Preparing for Your Child's First College Dorm Room
August 13, 2011, By Catherine Couretas 0 comments
You walk in. It’s a lot smaller than you expected. I mean, a LOT smaller. And there’s only one window? Where will everything go? And I bet your son/daughter was hoping they wouldn’t have to bunk the beds. Looks like they won’t have enough space if they don’t. It’s going to be a long year.
But wait. You have to admit, you saw this coming. At least a little. And you were glad it was all just a dream you had in June, giving yourself time to prepare for the big move-in.
Know the Space
Before move-in, find out what’s already provided. Depending on the space, there may be one or two dressers, one or two closets and so on. The school might also require that you lease one of their mini fridges, window air conditioners or microwaves. Also, are the desks flat or do they have shelving built above? Simple details can make all the difference.
In addition, there may be wattage limits on electronics that can be brought in if the buildings are old. If the information isn’t supplied online, a call to the housing office is all it takes.
Coordinate
This is a lot easier with women than men. Females prefer that everything matches, and they’re a lot more open to talking with a random roommate on the phone or Facebook to coordinate options.
Guys tend not to make the early connection with a roommate so you’ll have to give them a little push. You don’t want to show up and learn the boys will have two mini fridges and two microwaves—meaning that the space in your car could have been used a lot more efficiently too. Be nosy and find out what the other half will be bringing.
NEXT: Avoid the Unnecessary
