Taking dolls to school or college?

At first I was hesitant to bring my dolls to live with me at school, but as it turns out, I've struck roommate gold! At college, the girl I'll be living with collects BJDs too----in fact, we met on DoA, and found out we were headed to the same university.

So we'll be living with each other on campus with our BJDs together---I'm so happy to be assigned with another doll person! With the two of us watching out for each others dolls, I'm confident our boys and girls will be safe and in good hands on our campus! [Of course I'm not going to be stupid and leave them lying around in blatant danger, but you get my drift. xD;;; I feel much more reassured knowing my roommate respects, collects, and knows how to care for BJDs. Plus, it means we have a serious hobby in common that we can share together!]

 

Now that move-in day is quickly approaching, I've decided against bringing my dolls with me, at least at first. My dorm isn't too far from home, so I'll be able to visit them often and I know I'll end up bringing them to school with me at some point, but probably only for short periods of time. I know I can trust my roommate (she's my best friend after all XD), but I just don't want to have to worry about my dolls' safety during the craziness of the first few weeks. After that, I think it would still worry me if my dolls were always in the dorms. I'm also nearly sure I have a relatively mild form/case of OCD, and I know having them there would trigger weird stuff with that. Has anyone else changed their mind about brining their dolls?

 

My dolls rarely, if ever, come to school with me. There isn't really much for them to do there . I still plan to bring them around campus to take pictures of them, but when that happens I don't plan to leave them out of my sight.

For anyone afraid of bringing dolls to school, my advice is to wait until you've assessed what kind of people you'd have to deal with, the rate of crime on campus, your living situation, and so on. In my experience, theft rarely happens, but that's at my small school.

 

I've finished university years ago, but believe me, taking dolls to class would not be taken seriously. The levels of Dutch universities are comparable to Harvard, Yale and the likes, not like the numerous community universities you find around the US. Those schools are not called university here. University is for studying science, history, linguistics and philosophy.
Would I take my doll to work? He might look cool on a desk at a homy room at a large office building where most of the desk clerks are female and most of those parttimers (housewives) who like cute stuff. I'm a geotechnical advisor and most of my colleages are guys, got to adapt to that . So no, Shinta's not coming to work with me. Maybe only when there would be a psycho doll kidnapper going around breaking in houses stealing dolls, I might take him everywhere I go. Would be fun, Shinta sitting on the table while I'm investigating bore hole mud in the lab.

 

Most American colleges are not 'community colleges' and are comparable to universities elsewhere.

Community colleges are very good for those putting themselves through school, as they tend to be less expensive and more flexible about when classes may be taken, and often are a leaping stone to a four-year college or university.

And each college and each dorm or house has its own atmosphere, which you should probably evaluate before you bring your dolls into it.

Carrying your doll everywhere like Linus with his blanket? Only if you are taking very different classes than I was; chemistry texts and notebooks are too heavy without a doll, too.

Ann in CT
graduated from Smith College

 

Being in the arts side of our university tends to change the opinion of the dolls a bit, I think too. My girl may ride in my bag, but if she's ever out, it's during non-class time. The only exception was when she was the basis for scale with a sculpture project I had done. Being in the video/animation/sound design, her structure is actually quite similar to what some people use as armatures, so she's been looked over for her jointing more than for her toy-ness. Also, I've had the same classmates/professors (small department/major) for the last four years, we're very comfortable with each other.

As Ann said, each has it's own atmosphere. Being very close to my department/major peers is important to my being my usual quirky self. We're all fairly quirky, some are a little more visibly quirky then others, but we still have our own level of professionalism.

 

I gave my roommate a bit of information about BJDs and sent her a picture of Adrian to make sure he wouldn't freak her out. She's become a bit of a doll enthusiast and is looking forward to meeting him, so that worked out well.

 

Although I think I have already decided to bring my doll, I am still iffy on whether it is a good thing or not. I have never been to a doll meet and there will be one around the first week I will be attending the University. So I was thinking I could bring him to that. I promised myself that I would bring him back home after a few weeks of school, but would it not be better to see that he was safe and waiting for me at home. Urg!! I just can't stand being with out my doll, and I trust my roommate and all, but I am still pretty scared. I an not scared to be made fun of or anything, but freshmen in college ARE pretty crazy plus the University is a good 1 ~ 2 hour drive ><. Maybe...i may wait...but I will miss him so much.

 

Well I'm not going to either at the moment but if I was I would think twice about bring a doll with me. Around here bjd's are pretty much unknown and to see a grown woman walking around carrying one would just be asking for trouble.

Back in high school, if I would have had a doll then, I also would have never dreamed about bringing one. I was always the 'outcast' so to speak and a doll would have been asking for it. Even now my friends look down on the hobby (not that I see them much anymore) but it is a downer. Thankfully I don't have to worry about things like that since I'm working and all.

 

I've been planning to bring Naito with me to work since I work at my community college in Student Programs I've been thinking it would be alright. My team members are all pretty supportive of me, I even come to hang my paintings in the office once I finish one. I'm sure I'd get some questions but I they'd overall think he is just cute because there is only one guy in my team while the rest are all girls XD. But we have had some people get their wallets and belongings stolen in the waiting area of the office. Which is the only thing that really worries me. But I suppose he would only be in my office area, and if I were to ever leave the office area I would just carry him with me or put him in my purse, since no one has ever stolen my purse or backpack in the office area.

 

I ended up with a single dorm, so my crew are officially coming with me (: I don't think I'll be toting them around campus and showing them off, but I will have them with me at least xD

 

I go to community college so luckly I don't have to worry about a roommate and their friends. However, when I do get her I would be a little worried about taking her around but I would do it especially to my drawing class.

 

Nope, I would never bring a doll with me to University.
I just would not feel comfortable and I don't feel the need to bring one along.

 

O____o;;

I'm glad I found this thread!!! I'm starting college this fall and I just got my first doll evverrr (3 weeks before school starts). I waited longer for her than the time I have left to spend with her... assuming I leave her at home. I really don't know if I should bring her with me or not because I haven't met my roommates (I have 3 of them) in person yet, and I don't know if they'd be ok with it, ignore me, or damage her if I took her with me. I don't want to leave her at home because she's going to sit at home alone in the same place until I come home to visit... but I'd rather do that than expose her to a potentially dangerous freshman dorm situation (even though I am in a special housing program where supposedly only 20 people live in my house??). It might be too hectic if she came along, but I'm REALLY GOING TO MISS HERRR!!!!

I don't know what to do, HELP!!!

so far people's experiences have been ... interesting...

 

It depends what you do with your doll. If you want her to be dressed up and displayed all the time, it might be an issue for your roommates who would also have to see her displayed, or perhaps you just want her to be a companion and you're happy to keep her in her box until you want to take her out and play. Figure out what you want from your doll and then try to see if that's compatible with what you want from your college experience.

Since your doll is a LittleFee, her box & carry cushions aren't so big, perhaps you could take your doll with you if you put her box in a secure place? Or would you feel uncomfortable that her box would be a target? Weigh up the pros and cons of taking your doll with you, and decide what would suit you best. No one can really tell you what to expect from college or what to expect from bringing your doll with you.

 

I wouldnt be so afraid as to if they'd want my doll just cause they like it. I'd be worried if they found themselves in desperate need of money and found out how much my doll was. Sell it off for some quick money. T^T

 

I've lived with all my girls at college for two years without incident. I simply don't announce their presence, and keep the ones that I would prefer not to be touched out of sight. My roommate last year (who I am good friends with) thought they were very creepy, and preferred they be kept in one piece, with eyes and wig, and dressed if they were out, which was an easy compromise. She was also the one person who knew the actual cost.

I would never take them to class. The desks are generally far too small to have all the stuff for class I would like to place on them, let alone a BJD! Neither the people in my engineering classes or the professors care to see them, so there's no reason for them to be in a class, either.

Generally as far as BJDs at school go, I think the less of a big deal you make about it, the fewer incidents you will have. Bring your box, get them out when you want to, and have a good time!

 

I second what Jescissa said. It sounds very reasonable. On that note though I would personally take my dolly leave her in her box and figure out what is best for everyone then. No way would I get my first doll after waiting just to leave her for a long period of time again.

 

I only started collecting my dolls once I was already mostly through with college. I am in my final semester now, and have never had a problem with having them here. Our beds here are bunked up over our desks, and we have cubby type shelves above our beds. I have just kept my boys there, or else on my bookshelves and they have never been bothered. Of course, I also attend a mostly male populated school and we live in a co-ed dorm, so I can't imagine any guy here wanting to be seen messing with dolls!

Overall though, I would say it probably depends on the environment of the school, and your own personal experiances.

 

I waited. I bring them when I really want to see them.
It works.
they are not here all the time, so I don't forget about them, but, when they are here I'm so excited it's play play play.