Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Dorm Life At Michigan State

By Joyce McIntosh


Entering college as a freshman can be exciting, and while most students certainly are looking forward to life on campus, the prospect of dorm life can be a bit daunting. If you will soon become a student at Michigan State University, consider the following information about your housing situation.

Michigan State has an enormous student residence system; it is actually the largest system of its kind in the United States. You'll find everything from small, single rooms to two-bedroom apartments, although the latter are only for grad students, married students and occasionally upperclassmen. The dorms are located in different neighborhoods, there are five neighborhoods, and each has between three and ten residence halls.

For the most part, freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, and you will be in a hall that might contain single rooms for just one student with a shared community bathroom or perhaps in a double or even a quad room. Some halls are situated for particular majors to make access to classes easier, and some halls are designated as quiet for those who prefer less noise. In the shared rooms, the beds are elevated, so that you can maximize the square footage of your room. Desks and dressers typically are included as well, depending on the hall and room. You are allowed to bring a small fridge, a small microwave and a futon to enjoy a few comforts of home.

Storage varies depending on the type of dorm room. Some rooms have a single shared closet, some have two closets, and some quad rooms have a long open closet with four sections that includes a clothing bar and a shelf. You can make the most of this space by installing a closet doubler, which you affix to the clothing rack, and it provides you with two rows of hanging space. Plastic bins with drawers can rest underneath so that you can store other items. If you have a closet door, place a pocket organizer on the door and you will also easily increase storage.

To preserve space, don't bring items such as framed pictures or a great deal of books. Instead you can hang up a cork board and display pictures there without taking up desk or shelf space. Invest in an electronic book reader or simply check out books from the campus library from time to time. After all, your textbooks are essential and generally take up a good amount of space. Rather than bring a television, bring a tablet or a laptop and watch programs online instead.

When the end of the year arrives, it is always better to find a local mini storage company and store your items rather than having to try and stuff everything into your car. Some East Lansing mini storage facilities and Bath mini storage facilities offer discounted rates to students and also offer month-to-month leasing. They will have small units particularly suitable for storing your dorm items, and it might cost less than $100 to store your items for the entire summer.




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