This post is all about how to throw the best college dorm party ever!
What is college without a good party? I mean, isn’t that the whole purpose of going to college?
Haha, just kidding. But as a former college student that took 5 years to finish my education (don’t judge me), I’ve been to a fair share of wild dorm parties that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
How Do You Throw a Dorm Party?
Before throwing a party in your dorm room, here are a few things to be aware of:
Get On Your RA’s Good Side
Throwing successful dorm parties without having them shut down by your RA (resident assistant) minutes later is not an easy task. So my advice is to get to know your RA! Some RAs are nice and would not even care if you throw a party as long as you keep the noise under control. But some RAs can be super strict and not tolerate any parties or alcohol in the dorm.
So before throwing a party in your dorm, make sure to check the policies first and talk to your RA. The last thing you want is to get written up!
Let Your Neighbors Know
Okay, here’s my advice. Invite your neighbors to your party so they won’t snitch on you! HAHA! I mean, you gotta do what you gotta do!
But, if they’re not interested in partying with you, make sure to be respectful! Let them know what time your party starts and ends, and ask them if it’s okay for you to play music. Most of the time, unless you’re hosting a party in the middle of finals week, people are generally ok with you having a party next door. I mean! It’s college! But still, don’t blast the music so loud to the point that the walls are literally vibrating.
Put Your Valuables Away!
This is so so so important y’all! One of my best friends in college hosted a party at her place, and at the end of the party, her laptop, speaker, and skateboard were all GONE!
Wheww, the amount of money she lost!
The worst thing is that there were no security cameras around so she wasn’t even able to recover any of the stolen items. Needless to say, leaving your valuables unattended in a party full of crazy (& sometimes broke) college student is not that great of an idea LOL!
College Dorm Party Ideas: Themes
Dorm parties are usually pretty laid back and everyone just wears whatever they want. But sometimes it can be super fun to spice it up with a theme. Here are a few ideas you can steal:
- Decades party (60s, 70s, 80s, 90s )
- Pajamas party
- Jazz night
- Hip Hop night
- Y2K night
- Ugly Sweaters party
- Devils and Angels
- Sexy Nerd party
- Masquerade party
- Rock n’ Roll
- Denim themed party
- Rave rager
Oh yea, don’t forget to take pictures! I LOVE taking disposable pictures during fun nights like this because they’re always turn out so candid and the vibes are always ✨immaculate✨
College Party Food and Drinks Ideas
Your party guests will love you if you provide some food to munch on at your party. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. A little snack will do! You can also ask your guests to bring snacks as their “entrance fee”, this way, you won’t have to spend extra money on food.
Here are some popular college party food ideas:
- Chips & Salsa
- Ham & Cheese Sliders
- Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
- Donuts
- Tortilla Wrap-Ups
- Hotdogs
- Pizza (How could I forget!?)
- Macaronni and Cheese Bites
- Party Mix
- Grilled Cheese
- Burgers and French Fries
Lots of dorms have a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol. So here are some non-alcoholic drink ideas:
- Strawberry Lemonade (recipe from Delish)
- Watermelon “no”jitos (recipe from Taste)
- Virgin Pina Colada (recipe from A Couple Cooks)
- Frozen Peach Bellini Mocktail (recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen)
- Virgin Cranberry Basil Sangria (recipe from Delish)
- Orange Mango Crush (recipe from Taste)
- Blueberry Ginger Cooler (recipe from Cook with Manali)
Related Post: How to Have the Most Amazing 21st Birthday Ever
Make a Bomb Spotify Playlist
Having a BOMB Spotify party playlist is the key to having a successful college party. Of course, depending on the theme of your party, the type of music you play can vary. But having some Hip Hop classics could never go wrong. This is one of my favorite playlists for dorm parties! It’s such a vibe and always gets the crowd going!
If you are into Bay Area slaps, this playlist is DEFINITELY for you!
Having the right speakers is also crucial! Playing music off your phone or laptop just won’t work because like… HELLO? where’s the bass?
Without a doubt, JBL makes the best speakers for parties. The JBL Partybox 300 is awesome for huge parties (like frat parties), but if you’re just hosting a dorm party with 20 people, this JBL model should work perfectly fine.
Dorm Party Games & Activities
If your guests don’t really know each other that well, playing games during or before the party can be a great way for everyone to get comfortable! Here are some games & activities that you must try at a college party.
The Classic Beer Pong
Beer pong is the most basic yet iconic game you can play at a college party. I’m sure you see it in all those “coming-of-age” Hollywood college movies, lol. All you need is a long table and a number of red cups and you’re ready to go. Don’t know the rules? Here’s how to play it.
Never Have I Ever Drinking Game
“Never have I ever” was another game that we played a lot at parties. It’s an ice-breaker for sure, and things could get pretty raunchy (just a warning here)???? You can either play the family-friendly version or the adult version. Whichever fits the vibe you’re going for.
Spin The Bottle
I’m sure we all know how to play spin the bottle. This game mixed with a little bit of alcohol courage can get pretty fun and crazy haha! This can be a great pre-game activity to warm everyone up and get the party going!
Flip Cup
Flip cup is probably one of my favorite college drinking games. It’s played like a relay race, where each teammate downs a cup of beer, then tries to flip the cup upside down before moving on to the next person. Here’s Wikihow’s explanation on how to play the game. It’s super fun and if you’ve never played it before, you have to try it once!
College Party Decoration Ideas
Transform your dorm room into the coolest place on campus with these super cute party decor ideas!
1. Shitshow Tapestry
What better way to warmly welcome your party guests than this super relatable tapestry right here?! College students are basically just a bunch of people who don’t know what’s going on 90% the time but somehow still know where the party’s at.
2. Dazzling String Lights
These sparkly string lights are an absolute must in every college dorm room. Most importantly, they make an awesome backdrop for cute polaroid party photos!
Related Post: 12 Insanely Cute Dorm Room Decor Ideas You Need To See
3. Neon Lights
Going for a more chic and minimalist vibe at your party? These neon lights might just be what you’re looking for! They’re super cute and can give off a subtle glow to your room.
4. Party Disco Lights
These disco lights would be absolutely perfect if you’re hosting a 70s or 80s themed party! You can attach it to the wall, ceiling, or other places. It even has a sound-activated mode that’ll allow you to sync the colors to your music!
Have Fun & Don’t Go Too Crazy!
College parties are meant to be wild and fun! But just a piece of advice: Don’t go too crazy because you might regret it the next day. Especially if you have an 8:00 am class to go to : ) Trust me, I’ve been there. NOT FUN AT ALL! (I was SO WASTED in my morning calculus class that I almost fell off my chair lmao)
Put Paraphernalia Away
Yes, some college Juniors and Seniors are over the age of 21 and can technically drink and smoke. However, most (if not all) dorms have a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and drugs. So! If you don’t want to get in trouble, please make sure to put these things away… at least when you hear the RA coming.
Don’t Do Things You’ll Regret
- Beer goggles are real y’all! Don’t just kiss anyone you see at a party. If you see someone cute, confirm that they’re ACTUALLY cute by asking your friends first! ????
- Okay, I’m not encouraging you to drink or smoke. But! If you do decide to do these things, don’t drink or smoke from unknown sources. Haha, I know that sounds kind of weird. But just make sure you drink from your own cup and keep an eye on it. Don’t take anything that a stranger offers you because you have no idea what they put in there.
- Lastly, wear protection and stay hydrated babes!
Related Post: Everything You Need To Know About Dating In College
Know Your Limits
Throwing up after drinking too much is literally the WORST feeling on Planet Earth. If you know that 3 drinks is usually your limit, don’t succumb to peer pressure and force yourself to take another drink. Know your limits! Seriously, you’ll thank me later.
Oh yea, by the way, don’t mix your drinks. If you’ve been drinking Vodka the entire time, don’t just suddenly take a shot of Tequila. Trust me, it’ll F U up!
There you have it besties! Everything you need to know about throwing successful dorm parties in your college years, and things you need to be aware of!
PRO TIP: Yes, you can totally “party hard and study hard”! But… if your body can’t handle it, please rest! Don’t force yourself to go out and party if you had just pulled an all-nighter the day before. Girl! Stay home and chill, no one will judge you!
Partying is an essential part of the college experience, but don’t let it be ALL of it. Apart from partying, also join clubs, go to office hours, study at the library, chill with your roommates, volunteer, and live your best (and balanced) life on campus✨
Have fun and stay fabulous!
xoxo,
Jamila
