What I Wish I Knew Before Living in the Dorms at USM: A Second-Year’s Advice
November 9, 2026
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by Alana Kulaszewski
I stood there in the doorway of my empty dorm room with just a gold key in my hand. The space felt so full of creativity and opportunity. I didn’t know it then, but so many heartfelt and incredible memories would be made right there.
It was my first day. My family helped me unload the car (that had traveled all the way from New Jersey) and move everything into my new home — Anderson Hall. I unpacked my bags and settled in with my favorite tunes playing from my mini speaker. Then it was off to the first round of orientation sessions, followed by a delicious dinner in Brooks Dining Hall. A lot of the people I met that weekend lived right down the hall, and they soon became friends I couldn’t live without.
I’m Alana, a second-year marketing major and Honors student at the University of Southern Maine, and I currently live in a single in Upton-Hastings Hall on Gorham Campus. Dorm living has taught me a lot about myself, especially when it comes to responsibility and independence. Learning to share space, have your own, and still take care of yourself can be a lot to juggle. Here’s what I wish I knew about dorm life before I moved in.
Setting Up the Space
Setting up your space with your own personal touches can help make your dorm feel like a home. It can be hard to determine exactly what you might need and how you’ll use everything, so here are my top tips for setting up your dorm room:
1.
Bring decorations
Dorm rooms come with plenty of empty wall space, so bring your favorite posters and photos to hang up. I’d recommend using masking or painter’s tape, which comes off the walls easily without damaging your walls or tearing your posters.You’ll likely have some shelving and a desk too, and I love to decorate mine with knickknacks and some more pictures.
2.
Rearrange the furniture
Moving around the desks and beds is another great way to personalize your space and switch things up throughout the year. Both this year and last, I raised my bed frame so I could store empty packing boxes and tuck my hamper underneath the bedskirt.
3.
The essentials
Beyond decorations, there are some things I’ve collected over my first couple years that I can’t imagine living without. A fan is definitely a good idea since both the start and end of the school year will be quite warm. Bonus points if it fits in a window. Comfy bed gear can also make a real difference — a good mattress pad, cozy bedding, throw blankets, and plush pillows are staples for everything from late night study sessions to winding down after class. Don’t forget to bring a spare set of sheets, just in case you spill water in the middle of the night (like I have) or want clean sheets on your bed while the others are in the wash.
If I had to pick my favorite things in my dorm, it’d be my ottoman and my candle warmer. The ottoman is one of the most versatile things I own. It’s a footrest, a seat for friends, and secret storage all in one. And the candle warmer fills my room with my favorite scents without being a fire hazard.
Taking on shared spaces
Shared spaces can feel daunting at first. Communal bathrooms, common spaces, and laundry all come with their own learning curve, but after the first couple days, the nerves wear off. I remember being incredibly nervous the first time I used the showers. I had my shower shoes on, caddy and towel in hand, and when I stepped outside my room, I saw two of my neighbors heading to the bathroom just as hesitantly. When we got inside, we each claimed a shower, put on some music, and sang our way through it together. After that, heading to the showers never felt scary again.
Shared spaces were where I made most of my memories last year, from the kitchens and lounges to the laundry rooms (yes, even laundry can be fun with friends!). In Anderson Hall, my friends and I were always curled up in the Honors lounge, wrapped in blankets, snacks in hand while studying. Baking cookies together was easy since the kitchens are stocked with basic cooking supplies and even some ingredients. You’ll need your own detergent, but the laundry machines are simple to use, and the LaundryConnect website tells you which washers and dryers are free and how much time is left on each one.
My best advice for shared spaces is to be respectful and clean up after yourself (especially in the kitchens: wash your dishes!). These spaces offer endless opportunities to make friends and memories, so plan a laundry reset morning or whip up something yummy with your neighbors and roommates.
Don’t forget about you
Taking care of yourself is just as important as your studies and work. Exploring Downtown Portland with friends or having a chill movie night-in are both great ways to reset. A personal routine can also bring some stability to your day-to-day. I always start and end my day with skincare and a set of comfy pajamas. Getting enough sleep is key to feeling your best, and dorm quiet hours make that much easier. They run from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from midnight to 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday. During finals week, quiet hours last all day to help everyone focus on studying.
Living on my own has taught me that I love alone time just as much as hanging out with friends. Curling up in my coziest blanket with a facemask on, snacks ready, and a book in hand is sometimes just as exciting as a full-blown, heated game night with good music and my best friends.
To every incoming student standing in an empty doorway on move-in day: get excited! It’s normal to feel nervous. This is a big step towards independence and adulthood. On my first move-in day, I wish someone had told me to relax. I rushed through everything and ended up super stressed out.
Take a breath — you’ll have plenty of time to put everything away. Look around, meet your neighbors, and let yourself enjoy the start of something new. The room will feel more like home as you settle in, and the friendships and memories will come with time.
