Living On Campus
You might want to live on campus for your first academic year or term, particularly if you are an undergraduate. On-campus housing often is less expensive and more convenient than off-campus options. On campus, you will have easy access to the library, computer equipment, the student center, sports and recreation facilities, cafeterias, and your classes. More important, you will have the greatest possible opportunity to interact with other students.
The typical U.S. residence hall or “dormitory” offers more than just a place to sleep. Emphasis is placed upon supporting students’ academic objectives through academic and social activities. For example, your residence hall may offer quiet areas for study or even a computer lab. It may also offer recreation areas and rooms for social activities such as watching movies. A typical dormitory room may hold 2-4 students who may share a bathroom and living room. (There are few single rooms in U.S. dormitories.) The room is not likely to have a kitchen, although common kitchens may be available. The university will offer several “meal plans” from which you may choose. Large colleges and universities will have several dining halls, cafeterias, snack bars, and even fast-food restaurants. Smaller institutions may have one or two cafeterias, generally in close proximity to residence halls.
Your college or university may house men and women together; not all institutions maintain separate accommodations for men and women. Be sure you understand the arrangements before you commit yourself to a given living arrangement.
On-campus apartments are often reserved for graduate students or for students with families. Because apartments are very popular, there is often a waiting list for on-campus apartments. In an apartment you can share costs with additional roommates and can cook your own food. Your college or university may also plan special activities for residents who live in campus-owned apartments.
“Fraternities” and “sororities” are social clubs for men and women, respectively. On some campuses these clubs maintain houses in which their members live. Ask your foreign-student adviser for more information if you are curious about this particularly American aspect of campus life.
Some universities offer special living arrangements for students who share interests. For instance, on many campuses students who seek contact with people from other countries may choose to live in an “international house” or “international living center.” Residents may plan programs and activities focusing on global issues. Other special-interest housing options may include: foreign-language houses, honors houses (for individuals of superior academic achievement), or houses organized by academic discipline (engineering, business, etc.). There may be an additional charge for some of these options.
You should contact your institution’s housing office as soon as possible to learn more about the various options available to you.
Note: Dormitory, Residence Hall: Residence hall and dormitory are used interchangeably, or one term may be more common on your campus. Residence hall is becoming more popular because it is supposed to describe more accurately all of the activities that occur in and around a hall, not just sleeping!
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