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Dorms: How to Choose?
sparkatzz
221 replies3 threads Junior Member
I've been very adamant about getting a single dorm at BS since the application started. Now that the housing survey is here, I'm kind of torn between choosing a single (of course it's not guaranteed) or a double. As for single, I will have a quiet place to go to and I don't have to deal with any roommate issues. For double, it might be easier to have a go-to friend if we do get along well and that might work very well. Since I'm entering sophomore year, double might be better for me socially. I'm curious about people on CC's insights since I've heard both good things and bad things about living in doubles. Also, if I do choose double, what are some qualities to look for (and to write down in the survey) for a potential roommate? Any input appreciated!
38 replies
Replies to: Dorms: How to Choose?
I asked my Choate host about this (whether I should request a double or single) and they said a single wouldn't be all that much worse for your social life—dorms are generally tightknit so you'll have a good group of comrades no matter what. However, having a roommate is guaranteed social interaction, so if you are worried about that I'd say get a double.
All had close dorm friends or day student friends who would hang out in each other’s rooms to study, watch movies or even sleep over- but they craved their alone time to. For me it’s kind of like when I attend a conference for work, I enjoy being with interesting people all day, but can’t wait to get back to the hotel room to decompress. Our kids all made it work with roommates when they needed to, but each would suggest a single if posssible. I think it is a fallacy that having a roommate increases social interaction, in our case it simply wasn’t true. None of my kids were great friends with their roommates at the end of the year, in fact in some cases it diminished existing relationships.
I know way more kids from BS who were housed with someone who became a close friend than I know who had tales of woe. (Not so with college, btw. )
But our school didn't offer singles to freshmen or new sophomores, so maybe they were more invested in not creating problems they couldn't solve?