OP here. This discussion has been super helpful - both the info about housing and the sports culture. We have another DC at a different college and the upperclassmen housing stress is major there too. I was actually interested in the housing issue for freshmen and sophomores too. We know one family whose DD is a freshman there and was pretty down on the housing situation when we saw her recently. Sounds like tons of kids living in triples that were originally pretty small doubles. Looking at some local news stories seems that housing has been an issue for a very long time and that UVM leadership and the city of Burlington have been at an impasse over zoning and commitments about increasing enrollment that would outpace new housing. Will definitely need to follow that story.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there way more drugs at UVM than most schools?

Traditionally it was always a heavy drug school.

Vermont has been full of potheads since the 60s. And when a lot of American weed came from Canada Burlington was a distribution hub. Now that weed is legal in so many places it’s not all that different from other places.

I'd hardly equate weed with drugs.

Weed is no longer the harmless stuff it was when we were in college

Students have to live in the dorms the first two years, then they have to move out. My kid had one year in a new, well maintained and centrally located dorm and one year in a shabby overcrowded dorm with seven people sharing a bathroom. He preferred the latter because the vibe and social life and roommates were more to his liking. Starting around the second week of sophomore year, students and parents start panicking about where to live junior year. It is a stressful time because apartments go fast so you have to make snap decisions and also because you have to decide so early who you will be living with a year from now, when you haven’t even settled in as a sophomore and met the people in your current dorm yet. Many do at this time rent apartments for the following year, but there are other options: a couple of what are essentially privately run dorms that you apply for in sept/Oct and commit to in late fall, and a smaller stream of apartments and sublets that turn up as students decide to take a semester abroad, take a semester off, etc. it seems like people do find housing, but it feels hard and perhaps more so if you are shy, financially strapped, planning to maybe go abroad and thus unsure about signing a lease, etc. Off campus housing tends to cost a bit more than the dorms. If your kid does go to UVM you can join the parent Facebook group and hear all about everyone’s experiences 😁

Any help on the original question about the housing shortage and what it means for upperclassmen?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVM doesn't attract hard-core football types. Much more laid back--think coffee shops, skiing, & pot. Beautiful small city.

It’s still in a beautiful setting, of course. But Burlington doesn’t “feel” beautiful these days. It’s the “big city” for a huge region and has the problems that American cities have these days.

Probably won’t matter much to college kids, but if you haven’t been in a while, be prepared.

I couldn’t disagree with this more. We had a week long family reunion based in Burlington this past summer and four generations of my family fell in love with it. It’s a great city.

I live here. It’s a great city. I’m glad you all had a great time.

It’s also true that it’s struggling. Read the local press if you don’t believe me.

I'll echo the ice hockey comments - the games are a lot of fun. Also, the intramural program is strong and has a mix is competition. The nursing and environmental programs are strong and it was easy to connect with faculty for research and internship support.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there way more drugs at UVM than most schools?

Traditionally it was always a heavy drug school.

Vermont has been full of potheads since the 60s. And when a lot of American weed came from Canada Burlington was a distribution hub. Now that weed is legal in so many places it’s not all that different from other places.

I'd hardly equate weed with drugs.

Well then you would fit well at UVM . Recent grad here- it is a glorious, free thinking institution and most people are laid back types (except for the few charged up individuals who got rejected from Colgate and try to make it that). Less lax bros and more guitar strumming, smoking types answering deep intellectual questions. We are liberal...but not angry liberal. I miss it so much and made so many good friends there

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVM doesn't attract hard-core football types. Much more laid back--think coffee shops, skiing, & pot. Beautiful small city.

It’s still in a beautiful setting, of course. But Burlington doesn’t “feel” beautiful these days. It’s the “big city” for a huge region and has the problems that American cities have these days.

Probably won’t matter much to college kids, but if you haven’t been in a while, be prepared.

I couldn’t disagree with this more. We had a week long family reunion based in Burlington this past summer and four generations of my family fell in love with it. It’s a great city.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there way more drugs at UVM than most schools?

Traditionally it was always a heavy drug school.

Vermont has been full of potheads since the 60s. And when a lot of American weed came from Canada Burlington was a distribution hub. Now that weed is legal in so many places it’s not all that different from other places.

I'd hardly equate weed with drugs.

But this is Dcum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there way more drugs at UVM than most schools?

Traditionally it was always a heavy drug school.

Vermont has been full of potheads since the 60s. And when a lot of American weed came from Canada Burlington was a distribution hub. Now that weed is legal in so many places it’s not all that different from other places.

I'd hardly equate weed with drugs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does a state flagship not have a football team? Sounds incredibly weak.

It’s COLD, and not really part of the culture there. Skiing and hockey is the thing.

Wisconsin Minnesota and Michigan are COLD and they have football teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there way more drugs at UVM than most schools?

Traditionally it was always a heavy drug school.

Vermont has been full of potheads since the 60s. And when a lot of American weed came from Canada Burlington was a distribution hub. Now that weed is legal in so many places it’s not all that different from other places.

Anonymous wrote:UVM doesn't attract hard-core football types. Much more laid back--think coffee shops, skiing, & pot. Beautiful small city.

It’s still in a beautiful setting, of course. But Burlington doesn’t “feel” beautiful these days. It’s the “big city” for a huge region and has the problems that American cities have these days.

Probably won’t matter much to college kids, but if you haven’t been in a while, be prepared.

Anonymous wrote:Are there way more drugs at UVM than most schools?

Traditionally it was always a heavy drug school.

Are there way more drugs at UVM than most schools?