Horrible dorm assignment!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you. My very quiet kid has been assigned to a triple. He had read that his college has a lengthy questionnaire for incoming freshmen to match roommates and assign people to hall sections, including a free response essay about interests and the opportunity to request a single. But when the housing form came out this year, it asked exactly two questions: one about sleeping habits and another about visitors. Then it took until near the end of July for the college to even tell him where he's living. Not sure how random assignments took that long. He's not happy, not excited, and not optimistic. I am starting to regret the horror stories I've told him over the years about my own experience in a freshman year triple. Not good.

Did you agree to pay for a double? I'm curious if colleges honor requests if you ask for double or single and are willing to pay the higher rate.

Many colleges don't have different pay rates. I pay the same for my junior's single studio-like housing with its own kitchen and bathroom as when she was a freshman in a triple dorm that can only be described as a halfway house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is Southern CA folks so your blithe attitude about AC is unfounded. School can more than afford to provide it too. The basement part is what gets me the most-how a school of this caliber can get away with throwing kids in a dungeon and pretending that’s ok is beyond me!

1) I think you are out of touch. Many colleges have basement dorm rooms.

2) In SoCal - the basement may end up being nice and cool.

3) Having a single isn't the worst thing - make friends with your neighbors. My best friend in college had the single next to me. Her room was always the hangout place because it was never going to be an imposition on anyone else. Have your DD set up her room in a way that leaves space for gathering and has some friendly seating options for guests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of schools have dorms without AC. It will be an issue for maybe a couple of warm weeks. Get a fan, open the windows. Some students have to get the basement rooms. Luck of the draw.

OP said basement, so no window fan or open windows if they care about safety. I wouldn't care about the singles part, but the basement part would infuriate me. If it's a private school and you're full pay call

OP did not say it was private

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People lived without air conditioning for thousands of years. Your snowflake will survive.

Studies done *on college students* show that sleeping in temperatures that are too warm cause lower math scores on tests. Authors compared math scores from students in dorms with A/C and dorms without.

So this is academically important. A/C is not a frivolous demand these days.

I'm so curious about this. Can you cite the study?

Some questions I would have:
1. Who funded the study?
2. Was it peer-reviewed?
3. Did it control for other variables?
4. What was the magnitude of impact on test scores?

DP: I found the study: https://content.tcmediasaffaires.com/LAF/lacom/summer2016.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of schools have dorms without AC. It will be an issue for maybe a couple of warm weeks. Get a fan, open the windows. Some students have to get the basement rooms. Luck of the draw.

OP said basement, so no window fan or open windows if they care about safety. I wouldn't care about the singles part, but the basement part would infuriate me. If it's a private school and you're full pay call

OP did not say it was private

Even if it is private, many will tell you "tough luck and fill out the housing reassignment form." I'm pretty sure I go to the college that OP is talking about and every year parents/first years huff and puff about the lack of AC until they arrive in California and realize the weather is nice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear you. My very quiet kid has been assigned to a triple. He had read that his college has a lengthy questionnaire for incoming freshmen to match roommates and assign people to hall sections, including a free response essay about interests and the opportunity to request a single. But when the housing form came out this year, it asked exactly two questions: one about sleeping habits and another about visitors. Then it took until near the end of July for the college to even tell him where he's living. Not sure how random assignments took that long. He's not happy, not excited, and not optimistic. I am starting to regret the horror stories I've told him over the years about my own experience in a freshman year triple. Not good.

This is not uncommon timing for room/dorm assignments

[Anonymous]

My kids had really firm ideas about dorm living, so that was a necessary stop on all tours and priority issue prior to making deposit. They wouldn’t accept offer unless they got what they wanted, period. For some, it’s a really big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you. My very quiet kid has been assigned to a triple. He had read that his college has a lengthy questionnaire for incoming freshmen to match roommates and assign people to hall sections, including a free response essay about interests and the opportunity to request a single. But when the housing form came out this year, it asked exactly two questions: one about sleeping habits and another about visitors. Then it took until near the end of July for the college to even tell him where he's living. Not sure how random assignments took that long. He's not happy, not excited, and not optimistic. I am starting to regret the horror stories I've told him over the years about my own experience in a freshman year triple. Not good.

This is not uncommon timing for room/dorm assignments

This. My DS got his room assignment and roommate info the first week of August as a freshman. He moved in Labor Day weekend.

[Anonymous]

Worrying/complaining about the freshman year dorm assignment is practically a rite of passage.

Let it go, OP, this too shall pass. Plenty of dorms in more humid locales don't have AC.

Get the Woo Zoo fan if needed. It'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is Southern CA folks so your blithe attitude about AC is unfounded. School can more than afford to provide it too. The basement part is what gets me the most-how a school of this caliber can get away with throwing kids in a dungeon and pretending that’s ok is beyond me!

To OP, these comments are wrong. I went to a So Cal school in "desertucky" according to DCUM. The weather is amazing! It is not that hot outside of the first 2 or 3 weeks, but a fan will do the trick. It is not Texas. The temperature drops like a bullet the second the sun goes down, and it's more likely you'll underpack jackets like I did freshman year. She will be fine!

This ^ - I am usually cold (more often than hot) in SoCal because of the temp drops after sunset.

[Anonymous]

Have the doctor say his allergies require ac.

[Anonymous]

The single will be a blessing. It's amazing to have your own space while transitioning into college. If she is looking for community, I'm sure her dorm hall, classes, clubs, and new-found friends will provide it. Many times in college my dorm was nothing more than a place to sleep.

[Anonymous]

I doubt a basement room will even need a fan. Evening in Southern California is not that hot.

[Anonymous]

OP I am not going to judge because my kid would hate this. I also think if you are super far away then comfort in form means even more. I would reach out to the housing coordinator and ask if something can be done. My guess is there is a student there who wants a single and got a double. I would also see if you have a medical reason that you could get a note on. My DC has allergies and would be miserable in a basement. Anyway worth a try.

[Anonymous]

I've never heard of anyone who wants a double getting a single—it's usually the other way around!