Colleges with freshman in singles with suites - post here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I didn’t let my kid kid pick single as a choice. Part of the experience is living with others. And I say this as someone who did not get along with my freshman roommate so much that I ended up moving to another room. But I learned a lot in the process about what I could put up with and what I wouldn’t.

Unless there is a medical need, you should think about later years too. Will they be living solo in an apt as upperclassman too? Never need a roommate in life?

This is OP. DH and I might be more interested in this than our son. He would love a single but it isn’t a deciding factor. I had a typical double, old building, no air conditioning freshman year. I hated it so much even though I got along with my roommate. The next year I had a single and met people just fine. After that I always lived in apartments but we had our own bedrooms. DH never shared a room. He had off campus housing even as a freshman so he always had his own bedroom in a shared apartment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Super immature of a kid for this to matter much at all. There are so many things that this should take priority over. Really odd.

I'm not OP, and my kid is only at the beginning of the college process, but DC has social anxiety--nothing especially debilitating as far as DC is concerned, but enough that it makes everyday life a little different for them than the typical, more social teen. Even more to the point, DC absolutely requires time alone to recharge after having to muster the energy required to socialize in classes, etc. While I'd love for DC to be more social, that's just not who they are, and I think a single will be better for them in this case. And since they'll probably spend a lot of time in that room, I certainly hope it's nice enough to feel like a bit of a sanctuary.

And really, can you imagine being a freshman--completely new to campus--and having a roommate who just really needs quiet and downtime while you're really hoping for a new friend? Not ideal for either party.

PP, do I think that's "odd?" Not really. Do I think you're a bit too judgy about a situation you don't know anything about? Definitely. (But that's the DCUM way, isn't it?) And did OP say this was the main priority? "It's not the only think my kid cares about, but it's important" doesn't sound like it to me.

The purpose of college is to expand yourself. Not to hide in your shell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Super immature of a kid for this to matter much at all. There are so many things that this should take priority over. Really odd.

I'm not OP, and my kid is only at the beginning of the college process, but DC has social anxiety--nothing especially debilitating as far as DC is concerned, but enough that it makes everyday life a little different for them than the typical, more social teen. Even more to the point, DC absolutely requires time alone to recharge after having to muster the energy required to socialize in classes, etc. While I'd love for DC to be more social, that's just not who they are, and I think a single will be better for them in this case. And since they'll probably spend a lot of time in that room, I certainly hope it's nice enough to feel like a bit of a sanctuary.

And really, can you imagine being a freshman--completely new to campus--and having a roommate who just really needs quiet and downtime while you're really hoping for a new friend? Not ideal for either party.

PP, do I think that's "odd?" Not really. Do I think you're a bit too judgy about a situation you don't know anything about? Definitely. (But that's the DCUM way, isn't it?) And did OP say this was the main priority? "It's not the only think my kid cares about, but it's important" doesn't sound like it to me.

The purpose of college is to expand yourself. Not to hide in your shell.

Let’s get us back on track. I’m not looking for a debate on singles. If you want a very social living experience with a lot of roommates, go over to the supplemental housing thread. Those parents could use some positive words. If you have personal experience with colleges that offer singles and nice dorms for comfort and privacy, post here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Super immature of a kid for this to matter much at all. There are so many things that this should take priority over. Really odd.

I'm not OP, and my kid is only at the beginning of the college process, but DC has social anxiety--nothing especially debilitating as far as DC is concerned, but enough that it makes everyday life a little different for them than the typical, more social teen. Even more to the point, DC absolutely requires time alone to recharge after having to muster the energy required to socialize in classes, etc. While I'd love for DC to be more social, that's just not who they are, and I think a single will be better for them in this case. And since they'll probably spend a lot of time in that room, I certainly hope it's nice enough to feel like a bit of a sanctuary.

And really, can you imagine being a freshman--completely new to campus--and having a roommate who just really needs quiet and downtime while you're really hoping for a new friend? Not ideal for either party.

PP, do I think that's "odd?" Not really. Do I think you're a bit too judgy about a situation you don't know anything about? Definitely. (But that's the DCUM way, isn't it?) And did OP say this was the main priority? "It's not the only think my kid cares about, but it's important" doesn't sound like it to me.

I would recommend that you send your kid to a couple of those pre-college or summer enrichment camps at the universities. That way they can experience having a roommate in a dorm room for a week or two. Then you can decide if it is medically necessary to request a single for real college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Super immature of a kid for this to matter much at all. There are so many things that this should take priority over. Really odd.

I'm not OP, and my kid is only at the beginning of the college process, but DC has social anxiety--nothing especially debilitating as far as DC is concerned, but enough that it makes everyday life a little different for them than the typical, more social teen. Even more to the point, DC absolutely requires time alone to recharge after having to muster the energy required to socialize in classes, etc. While I'd love for DC to be more social, that's just not who they are, and I think a single will be better for them in this case. And since they'll probably spend a lot of time in that room, I certainly hope it's nice enough to feel like a bit of a sanctuary.

And really, can you imagine being a freshman--completely new to campus--and having a roommate who just really needs quiet and downtime while you're really hoping for a new friend? Not ideal for either party.

PP, do I think that's "odd?" Not really. Do I think you're a bit too judgy about a situation you don't know anything about? Definitely. (But that's the DCUM way, isn't it?) And did OP say this was the main priority? "It's not the only think my kid cares about, but it's important" doesn't sound like it to me.

The purpose of college is to expand yourself. Not to hide in your shell.

Let’s get us back on track. I’m not looking for a debate on singles. If you want a very social living experience with a lot of roommates, go over to the supplemental housing thread. Those parents could use some positive words. If you have personal experience with colleges that offer singles and nice dorms for comfort and privacy, post here.

There’s nothing wrong with encouraging OP to think deeply about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The purpose of college is to expand yourself. Not to hide in your shell.

And what makes you think you can't do both, or that the only way to expand onself is socially?

Agreed that this isn't the point of this thread. But really, there are some very limited views around this place!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The purpose of college is to expand yourself. Not to hide in your shell.

And what makes you think you can't do both, or that the only way to expand onself is socially?

Agreed that this isn't the point of this thread. But really, there are some very limited views around this place!

I’m just concerned that coddling like this isn’t good for a kid.

Generations of high school seniors have looked ahead to college with all kinds of emotions when it came to future roommates: excitement, dread, fear, worry, curiosity etc. Almost all of them end up fine, and for the ones who don’t it’s not the end of the world. It’s a right of passage.

It’s only with this generation of parents where the parents go to such great lengths to shield their kids from any kind of potential adversity. It’s not a good trend, and it’s not good for growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Super immature of a kid for this to matter much at all. There are so many things that this should take priority over. Really odd.

I'm not OP, and my kid is only at the beginning of the college process, but DC has social anxiety--nothing especially debilitating as far as DC is concerned, but enough that it makes everyday life a little different for them than the typical, more social teen. Even more to the point, DC absolutely requires time alone to recharge after having to muster the energy required to socialize in classes, etc. While I'd love for DC to be more social, that's just not who they are, and I think a single will be better for them in this case. And since they'll probably spend a lot of time in that room, I certainly hope it's nice enough to feel like a bit of a sanctuary.

And really, can you imagine being a freshman--completely new to campus--and having a roommate who just really needs quiet and downtime while you're really hoping for a new friend? Not ideal for either party.

PP, do I think that's "odd?" Not really. Do I think you're a bit too judgy about a situation you don't know anything about? Definitely. (But that's the DCUM way, isn't it?) And did OP say this was the main priority? "It's not the only think my kid cares about, but it's important" doesn't sound like it to me.

The purpose of college is to expand yourself. Not to hide in your shell.

Social anxiety is more than your usual uncomfortableness in social situations. It can be a debilitating phobia.

The thing is to try to get help from a professional.

My kid has it and did room with another introvert kid they knew from HS. That made it easier. However, has my kid made friends in freshman year. I'd say No. Have acquaintances been made, yes.
Kid joined 3 clubs and will be in a community dorm in Soph year. To us this is progress, and we hope that a more small and constant community (before was in the largest most extroverted traditional hall style dorm on campus) will help them to connect more deeply with others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The purpose of college is to expand yourself. Not to hide in your shell.

And what makes you think you can't do both, or that the only way to expand onself is socially?

Agreed that this isn't the point of this thread. But really, there are some very limited views around this place!

I’m just concerned that coddling like this isn’t good for a kid.

Generations of high school seniors have looked ahead to college with all kinds of emotions when it came to future roommates: excitement, dread, fear, worry, curiosity etc. Almost all of them end up fine, and for the ones who don’t it’s not the end of the world. It’s a right of passage.

It’s only with this generation of parents where the parents go to such great lengths to shield their kids from any kind of potential adversity. It’s not a good trend, and it’s not good for growth.

+1

[Anonymous]

I wish more colleges did this. I had a freshman roommate who stayed up until 4 am every night (music and talking on the phone included), and the utter fatigue is a huge reason I dropped out. My body literally broke. Housing was no help with a new roommate.

[Anonymous]

Texas colleges tend to have good dorms and nice affordable housing on-campus and off-campus.

[Anonymous]

Wisconsin has split doubles - a traditional double with a dividing wall 3/4 of the way down the middle.
Now if they'd only superscore DDs ACT, then this would be a decent option.

[Anonymous]

Columbia
Many honors programs

(Though I have idea why you would pick a school based on this. Live off campus with another student. It’s just one year, unless required to stay multiple years.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish more colleges did this. I had a freshman roommate who stayed up until 4 am every night (music and talking on the phone included), and the utter fatigue is a huge reason I dropped out. My body literally broke. Housing was no help with a new roommate.

Schools use much more sophisticated data to pair students now. Sleep and noise habits are #1 and #2.

[Anonymous]

Alabama does


4 people, each with their own bedroom, in a suite. 2 bathrooms to share amongst the 4 people.