There are multiple opportunities for creating a positive university experience, and many of are connected to housing —where you stay while away from home and a place where long-term connections can be made and strengthened.
This article gives suggestions on how to support a positive university experience by establishing your apartment environment, connecting with roommates, and building community among your neighbors.
Suggestion 1: Start Where You Are
The first suggestion is about generating connections where you live, which includes making efforts to get to know your roommates and those at your apartment complex.
Building on commonalities and learning from others’ life experiences can help foster meaningful and lasting friendships. Learning from your roommates about why they chose their major fields of study, for example, can open conversations to help build relationships. Giving attention to roommates’ hobbies and interests can similarly foster connections. Genuinely asking about and listening to responses concerning their activities and studies can go a long way in having a positive semester, for you and them. Another way to connect with roommates is by offering help and providing assistance through support you can give.
This same interested outreach and willingness to help can be extended to others in your housing complex as well, including next-door neighbors and those on other floors.
Suggestion 2: Establish and Foster a Comfortable, Usable Space
Setting up an environment that is comfortable for you and others can help establish a healthy and inviting space that can supplement your apartment’s atmosphere and overall university experience. Consider ways to help your apartment feel like a home. Items such as plants and seasonal decor can help your apartment feel more inviting.
Also, how and where you store personal belongings and school-related materials can positively impact day-to-day function. Consider the best way to organize items for efficiency and use. Solid organization can save time and eliminate stress. What items do you use daily? What underutilized storage space could be used more effectively?
Having a place for studying in your apartment can be a helpful element to your academic performance. Set up a functional workspace with good lighting and a comfortable feel.
Suggestion 3: Determine Apartment Understanding
Identifying and agreeing to guidelines for the use of common apartment areas can help maintain clean and respected spaces.
Questions you may want to consider for determining apartment understanding include:
- Is there agreement for the use of dishes?
- Is there a plan for or rules regarding shared food?
- Are there food or other allergies to be respected?
- Are there health conditions that others should be aware of?
- Are cleaning supplies common property?
- How will cleaning responsibilities be divided?
- What is the best way to communicate messages to roommates? (Group chat, in-apartment message board, etc.)
Apartment understanding can also be applied to schedules. By working together to establish and follow an understood set of expectations regarding schedules, roommates may be able to eliminate what could otherwise have led to time-related conflicts.
Checking with roommates during the semester about how everyone is feeling regarding established rules and if there are concerns to be addressed can help keep a favorable housing environment.
Suggestion 4: Participate with Others
Participating in activities as roommates and neighbors can help build a positive overall university experience. One way to support such healthy connections is by taking the initiative to plan activities and extend invitations to participate.
Ideas include:
- Hosting an informal dinner: There are many ways this could work. Assign food items by apartment, alphabetically, or by food type. Dinner menus could be based on favorite foods, locations where individuals have lived, or on a volunteer basis.
- Planning a game night at your apartment or in a shared space at the complex: Individuals could bring their own games, or you or someone else could supply the game for the evening. Consider games that are easy to learn and that allow for group communication and connection
- Support church attendance and participation in ward and stake activities: Inviting others to walk to church together or offering rides can help create common experiences and support inclusion. Attending ward and stake activities can provide great opportunities to build good memories and healthy connections.
- Look ahead and schedule for campus activities to attend during the semester: Noting when and where future activities are scheduled can help in making invitations in enough time for others to arrange their calendars in order to attend. Options include intramural sporting events, activities hosted by campus organizations, bowling, concerts, performing arts shows, art displays, presentations at the planetarium, and more.
Suggestion 5: Identify Commonalities and Support Opportunities
Finding out ways those in your apartment or complex can support one another is another opportunity for adding to your university experience.
Following are some examples of ways to capitalize on commonalities and opportunities:
- Save money by buying in bulk for shared apartment needs
- Set up a study group, which could help academic performance for those in the complex, and build social connections
- Share rides to the grocery store, campus events, and home for holidays or semester breaks
- Invite others to join a campus or local organization with you
- Get a group from your complex together to perform volunteer work
Recognize there may be ways to support the routines of roommates or neighbors or ways to help them navigate challenges such as strained schedules during busy times of the semester.
Contact Us for Affordable BYU-I Housing
Your housing can be an important key to establishing and enjoying your university experience. We want each student to benefit from the establishment of a comfortable, inviting apartment and meaningful connections with roommates and neighbors. Each of these can benefit your time as a student.
American Avenue offers affordable BYU-I housing close to campus and supports principles for successful apartment living. Our team focuses on providing friendly management services, and we welcome the opportunity to support a positive environment for each resident.
Please contact us regarding availability, our freshman student program, or to arrange for a tour.