Living in a Suite Instead of a Traditional Dorm

<p>I just got my housing assignment. </p>

<p>I was assigned to the least favorite resident hall on campus: The suits that are downtown, a half mile from campus. </p>

<p>I am a transfer student, albeit, a young one, completely new to the area. My last college did the suite set up as well which made it extremely difficult to get to know new people. </p>

<p>I already have my application into the student paper, along with have begun getting active in other clubs. </p>

<p>I just put in a request to be transferred to an on campus traditional dorm. If my request doesn't go through, though, and advice on meeting new people beyond the obvious classes, clubs, and organizations?</p>

<p>Maybe you could try to join a frat/sorority if your school has them. Or, maybe the obvious club sports? Orrr, you can keep your fingers crossed that you get transferred to a traditional dorm</p>

<p>I know plenty of people who lived in on-campus apartments and often hung out with other residents in their building. They’ve said that it’s important to go visit the people on your floor within the first couple of days of moving in and get to know them, the same way those in traditional dorms do. I don’t know what the suites are like, but it wouldn’t hurt to go visit your neighbors after you move in.</p>

<p>As a transfer student, there also might be activities or groups to help you meet people. I’m transferring to a new college this fall, and there are some events and a group specifically for transfer students.</p>

<p>I had suite style dorms my freshman year and that’s actually the most common dorming option at my school. They’re trying to move away from having any traditional style halls, because most students prefer suite-style.</p>

<p>I had absolutely no trouble making friends on my hall. The concept still stands that you leave your door open the first few weeks and just try to say hi to everyone that you can. My closest friends all lived on my hall.</p>

<p>That being said, I know some dorms are more open than others. It can even vary by floor. So perhaps you had a really anti-social dorm at your old school and it won’t be this way at your new school.</p>