I was wondering if a standard Wireless router would work alright in my dorm room for wireless internet or if an access point is more appropriate and also what brands are recommended. I personally like linksys but am also looking at DLink.

I would recomend Linksys because they make great stuff.
I suggest the linksys WRT54G. They can be had for about 70 bucks and can be hacked to improve the range and stuff using a modified firmware.

My Girlfriend has owned 3 Dlink routers but has had slight problems until she changed the settings to a Short Preamble.

I might be willing to part with my already hacked WRT54G for the right price!

It's a dorm room. Just run cable. You need 20 feet, max.

Someone can easily hop on your wireless router and any mayhem he may cause will (from IT's perspective) be your responsibility as it's your hardware address (on the router) that's sending the traffic. Even wireless encryption can be compromised given enough time (and that amount of time isn't all that long, relatively speaking).

all routers let you add a wep passcode as far as I know, and some let you run mac filters. I have a linksys one, and it does it.

....also, if you do get one, make sure to change the password on it, as most have a very well known password.

One more thing. Give it a sweet SSID, preferrably one that makes your neighbors go wtf mate?? Mine's named FISTICUFFS.

Mine is "HappyHitlerTime"

Actually, if you just run it as a wireless hub, then it's just like they're plugging into the wall, and you don't have to worry about them hopping on.