Throughout my time in college, I have experienced a wide variety of living arrangements: from learning to live with a complete stranger, to rooming with two of my best friends, and eventually, to living in an RA single. But while most people express jealousy at the thought of my freedom and solitude, I'm always quick to remind them that there are pros and cons to living in a single dorm room. These are just a few of those points:
Pros:
1. You don't have to co-exist with other people
Although it's fun to live amongst friends, sharing a room forces you to compensate your space and time. It's no longer just about you; you have to coordinate your wants and needs, sleep schedules, cleanliness, and innumerable other components of living that are often taken for granted.
2. There's no risk of roommate conflicts
Whenever you attempt to live with another person, there's the chance that clashing will occur. And while some conflicts are easy to overcome (like readjusting sleep schedules), other conflicts are not so simple (like the potential for extreme differences in morals and values).
3. You get to decorate how you like
As simple as it may sound, living in your own room gives you the freedom to decorate all four walls however you like! Dorm room decorating is easily one of the most underrated pleasures of college life.
4. You get the experience of living on your own
Without the crutch of additional roommates, living alone gives you a preemptive taste of life after college. Can you handle the responsibilities of adulthood? The way that you take care of yourself, your room, and your work may very well answer that question!
5. You have a quiet, isolated work space
If you're like me, then you work best without distractions - no music, talking, or people around to interrupt your intense focus. And if that's the case, then single dorms are imperative; you don't have to relocate to the library to find some peace and quiet!
Cons:
1. It gets lonely
Most evidently, a single can feel isolating. While most other students wake up and fall asleep across from their friends and companions, you're forced to live in a bubble.
2. You take on all responsibilities
With a roommate, you can divide and conquer all chores, cooking, and shopping; it's a helpful way to transition into the sudden world of adulthood. In a single, however, all responsibilities are your own. Do you struggle with placing fitted sheets, or do the rules of laundry confuse you? You're on your own to figure it out!
3. Your space is much smaller
As would be expected, most room sizes are proportional to the number of roommates living there; rooming by yourself simply makes your living space that much smaller! Resultantly, you often have to get creative with your storage and learn how to make the most it.
4. You have to buy all of your own furniture
As was mentioned previously, living on your own places all responsibility on your own two shoulders. This also applies to the hefty task of furnishing the room (I.e. refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, futons, etc). It can get expensive!
5. They're hard to get (and keep!)
Singles are very popular for all of the aforementioned "pros". That being said, don't ever get comfortable with the single dorm life; even if you get lucky one year, you may be forced to re-adjust to living with roommates the next!
