Moving into a college dormitory can be the realization of a long-cherished dream. It can also hold many surprises, for students and parents alike.

"My mother didn't realize until the day before I moved into a college dorm that there would be men and women living in the same building," says Tamara Hindawi, a graduate of University of Michigan. Like many parents, Tamara's mother was concerned about her daughter's welfare. "It wasn't as bad as it sounds," Hindawi continues. Male students were confined to the first three floors of the building, while female students occupied the top three floors. "If a guy was just hanging out on the women's floor, someone would ask him to leave."

Most parents across the world share the same fears. They are afraid that their child's dorm will be a hotbed of "sex, drugs and rock 'n roll," as the old saying goes. The music in a modern college dorm is more likely to be alternative rock, contemporary country or hip-hop, if that's any consolation.

Here's the good news for parents. While flirting, playing loud music and drinking alcohol probably occur in every dorm, you will also find many students studying, writing papers or debating the meaning of life. The majority of young people are just trying to get an education, and have some fun along the way.

Dormitories are an essential part of the U.S. college experience. At many colleges, all freshmen and sophomores must live on-campus, in the dorms. They provide a place where students can live together, under the informal supervision of an RA, or Resident Assistant. Just as with any other group of strangers living together, there can be differences of opinion and adjustments to make. But there's also a positive side to dorm life. Often, lifelong friendships and business relationships are forged in dorms.

Student Affairs

Most colleges have student affairs offices that help young people adjust to their new environment. Although the name of the office might vary, the mission is the same. Student Affairs offices encourage diversity by helping all types of students fit into the school. They also help the university make accommodations Dorm FAQ
for many types of students, including gay and lesbian students, students of different religions and ethnic groups, and international students. Often, the student affairs office will host special events where the student body can be exposed to the vibrant cultures represented by the international students. Usually the student affairs office will host groups of Asian American, African American and Latino students, as well as international students. Some colleges have a special office for international students, in addition to the student affairs office.

Most universities offer a variety of religious services each week. All of the major faiths have student organizations, from the Newman House for Catholic students, to the Islamic Society of North America for Muslim students. Usually these organizations offer religious services on campus. Depending upon size, they may also offer potluck dinners, social events and charitable events.

Most colleges also have an interfaith organization. The purpose of this organization is to promote understanding between people of different faiths.

The Resident Assistant

The Resident Assistant is your guide to the dorm. He or she will explain the house rules to you, and is available to help you with problems from noisy neighbors to a missing chair. RAs are not parents. They're students who have been at the college for at least one year. They receive a free room in exchange for acting as RA. They won't remind you to eat or tell you what time to go to bed. They simply answer questions and mediate disputes. If you have a problem with another student and talking about it doesn't help, discussing it with the RA would be your next step.