STRANGERS TURNED FAMILY: LIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE SUITE

When choosing a place to live in a residential college (RC), students often find themselves debating between suite living or a corridor room. While both provide a sense of community, suite living offers a unique blend of privacy and shared space, making it an attractive option for many. In this setup, six students of the same gender each have their own single room, but they share a common living area and bathroom, a layout that fosters both camaraderie and close friendships. 

But what is it really like to live in a suite? To give you a real glimpse into suite life, I spoke to three residents from Tembusu College and the College of Alice & Peter Tan (CAPT), two of the residential colleges at the National University of Singapore. Through their experiences, we’ll explore the ups and downs of suite living, from spontaneous late-night conversations in the common area to the challenges of coordinating shared spaces. 

Whether you’re a prospective resident or simply curious about RC life, join me as we take a deep dive into what it means to call an RC suite home! 

Rebecca’s Suite Life at Tembusu College 

For Rebecca, a resident at Tembusu College, the decision to live in a suite instead of a regular corridor room was initially a practical one: fewer people sharing a toilet, more privacy, and the added bonus of a common living area. But what truly made her stay? “My amazing suitemates,” she shared, “are the reason I didn’t move to a corridor room.” 

A glimpse into Rebecca’s suite!

Living with five others could be tricky, but for Rebecca, it’s been one of the best parts of college. She describes her suitemates as her closest friends, bonding over shared meals, study sessions, and late-night chats. Since they all prefer a quieter environment, they naturally align on how to use the common spaces. Of course, not every suite is drama-free. She’s aware that conflicts happen in other suites, but fortunately for her, her suite has managed to avoid major issues, and even minor disagreements. 

One of the biggest perks? A private study and dining space always available, unlike communal lounges that require booking. The downside? It can get noisy when friends come over, but a simple reminder usually fixes that. Cleanliness is easy too. They follow an unspoken rule: clean up after yourself. Regular cleaning is done twice a week, and any extra messes are handled immediately. 

Rebecca’s cosy suite lounge

To respect personal space, they avoid entering each other’s rooms without permission. After 11 PM, they keep noise levels down and let each other know if they’re bringing male guests over, since the bathroom is shared. Conflicts are rare, but when they arise, they address them either in the common group chat or talk to the person directly. “We try not to avoid issues for too long because that can cause tension,” she added. 

For those considering suite life, Rebecca says it’s a great way to build friendships and learn to share a space. However, it is also a gamble as you don’t get to choose your suitemates. Her advice? Communicate expectations early. “It’s better if everyone is aligned on the ground rules,” she affirmed. Despite the potential challenges, Rebecca’s experience shows that suite life at Tembusu can be deeply rewarding, filled with meaningful friendships and shared experiences! 

Ye Xue’s Suite Life at CAPT 

For Ye Xue, a resident at CAPT, choosing to live in a suite was driven by both convenience and the desire for a communal experience. “The attached toilet was more convenient, and I wanted to experience living in a shared space with others and make close friends,” she recalled. 

Living with five other suitemates turned out to be a fun and wholesome experience for Ye Xue. She particularly enjoyed having a private lounge, where they could relax and have late-night talks whenever they wanted in a space that was exclusively theirs. 

The biggest advantages of sharing a living space, according to Ye Xue, were the extra space for personal belongings and the chance to get creative. “We had space to decorate the walls, create our own snack corner, and more,” she said. Living in close proximity also helped the group bond and become closer. The main challenge, however, was their different living habits. But open communication helped manage these differences, keeping the suite peaceful. 

Ye Xue and her suitemate in their decorated living area

To manage shared responsibilities, Ye Xue and her suitemates made it clear from the start that they needed to clean up after themselves, especially after using the table for meals. This sense of responsibility extended to balancing social interaction with personal space. “I generally stay in my room if I need to focus on my work,” she shared, noting that her suitemates also respected this need for quiet time, ensuring everyone could have their own space when necessary. 

Ye Xue also emphasised the importance of unspoken rules that maintain harmony in the suite. “We would inform each other beforehand if we wanted to bring in friends not living in the suite, and we always made sure to dispose of our food rubbish outside the suite.” When conflicts arose, their approach was to talk it out face-to-face. “We avoided being confrontational, and just worked through the issue together,” she explained. 

For anyone considering suite life, Ye Xue advises being mindful that your living habits may not always align with those of your suitemates. She underscored the importance of approaching differences with understanding and empathy. “Also, make an effort to get to know your suitemates. Don’t waste the opportunity to build lasting friendships!” she added. 

Ye Xue and her suitemates at a CAPT event!

Ye Xue’s suite experience shows that living in a shared space can be both rewarding and enriching, offering fun, personal growth, and the chance to form lasting bonds. After nearly two years of living together, Ye Xue and her suitemates are now closer than ever. In fact, they’ve become so close that she even travelled overseas with one of them! 

Isaac’s Suite Life at CAPT 

Like the previous two suite residents, Isaac’s reason for choosing suite living over a regular corridor room was the availability of a shared common space. He appreciated having a space where he can invite close friends from outside CAPT to study and hang out.  

Living with five suitemates has been a positive experience for Isaac. “It’s like having a bunch of brothers in your own corner of the floor. We take care of each other,” he said, highlighting the close-knit bond they share. One of the advantages of living in a suite, according to Isaac, is the shared space. He likens it to a living room at home, where everyone gathers and shares meals. “Now, replace that living room with your suite’s common area, and instead of family, you have your suitemates!” he added. For Isaac, this idea of a shared space where everyone can come together is one of the best parts of suite living. 

Surprisingly, Isaac has not encountered any challenges during his time in the suite. “Honestly, I can’t think of any difficulties at the moment! Everyone in my suite has been very civil. I’ve been incredibly fortunate in this respect,” he shared candidly. 

Isaac and his suitemates at a CAPT event!

When it comes to managing shared responsibilities like cleanliness, Isaac points to an unspoken rule in their suite. “We don’t have any explicit delegations of responsibilities, but the unspoken rule is to clean up after ourselves after we’ve used the common area,” he explained. This rule helped to ensure that the space remains tidy for the next person. 

Balancing social interaction with personal space is another benefit of suite living for Isaac. He values the flexibility the suite offers, specifically how he can manage the balance between privacy and social interaction on his own. “We can choose to lounge around in the common area if we’re down to chat or simply stay in our rooms if we need privacy,” he shared. 

To keep things running smoothly, Isaac’s suite follows a simple rule about noise: suitemates give each other a heads-up before organising any potentially noisy gatherings in the common area. As a result of their mutual respect and cooperation, Isaac’s suite has been remarkably harmonious. “Perhaps I’m lucky, but I have never had conflicts or disagreements with my suitemates. We really get along and help each other make the space homely for each other,” he added warmly. In fact, their cooperation goes beyond just living together, extending to sharing resources like extra cleaning materials or food! 

Isaac and his suitemates bonding over McDonald’s

Isaac’s advice for those considering suite living is simple: get to know your suitemates well as campus life is best enjoyed with friends. After all, what better way to make friends than by living together with them? 

All in all, it’s clear that living in a suite in a residential college offers both independence and community. It’s about forming lasting friendships, sharing responsibilities, and enjoying the benefits of a close-knit space. While it requires respect for personal boundaries and cooperation, the rewards, like late-night chats and shared meals, make suite life a memorable and enriching experience. If you’re ready for a unique living experience, consider taking the plunge into suite life. You might just find your next great friendship!