Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 22:03     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Anonymous wrote:What colleges in California have AC? None of the UCs, none at LMU, none at USC, none at Stanford.

While I understand the disappointment in a roommate, just means they will have to make a bit of an effort to know their hall mates. Get a door stopper for the door so it can be propped open.


The frosh honors dorm, and frosh suites at USC have AC. The older dorm residences, probably 2/3, do not. Only the freshmen live in the dorms so it’s just a year. the sophomore apartments have AC. There can be heat waves in So Cal, 90 degrees for a week, usually Sept / Oct and May. The rest of the year it’s perfectly fine. On those hot days I’d rather be in the basement than on the 6th floor of an un-air conditioned dorm.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 21:28     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Anonymous wrote:M kid’s 100 year old school only had AC in one dorm.

Your kid won’t need it often in CA (unless they are in the Valley).


Oh, and that same dorm was the only one with an elevator . (Moving in and out is FUN with no elevator 😳). But senior year she chose the more charming dorm that was closer to the dining hall and her classes. Turned her back on the AC and elevator. Kids have their own priorities. And don’t we want them to be resilient (vs entitled)?

Do better for your kid OP?
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 20:22     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Seriously, you must chill. Frosh year I was in an unrenovated former women's dorm in Philly, a 5 floor walkup with no a/c, where the room was so small I could touch my roommate's bed from mine without leaning over much. And we didn't get along! Yet I survived and thrived. Land the chopper and let your kid figure it out.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 19:49     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Anonymous wrote:My kid’s experience- SoCal, a tiny room, first floor, no A/C, one roommate, next to the laundry room with constant noise, farthest from the bathrooms, train station a block away. Got flooded in the first week. Kid survived and is happy. A/C is not important to everyone. My kid chose a room without A/C this year again.

Similar Socal Experience! DC was in a triple and had a lot of space, since roommates didn't have that much stuff, was at the end of a hallway, so hardly could hear anyone, but if you open the window, the dorm faced the street and you could hear all the cars and people walking by, no A/C. He didn't like his roommates that much and is going with a friend into a suite that also has no A/C. He's hardly in his room, because there's so many other things to do.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 18:27     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
My kid’s experience- SoCal, a tiny room, first floor, no A/C, one roommate, next to the laundry room with constant noise, farthest from the bathrooms, train station a block away. Got flooded in the first week. Kid survived and is happy. A/C is not important to everyone. My kid chose a room without A/C this year again.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 18:04     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
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!


Then don’t send your kid!

This is something you knew about the school and what it’s ok for some other kid and not yours?

Grow up and more importantly your kid is going to college they shpul$ be dealing with this not you. And the6 should have known it was a possibility you failed not the school.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 17:58     Subject: Re:Horrible dorm assignment!
I would have DC hang on to that single until school starts. After the first few days, DC will start to hear people complain about their roommates and likely feel pretty good about that single. Or if not, they’ll know who to swap with.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 16:57     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
My DS was in a “basement” room at UVA and it was awesome. Bright, sunny, big room and easy to move into. He did have a roommate so that would be a bummer but I became best friends with the girl who had a single next to me when I was in college. Actually my two best friends after freshman year both had singles. I think you underestimate the fact that people will not look to exclude because they don’t have a roommate. Now that I think about it, my DDs best friend after freshman year was also in a single.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 16:55     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Anonymous wrote:The schools are ass backwards in that they don’t allow the kids to put in their preferences for roommates, AC, dorm location etc. and then they charge the same no matter what room you ultimately get. Total BS and unfair system.

It sucks as a freshman, but when you’re a senior in a nice studio apartment with a kitchen and bathroom, it’s amazing. Also limits socioeconomic inequality where the poors are all in the no ac saddest dorms.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 16:51     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here-I am glad to see some people on this board understand-it’s not about being a snowflake that can’t take the heat. DC can, and will now have to if they aren’t able to change rooms.

It’s the whole thing-being in a basement, wedged into a corner room away from most with no roommate to have that initial college experience with when my DC was looking forward to that-makes me angry and sad. It’s not like I can go and visit the first few weekends to see how things are going as I am here in the DMV. I was sad about DC leaving in the first place and going so far and it would have given me some comfort to know they were happy and excited about their first dwelling away from home. If no one understands these feelings then I can’t say anything more!


OP - when your DC moves in - immediately go find kids in rooms nearby and say they are are single (unexpectedly) and want to meet people, go to dining hall etc. I'm the person whose best friend was in a single (the only one on the floor) next door. I met her (and her parents) during move-in and we all included her all the time. I think other kids will understand that. And it really was great to have her room as the hangout place. She'd host us all the time....back in the days when we might crowd around a small B&W Portable TV to watch Moonlighting. Clearly, times have changed, but I still think you get the idea. And, I know this is harder to imagine for a more introverted student, so I can empathize - but get out there immediately to say hi - keep door open - knock on doors to collect others for meals. It'll work out. Try not to poison the well in advance...

And some colleges are smart and put the single freshman all in a hall together, so they all are in a similar situation and will talk with one another
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 16:49     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Anonymous wrote:Also CalTech dorms which are around 30 minutes away from Pomona are air conditioned. Harvey Mudd dorms all have air conditioning.

All the 5Cs are air conditioned except for Pomona and Scripps, cause, you know, they’re old. Harvey Mudd was built last week.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 16:47     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Anonymous wrote:OP here-I am glad to see some people on this board understand-it’s not about being a snowflake that can’t take the heat. DC can, and will now have to if they aren’t able to change rooms.

It’s the whole thing-being in a basement, wedged into a corner room away from most with no roommate to have that initial college experience with when my DC was looking forward to that-makes me angry and sad. It’s not like I can go and visit the first few weekends to see how things are going as I am here in the DMV. I was sad about DC leaving in the first place and going so far and it would have given me some comfort to know they were happy and excited about their first dwelling away from home. If no one understands these feelings then I can’t say anything more!

Can you answer which college it is? If it’s Pomona, there should be zero concern due to sponsor group. If it’s UCLA, he has more than enough opportunities to socialize outside of a dorm room. I think you should see how quickly his attitude will change once orientation kicks in
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 16:45     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Also CalTech dorms which are around 30 minutes away from Pomona are air conditioned. Harvey Mudd dorms all have air conditioning.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 16:32     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Anonymous wrote:What colleges in California have AC? None of the UCs, none at LMU, none at USC, none at Stanford.

While I understand the disappointment in a roommate, just means they will have to make a bit of an effort to know their hall mates. Get a door stopper for the door so it can be propped open.


ALL the dorms 30 minutes away by car at UC Riverside have air conditioning! ALL the dorms at Cal State San Bernardino which is also in the Inland Valley have air conditioning. Only poor people don’t have air conditioning in that area.
Anonymous
Post 07/26/2024 15:51     Subject: Horrible dorm assignment!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I hope you realize that "back in my day..." comparisons are really inappropriate when it comes to climate.

Why? Here are the max temps from my first week of freshman year. 104, 95, 102, 86, 100. It was a lot cooler than that in southern cal.


It is ridiculous how the discussion of climate change has convinced people that the climate has already changed. The “warmest July on record” stuff you hear is because they’re taking into account temps over the ocean and the poles. The CONUS has had a relatively average to cool spring/summer. Besides, the predictions for long term climate change are for a handful of degrees over the next hundred years. You kid will be out of college by then.


DC climate is notably warmer than 50 years ago. I grew up here in the 70s. Climate change is not some distant future problem.


I responded to the clothing for college in Boston thread and people are talking about how it doesn't snow as much any more. The AC issues are countrywide now with K-12 schools and retrofits. My 1960s Bay Area elementary has window ACs in all classrooms now. The AC is also coming into two Rust Belt districts I later attended. The weather has definitely shifted and societal expectations have also changed regardless of global warming.

When I was in college in the Carolinas many years ago, no dorms had a/c, nor did any classroom buildings other than the science buildings. Most homes did not, either. On the other hand, school didn’t start until after Labor Day, although it didn’t get out until June.