As the semester’s wrapping up, I’m diligently planning for next semester’s schedule and lifestyle.  Though I am a senior, I will not be graduating until December 2008, because of student teaching in the fall, however I will be living at home rather than a dorm room.

Therefore, I’m here to talk to you about the pros and cons I’ve experienced with dorm life.

First the pros of dorming:

-convenience of food, computer labs, exercise equipment, Learning Center assistance, and getting to classes within 2 minutes before it starts.

-meeting/getting to know staff, faculty and other students

-opportunity for campus involvement with various groups/clubs

-walks around the Motherhouse for exercise in the fall and spring

Cons of dorming:

-community showers and bathroom (except for Seton Center and some single rooms)

-students being loud and obnoxious at 12:00 a.m.at night, when I’m trying to sleep

-expensive (the cost of dorming)

-the food could be better

You see, there are both pros and cons to either decision made.  Therefore, it’s important to understand ahead of time, why you may want to dorm.  For me, it was the convenience of everything, and not having to drive back and forth from my home, which is 45 minutes away.  It was expensive for me to dorm, however I didn’t want to put all the miles on my car and my mom didn’t want me driving back and forth during the second semester when the roads could be bad due to snow or ice. 

I hope this breakdown helps a bit, as it really depends upon each individual’s circumstance.