Traditional-style dormitories consist of a room shared by two people with access to communal bathrooms, laundry facilities and sometimes kitchens. The buildings may house both sexes, but living spaces and communal bathrooms will be assigned to specific sexes usually by floor or by section. The benefits of this style is that all facilities except individual dorm rooms will be cleaned by janitorial staff. The downside of this style of dormitory is the lack of privacy that may occur in communal bathrooms.
Suite-style dormitories consist of two or more rooms connected by a bathroom. Usually, there are two people assigned to one room. Having a bathroom connected to your dorm room is convenient in the middle of the night or when you need to grab a quick shower. However, it falls on the occupants to clean the bathroom facilities.
Some colleges offer private rooms in their dormitories. These rooms will be occupied by one person. Depending on the dormitory style, these rooms may have an attached bathroom. Others have communal bathrooms.
On-campus apartments are another option for students who want to live on-campus. These residences combine the convenience of living on campus with apartment amenities. Apartments should include sleeping quarters, a living area, kitchen facilities and a private bathroom. The number of bedrooms may vary, so you may have to share with roommates.
Some dormitories are reserved for students in special programs or designated with specific themes. Some schools will allow honor students and athletes to choose special housing. Some dormitories may be available only to upperclassmen or be designated for a single-sex. These dormitories may be advantageous to students in these programs, and some students may prefer a living environment more in tune with their needs.