The answer is that it depends. Convents housed lots of different people for many different reasons.

Common practices included child oblations, convent schools, and retirement to a convent.

(1) Child Oblations - it was customary in the past for parents to decide their children's course in life to a far greater degree than is common in the West today. Often, parents who were particularly grateful to God for blessings in their life would dedicate one of their children to God, typically by giving them to the convent (or monastery), where they would grow up and (typically) formally join when they came of age. (the Rule of St. Benedict has rules for both the entry of these types of people and rules for how they are to be treated) - these would be held to most of the rule, but would be treated with great mercy because of their age and situation.

(2) Convent School - Convents were places of learning as well as places of prayer. Often, convents served as finishing schools for young ladies (Kristin Lavrinsdatter, set in medieval Norway, provides one such example). A modern example would be the Ursuline school in New Orleans. These ladies would not be expected to remain at the convent long-term, and would likely have had separate quarters.

(3) Retirement - for various reasons women would often live in retirement at a convent. Political leaders looking for a safe place to live their final days would often move in, as well as pious widows. Depending on the circumstance, these people may or may not have lived with the nuns and followed their rule.