Accordingtoseveralreallyimportant-soundingstudies,first-yearstudentslivingoncampusperformbetteracademicallythanthosewholiveoffcampus.Perhapsit’sbecausestudentslivingindormsareclosertothethingstheyneed,likethelibraryandthecomputerlabs.Ormaybeit’sbecausethemealplanthatcomeswithmostdormstakesthepressureoffhavingtoforageforfood,givingstudentsmoretimetostudy.Andthinkofallthepotentialstudypartnersfloatingaroundthehallwaysorenergeticallyhighlightingtheirtextbooksinthestudylounge.Nowonderdormlifeforfirstyearsissuchagoodidea.

　　Shouldyouliveinadormyourfirstyear?Inaword:yes.Socially,youcan’tbeatdormliving.You’llmakefriendseasily,commiserateaboutschoolwithyourdormmates,studywithgroupsoffriends,alwayshavesomeonetoeatwith,andstayuplatesocializingalmosteverynight.Youwillshareyourcollegeexperiencewithotherpeoplewhoaregoingthroughthesameupsanddowns,andthatmakeseverythingeasier.Thereisgreatstrengthinnumbers.

　　Studyingcanbedifficultinadorm,becausesocializingoftentakespriorityovergrades.Butyoucaneasilybalancethisbyheadingtothelibraryortoaquietstudyhall.

　　Alloftheseadvantagesdon’terasethefactthatdormlifecanbechallenging.You’relivingincloseproximitytoalotofotherpeople,andthat’sarecipeforconflict.Butconflictispartoflife,andlearninghowtodealwithitsuccessfullyisessentialtobecominganadult.