Has anyone felt disappointed by the dorm?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has your kid never been to sleepaway camp? Some of those accommodations are really shabby and threadbare. I'm UMC and I say GOOD. It's a safe way for them to know they're starting to be on their own, and mommy and daddy aren't going to be there to make everything all nice.

Also, to worry about your college-age son rolling off his bed is a bit infantilizing.

Not a lot of families send their kids to sleepaway camp in this area. We're not in NY.

Disagree about sleepaway camp. Every single one of my DC’s friends spent 3-5 weeks each summer at sleepaway camp. It is really common in DC. - Private school parent

Good lord. Not everyone here lives in DC and sends their kid to private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s the lack of AC that may make my snowflake melt. How many of our kids don’t have AC before they get to college?

We had no AC growing up and none at college. None in any of the group homes I shared post-college. I just realized I never had AC until I bought my first home at age 30. Lots of fans , though. Guess I didn't think about it until now.

Same. No AC in the dorm or apartments. It was Boston though and we left in May. I do remember how it was so stifling hot in the winter that we had to open our windows in 30 degree weather. Old building and then dumpy apartments. Posters on the wall that’s about it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Realistically, it's only hot for the first month or so. And you really only need to be in the dorms for sleeping. You can study/eat in air conditioned spaces.

It would be very difficult to add air conditioning to some of the older, historic dorms. Window units would throw off the Gothic vibe.

In 1995 maybe. In 2023 and climate change, it’s not until November anywhere below New York .

Temps come down significantly in September. Even in swampy VA. Southern schools should all have a/c anyway. Plus, kids should avoid red states.

idiotic comment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smart kids know not to request the southern exposure rooms.

What schools offer THAT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's great. Helps them understand the real world, instead of their pampered upper class childhoods.
Hopefully it helps motivate them to get out of their room to meet people and study hard, so they get a job that pays enough to afford a proper apartment someday.
A little discomfort is good for growth.

Where in the "real world" do people share a bedroom with a stranger?

NYC

[Anonymous]

Your kid is a snowflake and you are a helicopter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I dropped off my oldest last year, I was horrified at his dorm - peeling paint, tiny room, no A/C, no closet. Apparently the (limited) bathroom facilities on a nearby floor had problems with black mold. I literally felt rage about the money we were spending and the horrible facilities. But tbh none of it bothered him. He happened to get a good number in the housing lottery and so he'll go back for sophomore year in a new dorm with A/C, the room is more than twice the size of his freshman room. So it all evens out.

Black mold is a health issue and that is unconscionable that schools allow that to exist in dorms.

I can handle and expect small, cramped old dorms, but will be PISSED if there is mold or another health hazard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Early move-in at UMD today. Confirmed that Ellicott Hall doesn't have A/C and is kind of a dump. Oh well. Hopefully just one year. It will build character.

was that the one that was in the news for mold a few years back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe we need to define crappy.

old, worn down, musty, moldy, broken furniture, cracked walls

Who on earth would pay $80k for their kid to live in such a room?

IMO, small rooms is a given for most dorms. As long as it's clean and well kept, I have no problem with it. But, some of the stories I've heard... ew... especially the bathrooms.

Well, the less competitive schools usually have gorgeous dorms OP, and generous money packages - so have at it!

strange how wealthy people think paying $80K/year for moldy dorm rooms is worth it.

What’s stranger is that you are so concerned about it.

it's strange to be concerned about mold???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Early move-in at UMD today. Confirmed that Ellicott Hall doesn't have A/C and is kind of a dump. Oh well. Hopefully just one year. It will build character.

was that the one that was in the news for mold a few years back?

PP...probably!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe we need to define crappy.

old, worn down, musty, moldy, broken furniture, cracked walls

Who on earth would pay $80k for their kid to live in such a room?

IMO, small rooms is a given for most dorms. As long as it's clean and well kept, I have no problem with it. But, some of the stories I've heard... ew... especially the bathrooms.

Well, the less competitive schools usually have gorgeous dorms OP, and generous money packages - so have at it!

strange how wealthy people think paying $80K/year for moldy dorm rooms is worth it.

What’s stranger is that you are so concerned about it.

it's strange to be concerned about mold???

Maybe not, but some colleges social media antics are staged and some gullible PPs fall for that kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

Maybe tiny dorms and some minor inconveniences aren't a bad thing? I've seen a few friends post pics/videos of their kids' VERY NICE dorm accomodations and it honestly seems weird to be staying in a dorm that's nicer than the first few apartments I had after graduating! ;D Like, it seems like it sets you up for unrealistic expectations if your dorm feels like a hotel or super nice condo I think. But a dorm shouldn't be unsafe or dirty or anything like that. I do think it's good for kids to realize that if they want nice things they're going to have to work for them.

[Anonymous]

So building character argument... if I'm uncomfortable every day, how does that make me a better person? I always laugh at this. So a person who is poor is what always a nice person? It's such a dumb thing to suggest living horrible is somehow good. I think you are always trying as a human being to live comfortably. Whether you can afford it or not, young or old, being a compassionate person is separate than whether you're comfortable or not. Now the argument is more valid if you're talking about a bonding or fun or milestone experience but this silly reasoning that a kid should suffer in discomfort so they can be more compassionate is totally untrue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So building character argument... if I'm uncomfortable every day, how does that make me a better person? I always laugh at this. So a person who is poor is what always a nice person? It's such a dumb thing to suggest living horrible is somehow good. I think you are always trying as a human being to live comfortably. Whether you can afford it or not, young or old, being a compassionate person is separate than whether you're comfortable or not. Now the argument is more valid if you're talking about a bonding or fun or milestone experience but this silly reasoning that a kid should suffer in discomfort so they can be more compassionate is totally untrue.

OMG. Believe it's just a silly expression. Relax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has your kid never been to sleepaway camp? Some of those accommodations are really shabby and threadbare. I'm UMC and I say GOOD. It's a safe way for them to know they're starting to be on their own, and mommy and daddy aren't going to be there to make everything all nice.

Also, to worry about your college-age son rolling off his bed is a bit infantilizing.

Not a lot of families send their kids to sleepaway camp in this area. We're not in NY.

Disagree about sleepaway camp. Every single one of my DC’s friends spent 3-5 weeks each summer at sleepaway camp. It is really common in DC. - Private school parent

Good lord. Not everyone here lives in DC and sends their kid to private school.

DP. You’re the one showing your parochialism. I grew up in the South and most kids go to sleep away camp. If you’re in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, it’s not expensive (cheaper than a summer day camp).