Room selection is inherently flawed. A person can easily be screwed over by the mere randomness of which number in the lottery the Reslife computer assigns her.It's funny, or maybe it's not, that I seem to stress over and focus so much of my energy on where luck will place me in what seems to be one of the most important aspects of college - where your room is located and what the layout of your room is.There are a number of factors that make a room better than others.Close to the bathroom. At least for us girls, the closer, the better. And if you're lucky enough to have your own bathroom, then you've hit it big. You ought to rejoice.Stairs/elevator. A quick exit is nice so that when you have to move in or out, carry groceries, large books or anything else that is heavy, you can do it with ease.Square footage. Yes, the bigger, the better. Having a large room definitely helps with having friends come over to hang, particularly when deciding what furniture to put in the room. With singles, this can cause problems, but usually a resolution can be made.Big closet. If you're anything like me, these tiny dorm room closets suck. I need a space where I can hide my clothes quickly when people come over for a surprise visit. Besides, I have a lot of clothes and other junk that needs a spot to go.Sink. A sink is a virtual necessity. I don't know about you, but I don't like the idea of walking down the hall to brush my teeth or other such things. Access to water is nice and having a spot to store toiletries always helps to keep things a little neater.Location to friends. Okay, so maybe I'm being lazy here. But it is nice to be near your friends. If you're in a bad mood, you can go vent. If you're hungry, you can run to the Dining Hall, or order-in if you're really hungry.Good view. So maybe this should be on a list of bonuses, but if you really think about it, having a good view can give relief when you're feeling down. I like to stare out the window. Well, I also like to spy, so a high traffic location can be more fun.But whatever cardboard box or spacious parlor you end up in, I know you'll make the best of it. I was lucky this year and got almost everything I wanted in a room. Now it's time for the fun part - choosing the floor plan. So good luck on your room picks and I hope you end up as happy as I am.
The views expressed in the Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Contact Sarah Vabulas at vabu4547@saintmarys.edu.
