How to survive the dorms

Use your meal points wisely.

Students go crazy with their meal points; they run out of them and get stressed out because they are afraid to ask their parents to buy them more, said Bob Weith, director of residential operations for Residential Programs and Services.

Get off the computer.

Talk to the people on your floor to build a stronger community. Students are communicating solely online, which lends itself to preventable arguments, Weith said.

Don’t bring a vehicle.

Take advantage of the public bus system. Parking in Bloomington can be a nuisance.

Get out of your room.
Get involved with something you enjoy. This can happen by becoming a part of a learning community and having interaction with other residents.

There are many opportunities to get involved in the residence halls, such as student government, but students can also get involved in other aspects of campus life, RPS residence manager Sara Ivey Lucas said.