Dorm Life: What It’s Really Like Living on Campus

By SOHALIA D.

I came from across the world, from India, with my whole life packed into two suitcases, moving into a dorm shared with eight other people. Back home, I had my own room and bathroom, so being suddenly confined to a tiny shared space was a shock. As an international student, I never really understood dorm life until I got to USC. But slowly, it turned into one of the best parts of college.

Now, as a sophomore, I live in a loft in the Village that is even smaller than my freshman dorm. But living in tight spaces with roommates has taught me that less is more. You have less privacy, less space, and way less storage, but you learn to live with less, and in return, you gain so much more in stories and memories.

The first few weeks can be daunting. You’re figuring out routines, learning how to live with someone new, and trying to make the space feel like yours. But if you’re lucky, your roommate becomes your best friend. I remember a month into USC, we’d all sit in one of my suitemate’s rooms after long days, talking endlessly about everything and nothing. We’d go to dining halls together, try out events, and experience our first frat parties as a group.

And it’s not just your roommates, it’s the people across the hall, below your floor, or the ones you randomly meet in lounges, and these interactions turn into friendships. A lot of my closest friends today were people I just happened to run into in common areas or lived a few doors away.

Dorm life also reminds you that you’re never really alone. Mornings meant waking up for an 8 am, half-asleep, seeing your roommate brushing her teeth, another one walking out of her room, and all of you laughing at how tired you were before running to class together. It makes the whole process way more fun when you have people to share it with.

Dining halls will become your go-to meeting spots. Lounges turn into game or movie nights. You’ll find yourself sitting on hallway floors late at night, talking for hours, or randomly stopping by someone’s room just to hang out. Over time, you start recognizing everyone who lives where, who’s always around, and who you can count on.

It becomes your own little world within the campus. You’re close to your classes, always surrounded by people, and constantly running into familiar faces. Before you know it, “Oh, I lived there too” becomes an easy way to connect with someone new.

Living in a dorm can be loud and sometimes overwhelming, but it’s also where you'll make some of your best memories.