Should I change housing or change my attitude?

digitaldove · 07-29-2007, 06:55 PM

I'm a transfer student to cornell. I requested hasbrouk private room. I applied late and didn't get a private room. I'm in a Hans Bethe double room and my roommate is two years younger and listens to country. She seems really niave and young.

I feel like we're not going to get along. I'm older and jaded. I just want to have a place to go and hibernate and get warm from the cold. I'm wondering if I should just look for off campus housing. The whole point of on campus housing for me was to live with a bunch of transfers (my age) and have access to campus food. I heard that at hans bethe you can only eat the food there. Upperclassmen usually get offcampus housing anyway. so what should I do?

therealstory · 07-29-2007, 07:09 PM

its really late to get off campus housing, so i wouldnt count on getting a great deal. also, bethe house is a MUCH better location than hasbrouck, which is super out of the way...thats the tradeoff for living with all tranfers. i feel like it might not be worth the hassle to change, because either way, youre living with people you dont know.

Spanks · 07-29-2007, 07:51 PM

if you're so old and mature just deal with it; you haven't even met her yet. so, I guess the answer is choice b, change your attitude.

dande1114 · 07-29-2007, 08:25 PM

i agree. just go in and be openminded! some of the most mature people i know appear to be some of the craziest!

just be open minded. or...you can do what my best friends dad did when he went to cornell....he wanted a single so he was so crazy and annoying that his room mate up and left! (i dont really suggest that action...it just made me laugh)

dande1114 · 07-29-2007, 10:23 PM

yeah thats probably the best solution.

quynh2007 · 07-29-2007, 11:06 PM

actually, many people are desperate for subletters, it might be a good idea to check that out. although, you might have a harder time finding a place to sublet for the WHOLE year, it is very easy to find something in the fall, and somewhere else in the spring...that sucks with moving during winter, but that's up to you to decide what's best for you.

hpmbs · 07-29-2007, 11:22 PM

if you want campus food, you will get that in bethe. I'd say stick with that, rather than live in ctown.

sametwochords · 07-29-2007, 11:26 PM

are you older because you started later?

anyhow, just live it up with her like you are two years younger again and enjoy it! haha

fd36 · 07-29-2007, 11:52 PM

Hans Bethe is actually full of older kids too, because this year upperclassmen who were already living in Bethe got to keep their room if they wanted too...

and i doubt she could be as naive as you are...seeing as she's already been on campus at least 1 year and you have not!!! D:

midwesterner · 07-29-2007, 11:54 PM

The rooms in Bethe House are grouped around a lounge shared by about 6 people, so you'll have a place to get away from your roommate if you need to.

It's a brand-new dorm in a good location. If you want to give it up, there are a lot of people who wanted to get into Bethe for another year, but couldn't. So maybe you should give the room to someone who really wants it.

Elgguj · 07-30-2007, 01:04 AM

I hope for your roommate's sake that she hasnt read your post. I can't imagine she would be very happy about rooming with YOU if she reads it.

But otherwise, look for off-campus housing if you want, or change your attitude. It's really your decision.

digitaldove · 07-30-2007, 05:55 AM

we're both transfer students. She's transferring after one year and I am transferring after two... she's young for her grade

I started college a year early and took a gap year to travel. she is still going to be 18 when I am turning 21...

I'd be ok with living with it for a semester but two semesters is a long commitment

I think I'm scared that I'm not going to have any friends and I'm going to leach on to my roommate, so I kind of wish that my roommate was a little older. I'm sure it'll be fine though and she'll end up being really nice and considerate. Maybe you do get crazier as you get older... it could be worse.

I found a bunch of off campus housing, but I still think that living on campus is really convenient and will give me the full "college experience". It's probably a lot easier to find friends on campus. I can always live off-campus next semester :/ I just wish it wasn't a two semester commitment

JohnnyK · 07-30-2007, 06:48 AM

I'd look forward to the chance to personally crush someone's idealistic spirits. It's like telling kids there's no santa claus, awesome

Falcky · 07-30-2007, 10:17 AM

Hey, I understand your concerns. Myself, I'm 2 years older than most other freshmen... But I guess the situation with me is a bit worse since I'm not getting any transfer

Anyway: I decided to live off campus, but that was because I've been used to living alone for a long time, and I prefer meeting friends "outside" - it takes more effort, but you still get your private time when you need it

I have to tell you that I looked for off campus housing in April... and still didn't get the best deal ever, though I'm pretty happy with it.
If you believe that you will not get along with your roommate - then you should do what YOU believe is right... Everyone here, including me, can tell you the pros and cons... But I think you already know them. However, it's not us who are gonna live with her, it's you. Decide what's more important: being on campus, or being "in peace".

alittlebird · 07-30-2007, 02:16 PM

Hmm, I may not have anything too productive to say but I can at least admit that I empathize with you.

I will also be transferring to Cornell this fall and I SPECIFICALLY requested a single room. (My last roommate at my last college was so horrible that it has caused me to actually be afraid of roommates lest that....experience....were to happen again.)

But alas, it turns out I will be living in Founders Hall with a roommate, whom I've yet to meet. I believe he hasn't signed his contract since the Rooming form lists no information about him besides his NetID and living preferences.

I'm being optimistic about things, however. If anything, I look at it as a chance to ameliorate the scars from my last experience.

Good luck!