Air Conditioning in Dorms?

[srobin]

In this day and age I can't imagine why a dorm would not have central heat and air. I have read about some of the summer programs being offered at Yale, Harvard and Boston U. I got the impression that the dorms are not air conditioned does anyone know for sure? Is this due to the age of the schools or do they just put the temporary boarders in the worst of the worst?

[mafool]

AC is not standard, epecially in older buildings, and even more so in the northern climes.

[thumper1]

Some dorms have AC and some don't. It is very expensive to retrofit AC into old dorms that were built without it. That is probably why some of the older dorms don't have AC. In our experience, AC is only added when the dorm is having a major renovation (the kind where a lot of the infrastructure is being redone). BU student village has AC and so do some of the smaller dorms (the former HoJos). The larger dorms do not. In most cases, colleges will use the larger dorms and have only those open (with the dining facilities) rather than have smaller dorms (which need staffing) open all over campus. Student Village is apartment and would not be appropriate housing for some summer programs (I'm thinking about high school students).

[twinmom]

There is no air conditioning in any of the Harvard residences. Bring a good fan. There will likely be a few days that are quite hot, but everyone survives. Summer camps (and camping trips) are no different.

[Student615]

^ Echo twinmom. Just bring a good fan. Better yet, a floor fan + a small desk fan. I went to a school in SoCal that had no air conditioning in most dorms, and that was pretty normal. A few tough days, but not normally unbearable, even during the summer.

Bear in mind that older buildings were generally designed to stay fairly comfortable even in extreme temps. They're not always perfect, but they seem to do a good job.

[Faline2]

no A/C in Duke's freshman dorms..except one or two...everyone uses window fans and fans on desks too...not uncommon in older buildings...radiator heat..though..that is a plus...really nice.
people with allergies get dispensation for window units for A/C with medical proof.

[Bridie]

Hi Faline! If the OP is talking about summer h.s. programs, I recall from my S's experience, the Duke summer program housed the kids in the upper classman dorms and those were air-conditioned.

[rocketman08]

Most dorms in the north are not air conditioned and especially not older buildings. These buildings almost always have radiators and it's extremely difficult and expensive to install central air into a building that doesn't already have air ducts installed. Apart from the first week or two of the fall session it's simply not necessary and as for the summer... just bring a fan.

[Pharmagal]

Dorms in Harvard don't have AC. It didn't bother my DS too much since he was hardly in the dorm most of the day.....loved the entire Summer experience despite minor imperfections.

[Consolation]

I second the advice to bring a fan, but would suggest that by FAR the most effective kind are those that fit into the window and will blow in the cooler night air. Most of the fans designed for the purpose will fit horizontally in a regular old-fashioned sash window, or vertically in sliding or casement windows. I would also bring an extension cord, though. When my S has been at summer camp in college dorms we've found that the extension cord is essential to being able to put the fan in the window. The plugs are never where you want them!

A floor or desk fan doesn't do much but move the hot air around...which is better than nothing, of course.

[twinmom]

Totally agree, Consolation. And buy your fans early - they sell out.

[paying3tuitions]

There's got to be an upside for all the snow they put up with in the Northeast.

Most summers are very pleasant, and yet there can be a hot/humid spell of several days. On those days, people without air-conditioning, like all my New Hampshire relatives who live in old Victorian houses, use fans and rearrange their day so that they spend peak hours in air-conditioned settings.

On a campus, if the library or student union is air conditioned, you see a movie, and study at a Starbucks, you really only have to go to sleep in the dorm. By then, it's evening and those fans make it possible to sleep.

Even though there will be some uncomfortable days, the life is manageable. As well, on a green campus there are shade trees for daytime outdoor pleasantness, so pack a sheet for outdoor stretching out under green, leafy tree shade.

If the room has window blinds, and your kid learns to close the blinds all day when he's not in the room, with the window cracked open at the bottom, this will also help reduce the daytime heat buildup, which makes the evening better in the room.

In summer, ask for a room with windows facing North, East, or Northeast if you can. South-facing rooms are hottest, and the West-facing rooms get the brunt of the late afternoon sun. (Opposite advice if you want a cozy-warm room for a Northern winter!)

[oldfort]

My daughter went to NJ Governor school for Arts 3 summers ago. It was one of the hottest summers I could remember. Due to lack of fund, they were housed in the worst dorm at College of NJ. After dancing all day, she would come back to a hot room. She said she would work up a sweat just laying in bed. She had multiple fans in her room, but nothing moved that air. Nevertheless, it was the best summer for her. She loved the experience, and everyone survived the heat.

[dt123]

There is only one dorm left at Texas A&M that is not airconditioned. It is all-male. There is a waiting list to get in. Before you assume this is just another true-life Aggie joke, its popularity is explained in that it is the least expensive dorm on campus and very conveniently located. All the newer dorms are on one side of the campus a fair hike to the classroom buildings.

Another true story, I was on a campus tour of UT-Austin with my sister and her daughter, my niece. Niece was a HS senior. My sister is a UT alum. Niece was mortified when her mom asked if all the dorms are air-conditioned, as in how embarassing -- my mom asked a stupid question in front of all these people. Well, it was not so stupid because back in the 70's hardly any dorms were air-conditioned, even in Austin. 100 degree days are common there even in September.

[Singersmom07]

S1 and S2 - Penn State and James Madison older dorms, no AC. Bring fans. It really is not needed that often. You are home before the real heat of the summer and only a couple of weeks in August and a few days in Sept are hot enough to be uncomfortable. Then they went elsewhere while it was hot. It got cool at night.