I liked @NiceUnparticularMan 's suggestion of a betta. Bettas are surprisingly personable, prefer to live alone and can survive (although maybe not prosper) living in a small tank. On the other hand, I think I would generally vote “no” on the idea of trying to keep a fish in a dorm room. Fish can break your heart - they are fragile, not very portable, and they require careful, consistent care and maintenance. A 5-gallon tank without heat and filtration is not really a good set-up.
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