Throwing a college dorm party is one of the best initiatives you can take during your college years that will set you apart, maybe even make you one of the most popular people on campus. It will help you meet new people, make friends, connections, and find hot dates.
But throwing a memorable party isn’t as easy as it’s chalked up to be. Booze doesn’t cut it. Your party needs to have some uniqueness, theme, and games that help get people together. Here are 8 college dorm party ideas to transform a party into the hottest place to be.
What Is a College Dorm Party?
There are many kinds of college parties — formal parties organized by the university, club parties, informal events, frat parties, sorority parties, house parties, and swimming pool or recreation room parties. Some of these are exclusive, some are open to everyone, some you have to buy tickets to.
However, the one kind of party everybody can and will attend at least once in college is a college dorm party. The dormitory is where everyone lives. So if there’s a party happening, there will always be partakers. College dorm parties are the only place you can meet everyone, introverts and extroverts alike.
Throwing a dorm party gives you access to everyone in your residence and lets them know who you are. College residences are pretty much mini-communities within their ecosystem. Contribute towards fostering that sense of community, and people will appreciate you for it.
8 College Dorm Party Ideas
#1. Look-Alike Character Party
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This is one of the most common types of dorm parties you will find in college, especially around Halloween. People dress up as characters from movies, TV shows, comic books, anime, and historical figures. Getting people motivated enough to dress up for a dorm event may be a task for you unless you know some people of influence.
#2. Board Games Over Boys and Girls
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Board games are one of the best group activities for a college dorm party because they can include everyone. You’ll often get people who aren’t there to drink, dance, flirt, or make noise, but just to have some wholesome fun. Board games never go out of style, and they’re easy to play within the small confines of your dorm. Here are some board games college students often like to play:
- Twister
- Chinese Checkers
- Scrabble
- Poker
- Dungeons and Dragons
- Werewolf
- Blackjack
#3. Breakfast Club Movie Night
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An iconic movie from the ’80s, The Breakfast Club is the story of five high school students with different mindsets towards school, teachers, other kids, social norms, and life at home. When the five kids end up in detention, bored out of their minds, they strike up a conversation exploring each other’s differences. It’s a fun movie to watch with your friends.
#4. Pajama Party
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Remember the good old days from your childhood when you’d put on your jammies and go over to a friend’s place to spend the night eating cookie dough and playing video games? It doesn’t go out of fashion in college — the only difference is the added element of alcohol. A good old pajama party is the best way to have some light-hearted fun with your friends.
Bonus — you get to be in your most comfortable clothes the entire time.
You can customize dorm party T-shirts by yourself. Not only can you make your college dorm party better, but you can also dress nicely and comfortably. Having a party outfit is pretty cool. Custom t-shirts don’t want too much trouble just at www.customtshirts.us. The website can design your college dorm clothes for free. Come and have custom party t-shirts with your best friend.
#5. Drinking Buddies Party
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There is nothing that alcohol cannot make more interesting. It’s been a key bonding agent at social gatherings all over the world for thousands of years. All you need is a couple of six-packs, or spirits if you’re a hard drinker, a fridge to keep them cool, and some music to really get to know someone.
The alcohol does the rest of the work. It’s a never-fail college dorm party format that’s led to tons of memorable moments and maybe even more forgotten ones.
#6. Anything But Clothes Party
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This is a really fun party idea where guests are expected to get creative with their “clothes.” They can wear outfits made out of bags, duct tape, cardboard, or even body paint. But be very careful with this one, you don’t want to draw the attention of the campus police.
#7. ’80s Party
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The ’80s were one of the most vibrant decades in American history in terms of music, movies, pop culture, and art. It’s often remembered as the time without cell phones or strangers.
A lot of college dorm parties to this day are themed after some of the most cherished decades in American history, from the ’60s to the ’90s. Having an ’80s themed party is also a good excuse to bust out that ’80s playlist of guilty pleasure songs on full volume.
#8. Reality TV Party
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If you have disposable funds, creativity, and time, you could transform your room into a mini-version of the set from your favorite game shows. A timeless idea that never fails to entertain. Here’s a quick list of some of the best game shows to inspire your party:
- Jeopardy
- What’s My Line
- The Chase
- Family Feud
- The Price Is Right
- Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?
- Let’s Make A Deal
- Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Tips On How to Throw a College Dorm Party
#1. Put someone in charge of drinks to make sure no one overdoes it. This way, you don’t have to be the buzz kill yourself.
#2. Never forget to invite your next-door neighbors, even if they’re not interested in partying. It’ll keep you on good terms with them, and they won’t snitch on you.
#3. Hide all your valuables whenever you have strangers in your room.
#4. Bring some tasty snacks and non-alcoholic beverages for your friends who aren’t drinking.
#5. Make a bomb Spotify playlist beforehand, so you don’t have to keep changing the music.
#6. Have fun but don’t go too crazy; parties can be expensive.
#7. If anyone at the party tries to make the other guests feel uncomfortable with physical contact or peer pressure, tell them it’s Strike 1. Do not tolerate bad behavior at your party. It discourages people from showing up next time if the host doesn’t seem to care.
