I would have thought that nearly two months into the year, that the immature freshman antics would have calmed down... but I guess I was wrong. Daughter is really put off by this stuff - loudness, drunkenness, rooms allowed to be filthy, finding strangers of both sexes sleeping in her room, etc. What's with this? Where are the "normal" people? I try to encourage her that things will calm down, but I am starting to wonder.
Is it too much to expect that students will be reasonably respectful of their roommates and attend to their studies?
What are the chances of getting a single room in the middle of the year?
Wow - that would be totally unacceptable to my D, in the same dorm (although D was dressed as a Zombie this weekend so I know she's engaging in some antics that I wouldn't have expected...).
Has your kid talked to the RA? I know that some students have changed roommates when one of them when there's been a bad match, assuming that your kid's roommate is unwilling to compromise on some room rules. My D told me that she laid down some rules for her roommate, including no guests after an agreed hour and if her roommate is drunk....sleep somewhere else!!!!! D has gone to some parties at Carnegie Mellon and Pitt with other freshmen and has told me that no one has pushed alcohol but that she's been one of the few freshmen that hasn't been drinking. I hope she's telling the truth! We've had all the talks about drugs and alcohol. She's been a very good kid so far and is getting very good grades, so I guess I have to trust her.
My older kids had told me about freshmen drinking at their schools - very common. Many kids don't settle down until the second semester when they discover that their grades have been impacted, and some never straighten out. It's distressing. Somehow I didn't expect as much alcohol at Duq as a Catholic school, but I guess kids are the same everywhere.
My D does a lot of studying in the library (she's trying to work 8-5 days on campus, as opposed to hanging between classes during the day and trying to use night-time in the dorm for studying). Most kids aren't used to being surrounded by lots of other kids at night, and it does take some time to get used to all the noise. D is also using her earphones and IPod to minimize the distraction from other people. She got a new comfy set with a full ear pad to replace ear buds, just for the dorm room.
I don't know how easy it is to get a single at Duq. My other kids had singles at their schools. They liked them but felt that they were a social handicap. If you get any info about singles that you can share, please post. Your D might also consider trying to get into any opening in Assumption. D has some friends there, and says that the honors dorm is very quiet compared to St. Ann's.
I will probably try to look into the reality of room switching, especially if it doesn't calm down. Daughter plans to discuss things with her roommate this week and I hope they will be able to resolve things. I have no idea how many singles are available, where they are or how you get one...but if I do find out, I will share that info with you.
Also, re the honors dorm: daughter tells me that kids walk in there carrying alcohol fairly openly and nothing is done about it. She also pointed out a particular light post in the grassy common area as the place where a group of kids regularly smokes dope. Greaaaat. Now my kids went to a large high school and were exposed to all kinds of issues, but I had rather hoped that the kids would be a bit more adult at college.
I never drank until I was 21, and even still rarely do I drink. Believe me, it calms down immensely....especially once it gets too cold for people to go out partying in short skirts
As for a roommate, I suggest trying to switch. I had a horrible roommate and almost transferred because of it, but after meeting the right girl I've never been happier with my roommate.
As for drinking in assumption: The desk aides are pretty strict. The RA's not so much. A close friend of mine was a desk aid there last year, and he was super strict about checking everyone.
Saatia, do you have any advice on room selection? What type of lottery number would a sophomore need to have a chance of making a meaningful room selection? Also, if a student wants a single room when the lottery rolls around, what are the chances of getting one? Where are they located? What if a student requests a single and none are available - do they just stick you with any available stranger?
Sorry to have so many questions, but I don't really understand how this goes at Duquesne.
Did you switch roommates in the middle of the year, of just between years?
You can switch rooms any time during the year. They prefer between semesters, but I knew a girl who switched in like... mid march.
Room selection is unfortunately a lottery. Honors college gets first pick into assumption hall. Current freshman draw with current freshman. Current sophomores draw with current juniors and current seniors going to their fifth year or grad school. It really stinks when you're a junior and sophomores can get a room before you can.
Lottery is pretty unfair. It used to be current juniors picked first, then sophomores, then freshman but they combined juniors and sophomores last year. The chance of a single is very slim. You get put on a waiting list. Singles are only in Towers and possibly some in Vickroy and Brottier. It is more expensive though.
You are put with a stranger until your name is called on the waiting list. They are building a new dorm though, so it might be more likely to get a single.
I would advise however that your daughter lives with someone. I had a horrible freshman year experience and almost left Duquesne because of it. In December I met the girl who is now my roommate for the last 3 years. A single would have made me more depressed and unhappy, as it is hard to meet new people after your freshman year unless you become involved in a club. A club really helped me meet many of my friends now, and I enjoy Duquesne much more.
Wow, it seems really unfair to lump all of the upperclassmen together in the same lottery draw. So what you are saying is that sophomores could get an apartment in Brottier while seniors are assigned to Towers? Or is it that if a person likes their room assignment they have the option of retaining it for the following year (thus a junior living in Brottier could avoid the lottery by opting to retain the apartment)?
Heck, no wonder students move off campus!
I heard that the Des Place building is being demolished and new upperclass residences will be opening on that site in the fall of 2012. It's about time! The lack of convenient housing was one of my big complaints about Duquesne.
Some lucky ones can get into Vickroy...but yeah, towers is the only choice. But I liked it when it was a snowy weekend and I just had to take the elevators downstairs to eat and got to stay inside all day. They improved towers a LOT over the years.
I don't know about the new dorm though, sophomores might be able to be in that one. But it'll probably be freshman housing or junior/senior housing.
