Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 08:36     Subject: Re:Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the sharing dorm rooms is ridiculous (my kids never spoke to their freshman year roommates after move-out) but I get it. Space concerns aside, if every freshman had a single a lot of suicides, overdoses, depression & social withdrawal would go completely unnoticed.


So far this is the only post that mentions one of the most basic (potential) benefits of room-sharing: a possible safety net. Yes, there will always be people who don't notice or care what their roommate is doing, but many kids would realize if their roommate hadn't been seen for a day or two, or was on a downward personal spiral, and some will follow it up with a compassionate conversation or a question to the RA. Yes, there will be fellow readers here on this board who don't see that as offsetting the innumerable inconveniences and annoyances of forced proximity in a small space, but regardless of whether people are living in doubles, singles, or suites, we need to teach students the value of community care. A kid doesn't need to be - and shouldn't be - responsible _for_ their roommate, but they can learn to be responsible _towards_ their roommate. That kind of elemental sensitivity towards others is an aspirational value of adulthood.

--College prof


Good Lord. This is a function of parents, social workers & RAs, not a student.


Correct, and there is a high chance that a student might alert an RA if they notice that their roommate hasn’t gotten out of bed in 5 days.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 08:24     Subject: Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Anonymous wrote:My school had an area for kids choosing single rooms. But honestly the kids there were outcasts. They missed out on all the social interaction of the dorms because no one went to them.


Single rooms are the norm in many overseas universities, and students still seem to have friends. The rooms are small but at least you can have a friend over ( ) without the need to lock out a roommate.

My kids didn't get on with their roommates when they had to share and had other friend groups.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 08:13     Subject: Re:Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
When we toured Xavier University in Cincinnati I remember hearing that freshman can choose what dorm they want, and one of the options was a suite style dorm with singles and a common living space. It was considered the least desirable dorm because of its reputation for being more studious, but sounded great to me. My son wanted a roommate so did not pursue.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 08:10     Subject: Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Wustl. Many of the dorms are suite style, four singles with a shared bath and common area, even for first-years.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 08:07     Subject: Re:Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Amherst College ?

University of Alabama Honors College.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 08:05     Subject: Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So we’re not sure what to do.


Make her go to summer camp and share a room to get used to the idea.


Not OP but I see no reason to do any of this. I don’t think sharing a room at any point in life is important.


This is something that I need to discuss with my spouse and my dogs.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 08:04     Subject: Re:Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the sharing dorm rooms is ridiculous (my kids never spoke to their freshman year roommates after move-out) but I get it. Space concerns aside, if every freshman had a single a lot of suicides, overdoses, depression & social withdrawal would go completely unnoticed.


So far this is the only post that mentions one of the most basic (potential) benefits of room-sharing: a possible safety net. Yes, there will always be people who don't notice or care what their roommate is doing, but many kids would realize if their roommate hadn't been seen for a day or two, or was on a downward personal spiral, and some will follow it up with a compassionate conversation or a question to the RA. Yes, there will be fellow readers here on this board who don't see that as offsetting the innumerable inconveniences and annoyances of forced proximity in a small space, but regardless of whether people are living in doubles, singles, or suites, we need to teach students the value of community care. A kid doesn't need to be - and shouldn't be - responsible _for_ their roommate, but they can learn to be responsible _towards_ their roommate. That kind of elemental sensitivity towards others is an aspirational value of adulthood.

--College prof


Good Lord. This is a function of parents, social workers & RAs, not a student.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 08:01     Subject: Re:Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Anonymous wrote:I think the sharing dorm rooms is ridiculous (my kids never spoke to their freshman year roommates after move-out) but I get it. Space concerns aside, if every freshman had a single a lot of suicides, overdoses, depression & social withdrawal would go completely unnoticed.


My best guess is that sales is not a strong area for you. (I got depressed just reading your post.)
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 07:59     Subject: Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Anonymous wrote:
ONLY in the USA is sharing a room with strangers a "rite of passage".

ONLY in the USA are college costs so exorbitant.

None of this is normal. No other countries (apart perhaps from Canada, for shared dorms) do this.

You're being completely fleeced, AND brainwashed that all this is "good" for your kids. It's really not. None of this is necessary or beneficial.



+1
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 07:57     Subject: Re:Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
One reason I went to the University of Toronto where they have single rooms. I'm an only child and had never even shared a bathroom with anyone let alone a room and I just knew having roommates wasnt for me.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 07:57     Subject: Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
I was in a double room that was supposed to be a single one year. And my chosen roommate was one of the messiest people alive. She got an off campus apartment a couple months before school ended (her now ex husband was moving to be with her) and it was so nice when her chaos was cleared. That said, we are still friends.

I know of freshman at Dean (MA) and Point Park (PA) with singles, but I believe there are medical reasons for those.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 07:55     Subject: Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Anonymous wrote:OP I get it because in the UK everyone gets a single room all through college. I cannot imagine living any other way. But these days there are noise cancelling ear phones, wax ear plugs, silk eye masks and tents. You can get quiet and privacy without a single room, if you must.


Tents.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 07:46     Subject: Re:Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here. She is not HFA or SN. She gets annoyed easily at certain sounds & smells, however. She’s currently a junior in high school. She went to an 8 week sleep away camp in middle school and had a tough time living with others. She has former teammates who have complained about their college roommates when she’s seen them. She says that she absolutely could not handle sharing a room because her roommate might burn sage or incense, smoke pot, smoke cigarettes, leave the dorm room propped open to outside leaving the possibility of her stuff being stolen, be too loud at night or get mad at her for waking up really early as she prefers to do.


You should make her get a roommate.


Disagree.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 07:46     Subject: Re:Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
About 80% of freshman at Williams have singles. And UChicago has many freshman singles as well.
Anonymous
Post 04/21/2023 07:45     Subject: Any schools that put freshman in singles? DD won’t be able to handle sharing a bedroom
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why can’t she handle it? We need more information. Sharing a room is great way to become more considerate, empathetic, kind, etc. Plus, it helps things go more smoothly when you get married or move in with your significant other.


Eh, I’m not so sure. I’ve come to think the room sharing thing isn’t good. I can see a suite set up with a common area but I think everyone should have their own sleeping space and a bit of privacy.


Agree.