Kids have chosen colleges based on much less rational reasoning than food or living space (rained on tour day, weird tour guide, ugly mascot, etc). DS lost 25 pounds freshman year due to what he called inedible food. He moved off campus and cooks for himself now. DD has definitely taken note of food and rooms at the various overnight sports camps she's attended on college campuses.

Many dorms at colleges in the state of Virginia do not have air conditioning.

This is when I say to my teenager, "Suck it up, sweetie," and go on about my business.

Anonymous wrote:When did teens get to be so delicate? They cannot survive without AC?

I totally agree -- they are wimps. DH and I both somehow survived schools in VA with no A/C. It was only hot for the first few weeks per school year, and maybe the last week in the spring, but it was certainly livable -- you just had to take several showers a day! Our DS, however was saying how he didn't know how he'd survive if he got a non-a/c dorm at UMD! Silly teens!

The food at Virginia Tech is amazing - they've been tops on the Princeton Review list for several years. You would not believe all of the options, locally-sourced meats and produce, etc. Dorms, not so much, but there are some very nice new suites if you can get into them (upper class or apply for one of the leadership programs). I have heard Christopher Newport has great dorms.

Good food ... the historic eating clubs at Princeton.

Anonymous wrote:Is it true UVA dorms don't have air conditioning? DS refuses to apply or even visit if this is true. Is is also true that they don't have enough dorms, so it is a scramble to get off campus housing?

UVA is replacing its old 60s-era first year dorms with new ones - so far, I think four dorms have opened and three more will welcome first year students this fall, with a couple more to be built in the next two years. They are all air conditioned. There will still be some non-A/C dorms, and of course rooms on the Lawn have no A/C. All the students say that it's really only uncomfortable the first two weeks of school. Lack of A/C seems pretty bearable compared to some New England schools with 6-month winters...but maybe that's just me.

When did teens get to be so delicate? They cannot survive without AC?

Oh for goodness sake. We didn't have AC in any of the dorms I lived in at W&M. As you can see, I survived.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it true UVA dorms don't have air conditioning? DS refuses to apply or even visit if this is true. Is is also true that they don't have enough dorms, so it is a scramble to get off campus housing?

Many dorms at UVA do not have a/c. Many older colleges are this way. If a/c is a must, I suggest a newer college like GMU.

Dang, no a/c in VA?! That's brutal. The college dorms at my school (also old) didn't have a/c, but at least it was in the NE with mostly moderate weather during the school year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Columbia about 60% of freshmen (it may even be higher), including DC, get singles. Shoeboxes, but still singles.

That would be a negative for me.

a negative for me too. great for upper classmen, grad students, but not freshmen building new relationships.

Anonymous wrote:Clearly our priorities are in order. Let's select a university based on how delicious the caprese salad is

had two siblings turn down west point and annapolis because of food.

They liked almost everything else but for the food (mind you we're all vegetarians so that might have had something to do with it...i.e. there are vegetarian options at the academies but according to my bro and sis, it is pretty bad).

I'd rather have spartan and uncomfortable dorms (note, this does not mean unclean-unhygenic) rather than bad food.

Carnegie Mellon - shitty dorms. poor fin aid and terrible dorms. they need to step their game up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At Columbia about 60% of freshmen (it may even be higher), including DC, get singles. Shoeboxes, but still singles.

That would be a negative for me.

The shoeboxes, or the singles? They do have doubles and suites and I think most kids get their first choice picks.

Anonymous wrote:Is it true UVA dorms don't have air conditioning? DS refuses to apply or even visit if this is true. Is is also true that they don't have enough dorms, so it is a scramble to get off campus housing?

Many dorms at UVA do not have a/c. Many older colleges are this way. If a/c is a must, I suggest a newer college like GMU.