Five ways to make the most of your residence housing experience

Two students talking in their residence room.

Whether you’ve already joined us at Fennell Residence or you’re considering it as your next home-away-from-home, we’re happy you’re here! Living in residence housing is a great way to grow as a person and as a student during your time at Mohawk College. 

You get the best parts of living independently, the convenience of being right on campus, and opportunities to build your social network outside the classroom. And there are less maintenance stresses and utility bills living in residence vs off-campus housing. For those living in on-campus housing for the first time or simply settling in, it’s natural to wonder how to make the most of your time at Mohawk. 

Here are five tips to help you have a great experience living in on-campus residence to help you get comfy, balance your academic life and make life-long connections. 

1. Make the space yours!

If you haven’t yet explored TikTok, Pinterest, or Instagram for dorm room decorating inspiration, get ready to be bombarded with great creative ideas. Your residence housing suite comes fully furnished but that doesn’t mean you can’t add lots of personal touches.

Colour schemes, cozy bedding, faux plants, twinkle lights, cool posters, sleek storage solutions, the list of potential ideas goes on and on. Even if decorating doesn’t sound like how you want to spend your time, small, personal details can make a huge impact.

Not sure where to start? Answering some personal taste questions like these can help get your creative ideas flowing.

  • What does your favourite coffee shop look like?
  • Do you have a favourite movie or sports team whose colours could inspire your bedding and decorations?
  • Is there a store with unique design elements that you like?
  • How do you like to relax? What items help you relax?
  • How do you like to study or focus?
  • What does your desk look like at home? Simple or maximalist style?
  • Do you like calm, relaxing colours or bright, energizing ones?
  • Are there any small items from home that would bring you comfort to see in a new space?
  • If you travel, are there items that help you feel more comfortable when you’re away from home?

You’ll have plenty of time to make the space your own, so don’t stress about having every single thing ready for residence housing move-in day.

Once your application is accepted you’ll be sent a packing list with the essentials (and items you’re not allowed to have in your room for safety reasons), anything else is just a bonus. 

Shopping for personal items to decorate your on-campus residence can also be a fun way to bond with your roommate. You can check out thrift stores, antique markets, Dollarama, the student-favourite IKEA, or HomeSense for fun touches that set the vibe for your shared spaces too.

Woah, put down that hammer! 

There are rules on what you can and can’t change in your suite. No holes in the walls is #1. White sticky tack is a student’s best friend and you’d be surprised at how well it works. All the rules for what are considered residence no-gos can be found in the Mohawk Student Residence Agreement. And if in doubt, ask!

2. Be a good roommate 

With Fennell’s suite-style dorms, you get the benefits of having your own personal room but sharing your suite with a roommate—AKA the best of both worlds. 

Meeting your roommate for the first time is an exciting opportunity. Be yourself but also remember to be considerate sharing this space. Not everyone has the same schedules, habits or personal preferences, and that’s normal and part of the resident housing roommate experience.

Try getting to know your roommate over a cup of coffee, a walk or even grocery shopping together. The more time you take to get to know your suite-mate the better! 

Not all roommates need to be besties (but that’s awesome when that happens), friendly and respectful is a great middle ground and helps create and maintain a comfortable living situation. 

Here are some great starter questions to help get to know each other better:

  • Are there any TV shows you can’t miss each week?
  • Are you familiar with Hamilton? If so, any favourite spots?
  • What are you studying?
  • What’s your favourite snack?
  • Are you a morning person or a night owl?
  • Are you a travel person? Where is next on your list?
  • Do you have any pet peeves or hidden talents?

Open minds and open communication are the best ways to maintain a great relationship with your roommate. Habits that are totally normal in your household might be confusing to them, and vice versa. 

Some people love things to be neat and tidy, while others may feel anxious in spaces without a little mess. The more you learn about each other’s preferences, the more comfortable you’ll both be.

When you’re accepted into on-campus residence, you’ll be given a Roommate Agreement. This contract can help you understand how to be respectful of others and shared spaces. Read it, sign it, live it!

3. Get involved

One of the best parts of living in residence is the opportunity to make friends outside your suite and classes. The Residence Life Team creates fun activities that will help you get to know other students living at on campus and refuel you for your studies.

If you want to join everything, that’s great! The more you join, the more chances you’ll get to know others and feel more at home in the building.

If you’re more of an introvert, pick one or two activities that interest you (even mildly) and give them a try. You never know where you’ll meet another student who loves the Blue Jays, has a great sense of humour, or wants to explore the same places you do. 

Your Resident Advisor (RA) can also help you meet people and provide support for everything from finding your way around to roommate meetings and more.

Let your RA know your interests and ways you’d like to get involved around Fennell. Like event planning? Maybe The Residence Life Team could use a volunteer. Great at art or graphic design? Maybe you can help create posters for residence events. There are lots of ways to lend a hand and use your skills in campus housing!

Feeling like you’re contributing to your community can be a rewarding way to add to your residence experience and help you build connections with others.

4. Trial and error build your ideal routine

At the end of the day, you’re here at Mohawk College to learn and finding routines that work for you will help you excel. This may take some trial and error. 

Some students prefer a quiet space to work, so if that sounds like you Fennell offers study lounges that are open to resident use. You can stay close to your home-away-from-home, run back to your room if you forget something or need a snack, and stay in the building to focus if you don’t want to face the elements outside.

Other students prefer to study in their own rooms where they can be as comfortable as possible and have all their study essentials within reach. Maybe this will work for you in the evenings when your roommate is in class and during the afternoons, you’ll find you need a study lounge or to head to the main campus.

Finding out what works for you can take time, but if you’re struggling, try switching things up. Some students need noise around them to study and will gravitate to busy libraries or coffee shops. There’s no wrong way to study as long as you are mindful of others around you. 

Not that we think you would EVER be the person watching Netflix on full volume in a quiet library, without headphones, but don’t be that person.

Speaking of Netflix, finding your routines for unwinding is also key to enjoying your time living in residence. Fennell even has a movie lounge on the fourth floor so you can get a group together and watch old favourites or something new. 

If you like getting outside, maybe starting your day with a walk will put you in a good headspace. If getting active is how you like to maintain your mental and physical health, Mohawk College students have access to the on-campus David Braley Athletic Centre. 

From on-campus clubs to residence events, the more you learn about what works for you, the better habits you’ll build for your time at Mohawk College.

5. Explore the area (or help others to!)  

Mohawk College is part of the vibrant city of Hamilton, so the more you get to know it, the more you’ll feel like part of the community. 

Here are just a few things the city is known for:

If you’re a Hamilton local, you probably know all the best places in the city. Share your recommendations to others who may not be as familiar with the area. Join others on grocery store runs, meals out, or just exploring and you’ll get to see your home through the eyes of your new resident mates. 

Have a question about what it’s like to live in residence? Reach out to us at info [at] mohawkresidence.ca (info[at]mohawkresidence[dot]ca) for any additional information. We’d love to have you join us at Fennell Residence!

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