While convenient from a practical standpoint, it is rife with problems in terms of its psychological effects. This sort of division of rooms by an area which no one takes direct responsibility for tends to limit social interaction. This is not to say that such shortcomings can not be overcome by conscious effort, but it does tend to divide individuals into small groups defined by immediate and unavoidable contact. These tendencies are reinforced by the fire code requirement that doors not be propped open. This confluence of factors makes it quite easy for an individual living in a dormitory to almost completely avoid contact or social interaction with other tenants of the hall.
Most dormitories are, by most standards, overcrowded.
Because of the suite configurations and triple or single occupancy rooms found in some halls, it is very difficult to determine exact occupancy, however a conservative estimate would place the number right around 1.50 persons per room, higher than is generally considered desirable. While the aforementioned occupancy loads are actually figures used by British social services and urban planners, they are applicable to the United states as well, as Britain and the United States enjoy roughly equivalent standards of living. It is also important to consider the per capita floor space provided in the average Florida State University dormitory room. While this standard is for prison cells and not dormitory rooms, it still provides a good starting point for comparison. By this standard, the absolute bare minimum for per capita floor space would be fifty-eight square feet for two individuals.