guides on what to put in your medicine/first aid kit online so feel free to use those as a resource for making yours!
• Storage drawers: These are great for extra storage and also can make moving out a breeze. If you tape all of the drawers shut (great opportunity to use your painters tape), you can move the whole thing as a unit when you move out! So if you play your cards right you will have to pack and unpack fewer things. I recommend plastic drawers because they are lightweight (and affordable), but there are other options if you would prefer.
• A good thick mattress topper: your classes may be hard but your mattress doesn’t have to be
• Shower shoes. Everyone talks about shower shoes so I feel redundant mentioning them. That being said, I have witnessed people walking barefoot across the carpet and into a bathroom shared with the entire floor, so I feel the need to include this. Please please please wear your shower shoes. 
• A small lamp is a great investment because that overhead lighting can be INTENSE.
• Tool kit: Although not mandatory (unlike shower shoes), a tool kit is something that will come in handy when you least expect it. Most people will not bring one, so it is also nice to have if your friends ever need to borrow tools. Although you should chat with your roommate beforehand because my freshman year we both arrived locked and loaded, each with a briefcase full of tools…but I guess there is no harm in being extra prepared!
• Buy a serious umbrella. The last thing you need when you are running late to class in the rain is a flimsy ass umbrella. A strong umbrella that can hold its ground against a small gust of wind is worth every single penny.
• Do you love the environment and want to save money? Well, the Columbia Eco Reps (@columbia.ecoreps) sale during NSOP may be the place for you! My friend got a great deal on a mini fridge and some textbooks last year. @barnard_sustainability holds a similar sale, so you have twice the opportunity to find great stuff secondhand! (Items are often in good condition and reasonably priced!) Keep a watch on their instagrams for information about where and when the sales will be!

Mayyyybeee don’t bring…

• Kitchen supplies, reusable utensils and plates: some people use them but I would wait a bit and see whether you actually need them. I know many people who bought these items and never used them because we often eat in the dining hall and they can be a hassle to clean.
• Please don’t bring your entire closet from home! Space is limited, so bring what you really love.
• There are printers everywhere and you get a printing stipend as a Columbia student. No need to bring the ink collection and personal printer…
• For other advice on what not to bring, check this out for some great advice!
• Columbia housing also has some advice on what to bring and listed prohibited items

At the end of the day, it will be okay. There are thousands of places in the Big Apple to shop if you forget anything. If you are unsure if you will need an item, consider waiting until you move in to see if you need it! 

Who knows, maybe you will find what you need at a Barnumbia secondhand sale

General advice, insight and unsolicited thoughts…

• Talk to your RA! My freshman-year RA was such a lovely person, and we are still close friends to this day. I was actually scared of her at first because she was an authority figure, and I had heard too many horror stories about evil RAs, but I could not have been more wrong. You never know what might come from simply chatting with your RA. You may get helpful academic or club advice, learn some insider information about life at Columbia, or even make a lifelong friend. Either way, Columbia RAs are generally super welcoming and chill, so it is definitely worth giving that connect convo a fair shot. 
• Campus activities: Take advantage of activities hosted on campus! They can be a great opportunity to be creative, meet new people and even get some free stuff!
• Big NSOP friend groups? As someone entering junior year, you have nothing to worry about if you don’t have some huge NSOP friend group. I met most of my friends over time and only two came from NSOP. Most of those initial friend groups will shift, so don’t feel left out of something that isn’t real in the first place. On the other hand, if you find yourself in one of those large friend groups…I still stand by my point. Things will likely shift but in my experience, the people that are meant to be your friends will stick around! It’ll all work out. 
• Eating alone? It’s so normal to eat by yourself in the dining halls! Sometimes I eat with a friend, and sometimes I don’t! I know that some people get anxious about eating alone, but it is a great opportunity to catch up on a show or people-watch undisturbed! 
• NSOP food…not gonna lie, NSOP food is not very good, so maybe take it as an opportunity to explore food spots in the area surrounding campus!
• Being homesick…I was super homesick and it sucked. Time was the most important thing for helping me cure my ailment, but calling loved ones helped too! Make sure you don’t let being homesick get in the way of having new experiences and meeting people. It is easy to want to give in to the urge to withdraw, but the only way to adjust is to find a home and community in this new place.
• Be authentic. Okay, I know I am starting to sound corny, but I am serious about this one. Even if it is scary and uncomfortable, try to put yourself out there. The only way to make the “college friends” that you will tell your kids about when you are 50, is if people are able to meet the real version of you. The right people will love you for who you really are.
• If you have a roommate, take the roommate agreement seriously. Boundaries are very important. Ensure that you are clear and specific about expectations in your roommate agreement, while also being willing to compromise. In a situation like this it is important to plan for the worst and hope for the best! Your roommate cannot respect a boundary that they do not know about! Communicate!
• Do work in lounges: I have made so many friends by working in my floor lounge. Don’t be scared to say hi and start a little conversation!
  • Insider info: my friend met a bunch of people by just making cookies in the floor lounge and offering some to anyone who came in! It wasn’t intended to be a friend-making scheme, she is just generous, but it worked!
• Don’t be too locked in immediately: You have four years to spend a bunch of time in the library, don’t lock in too hard immediately. I remember two weeks into my freshman year I ran into a guy from my NSOP and he was boasting about how he had already spent 40 hours in Butler. Please don’t burn yourself out too early. I know it feels like it gets serious fast, but in the grand scheme of things, you may wanna pace yourself!
• Balance baby: We are all working to find the balance between being locked in academically and having an enjoyable college experience, and at a school like Columbia it can be difficult. What makes that even harder is that it often feels like everyone has everything together. It is important that you find a balance that is best for you. Study, have fun, enjoy living in NYC, take care of yourself and your friends, call your loved ones, join clubs and student orgs, and most importantly, check in with yourself and make sure you are not too lost in the sauce. 

You’ve got this. Go learn some cool stuff and have fun!

And don’t forget to buy painter’s tape!

Header via author