To Dorm or Not To Dorm
December 8, 2000
W hen I was growing up in Thailand, I had the privilege of attending several summer camps and school retreats. There were times when I got to learn new things about others and myself. I shared my living spaces with my friends, or I get to make friends out of complete strangers. Then again, those stays were short. But, what do I think about sharing one 8-9 months with at least one person, and a bunch more people down the hall?

Yes. We are talking about the ever-present question of “should I stay in the dormitory or should I get my own apartment?”

I strongly suggest the dorms for everyone, not just international students. I have been in the dorm, and I value that experience so much that I wouldn’t want anyone to go without it. On the other hand, some people prefer privacy and convenience than experiences. One of the Thai boys went straight to an apartment his freshman year. He made friends with Thai Club members and had Thai neighbors. He was happy about it. But once in a while he said he regretted not going to the dorm first for a couple of reasons: having more friends, and speaking more English.

As a graduate student though, dorms might be a bit tough because of all the chaos and mayhem of distraction around. You might even end up living with a bunch of freshman (if the housing happens to be scarce). But if you would like to trade in a little bit of piece of mind for a great experience, that’s completely up to you. Read on and decide for yourself!

From my conversations with Thai students, the first and usually only concern was the fear that they wouldn’t be able to communicate with American students. They are extremely self-conscious about their English and being the few foreigners among Americans. The good news is that many colleges do have special interest floors or dorms for international students, if you choose to be among other foreigners. You might feel comfortable in that environment, but you are not going to learn much of anything.

Dorms are like a nursery. For a freshman and/or someone who’s never been abroad before, everyone is starting new, and you can learn about the college life together. For others, you get to pick the brains of those who have been here, and learn the ways of the new college. The best things about being in the dorms for international students like us are being able to speak English on a daily basis, which would ultimately gives you the confidence you need, and getting helps with lecture notes, homework, and adapting to American culture.


The Sweet Suite dwellers.
(Not pictured - Debbie's roommate Julia, and that one girl we kicked out.)
Katie, Debbie, Oakley,
my roommate Frances, Juliana, and Veronica
A gathering at Hard Rock Cafe, Universal City Walk
during our junior year.
Katie, Oakley, our waiter, Juliana, and Veronica.
The dorm I was in my freshman year was Fluor Tower. It wasn’t a typical dorm, but a suite dorm. There were 4 bedrooms with 2 people each, sharing a living room area with cable TV, a kitchenette with a microwave oven, 4 showers, and 2 toilet stalls. Each floor has 2 suites for boys, 2 for girls, 1 for an RA, 1 single room, 1 laundry room, and 1 study lounge. Pretty fancy compared to other dorms, which were the endless hallways with rooms on each side. This uniqueness of our dorm made the people on each floor closer. Everyone on the floor knew each other, and most of us became very good friends.

My suite (which we lovingly called “The Sweet Suite”) dwellers were all from different backgrounds and from all over the place. It didn’t take long for all of us to warm up to each other. We all got along very well, and we did a lot of things together from going out to parties, shopping, working out at the gym, and pulling pranks on our RA. (Oh, the joy of hanging girl’s underwear someone left in the laundry room on Tony’s door...) We helped each other with our homework and studies, and we talked long into the nights about relationships, famiy, heartaches, and homesickness.

The dorm’s fun and excitement doesn’t come without any problems. The very first week, someone left the front door opened and one of the bedrooms was vandalized. Once in a while, someone wouldn’t clean up after herself, and we had to deal with her mess. One of the girls had irreconcilable differences with the rest of us, and we had to make her leave for our own sanity. We had some rowdy neighbor upstairs. Then there was the issue of privacy. Sometimes you just wanted to be studying quietly, so you had to move some place else so you wouldn’t be distracted. Etcetera. Etcetera.

Dorm life was a headache at times, but it was such a precious experience that I wouldn’t give it up for the world. I can proudly say that I did my growing up and coming of age in the dorm.

I learned to listen well and to give necessary advice. I learned to open my mind to different ideas and to give people chances. I learned about diversity, and how wonderful it is to accept people for who they are and not because of the stereotypes or fear. I learned to communicate my needs to others instead of just keeping it all inside, being too courteous. I learned to compromise and be patience. I learned to be responsible for my own actions and to take care of myself. And most of all, I came out of my freshman year with at least 4 life-long friends. (That’s you - Greg, Katie, Vero, and Juliana!)


The surviving 3rd Floor gang.
Oakley, Greg (we called him Cheech), Veronica,
Juliana, and Katie.

They said that college changes people. And that is true, especially to those who have lived in the dorms. It is where you find out about yourself and about the world outside what you have known all your life. You already come all the way across the world, let’s give it at least a year to expand your horizon.


Useful Links

  • USC Housing Service
  • Student life at USC Housing
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