If you’re preparing to start college, you certainly have a lot of concerns regarding dorm life, from what things should be deemed necessary to how to establish friends in your new environment. Here are ten things I wish I had known before moving into my own dorm room; maybe, they’ll make you feel more prepared and at ease when the time comes!

1) Know your house rules.

Every dorm you will live in will be compacted with various house rules to make sure that our safely and security, health are of the upmost importance. These rules can be a nuisance when you want to enjoy yourself and carpe diem the moment. However, soon after you will find yourself with a penalty you did not plan for and will struggle to make payment. This can create a lot of animosity between the dorm and yourself. So, do yourself a favour and read the house rules, terms and conditions (if any apply) and educate yourself as an adult to your rights and rights of others.

2) Kitchens aren’t always user-friendly.

Because there is often little ventilation and limited room, cooking without causing an explosion might be challenging. After that, you must tidy up your work. It can be inconvenient! Cooking once or twice a week and using meal-planning local services are two ways to make dorm living easier. They won’t save you time, but they will save you money (and transportation) by shipping you pre-measured supplies just when you need them.

3) There isn’t always enough storage space.

On top of that, dorm rooms can be small. If you’re going to live in a dorm, plan to get creative with your storage. There isn’t enough space for both your clothes and all of your hobbies and items that make you happy. To avoid feeling like you’re living out of a suitcase while on campus, start packing light! Figure out what things are absolutely necessary, then find some fun ways to creatively store everything else around it.

4) Closet space is limited.

Unlike your room at home, you won’t have an entire closet to yourself. You may not even have a half of one. Make sure your clothes are relatively gender-neutral (so they can go with someone else’s) and easy to mix and match—avoid buttons, zippers, or other difficult closures that require two hands or coordination. Also be careful about how many belts you bring: there may not be enough closet space for them all.

5) Wifi isn’t always reliable.

Even if you’re not living on campus, using wifi isn’t always reliable. Sometimes it just goes out or is too slow to stream video. Thankfully, there are several ways you can get around needing wifi to watch your favorite shows and movies. Download them beforehand and you’ll never have to worry about that sketchy connection again!

6) Pack light.

Bringing way too much stuff is pretty standard for most first-time dorm dwellers. College life may be about freedom, but it’s also about learning to live on your own and adapting to new conditions, and that means you should pack light. Take inventory of everything you plan to bring with you and make sure that list of essentials doesn’t exceed three or four items.

7) Consider which room you want before moving into your school’s dorms.

Sometimes you can sign up for a specific room ahead of time, but most students have to wait until move-in day. If you’re hoping to live with certain people say, old friends from high school or college keep that in mind when choosing your room (not all colleges offer guaranteed roommate assignments). And if there’s one thing that makes dorm life difficult for students, it’s having to leave your pet behind.

8) Keep track of your belongings.

It’s easy to lose track of everything you own when you live with multiple roommates. It’s best to inventory your possessions and keep that list up-to-date. If something does go missing, it will help tremendously if you can provide detailed information about your property. Also, don’t forget to make copies of any important documents such as insurance policies, passports or social security cards. They will help prevent identity theft and even save your life should tragedy strike while living on campus.

9) Invest in some comfy furniture for your bedroom.

You’ll be spending a lot of time here, so make sure you invest in some comfy furniture (like a sofa bed and good desk chair) that makes you feel good. It doesn’t matter how pretty your furniture is if it doesn’t fit your style. Focus on practicality before aesthetics.

10) Don’t be afraid to get involved on campus!

While many students choose to spend their time at college passively, you’ll have so much more fun if you get involved. Don’t hesitate to join an intramural team, start a club, or sign up for on-campus activities even if your schedule gets packed and it feels like you’re adding another item to your plate, it will help build your resume and give you new experiences!