Dorm living, one of the last remaining rites of passage in America, is something everyone thinks they "get" - until they move in. But there are a few remaining secrets that may take a whole semester or even a year to figure out. Assuming you'll have better things to do with your time than play guessing games, we've prepared a dorm-life cheat sheet for you.

1. You can eat something other than Ramen noodles.
Yes, many a starving student has subsisted on the cheap, ubiquitous, yet questionably nutritious Ramen noodles. This may be due to the fact that students are generally not supposed to cook in the dorms. Secret: Everyone does anyway. So if you're more into panini than PB&J, pack your Foreman grill. Just keep it on the DL.

2. Some dorms are pet-friendly.
If you can't imagine leaving your furry friend behind, you may not have to. Some colleges, including Washington & Jefferson College (Washington, PA), Stephens College (Columbia, MO), Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, FL), and Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, NY), have pet-friendly policies and dorms - even for cats and dogs!

3. You never lock your door - but you should.
Dorm life is definitely social, but not everyone who makes their way onto campus should make their way into your room. And if you choose to leave your door open when you're in your room, make sure trusted friends are nearby in case trouble comes to your door. It's not something you want to think about, but you have to - just in case.

4. You can avoid the laundry room.
Let your clothes air out after you wear them, and invest in at least a month's worth of underwear. You'd be amazed how long you can get by without washing a thing in the dorm. Hint: A little Febreze goes a long way.

5. All-nighters are not the gold standard of dorm life.
There are some people who get a thrill out of staying up all night to study or party or whatever, but the rest of us actually prefer if we don't feel like we're going to fall down and die on the way from the dorm to class. College is not camp. You actually have to live there, so getting some sleep might be a good idea.

6. Dorm living is the ultimate version of "Ask Jeeves."
Sure, you can use Twitter to solicit info and advice, but your hallmates can offer the hands-on help you need. Given the diversity of the dorms, you're practically guaranteed to find someone who can fix your computer, lend you a DVD, give you paper clips, feed you when you're hungry, or help you in any other random way.

7. Suites are not all they're cracked up to be.
Learning how to live with one roommate can be tough; add in two or three others and the dynamics can become even more challenging. Plus, you'll need to divvy up bathroom cleaning duties with your suitemates, which can be a lesson in diplomacy all by itself.

8. Community bathrooms are not so bad.
Which brings us to the major benefit of community bathrooms - you're not responsible to scrub them down like must in a private or suite-style bathroom. Of course, you should still extend the courtesy of cleaning up after yourself when you use the community bathrooms or showers. But you can save the heavy-duty cleaning for the pros.

9. You might be judged by the reputation of your dorm.
Most schools offer a variety of freshman housing, and you may even be able to request the dorm you like. But if your dorm has a reputation for wild partying or nose-in-the-books studying 24/7, you could get lumped into that group. Tip: Get the inside scoop on the "personality" of the dorm that suits you best, and request that one on your housing application.

10. You may complain about the dorm now, but you'll miss it when you're gone...

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