<p>I am signing up for dorms this fall and there are a few options that I am unsure of:</p>
<p>Number Occupancy: Doubles vs. Triples
I think doubles would be better since it would bring closer relationships. But triples might bring more variety to your living situation. </p>
<p>Single-Sex Hall vs. Coed
Coed sounds more fun, but would there be less people to hang out with that share similar interests? Are there any other reasons why someone would pick single-sex halls?</p>
<p>If at the college to which you are going, tripples are the same size room or only a bit larger than doubles, then you should definitely avoid it. If you are considering relationships, you also need to consider the negative, particularly for a freshman who does not know what kind of roommates will show up – having a tripple just increases the odds of getting an undesirable roommate. As a result, if you have the option of a double, I would recommend sticking with that.</p>
<p>Single sex versus coed dorms may mean very little depending on the college. Many “coed” dorms are really alternating floor dorms (girls on one floor, guys on the next) and many single-sex dorms have no visiting restrictions and the guys dorm and girls dorm are together sharing common areas (study rooms, cafeteria, etc.) and really aren’t much different from the alternating floor coed dorms. There are often reasons you might not think of immediately for preferring a single-sex or coed dorm – at some colleges, one type of dorm may have larger rooms than the other, may have air-conditioning and the other does not, or is closer to the main classroom area. At some places single-sex dorms have severe visiting restrictions against having the opposite sex in the dorm and those are mainly designed to give a different option to concerned parents. Otherwise, it is just a matter of personal preference.</p>
<p>This was just my experience so take one story with a grain of salt, but I found that on a coed floor (meaning alternating rooms of guys or girls) it seemed more clique-like, just like the HS lunchroom. Keep in mind that 12 weeks ago the frosh WERE in HS so they recreate the patterns they know. On a single-sex floor it was rowdier (for guys), but it was more like being is a club where everyone’s a member. Larger groups ate together at meals, put together intramural teams, and so on.</p>
<p>Mikemac’s findings are what I would expect. With co-ed housing there seems to be more tension and “performing”. I would think by sophmore/junior year you outgrow it, but freshman year there is pressure from academics, parents, social stress OUTSIDE the dorms let alone right down the hall. Co-ed housing just adds to the stress. There is enough opportunity to mingle and socialise in the dining hall, in classes, at parties, practically everywhere once you step outside your dorm. But you don’t have to have it in your face 24 hrs a day. Besides, as mike pointed out, rooming with another bunch of guys or girls can be really fun with lots of camraderie… Something you may not get when you have a group of guys or girls trying to impress one another and all the drama that comes along with it. </p>
<p>In the end I suppose it’s a matter of personal preference and what you’re used to. Whatever makes you happy - whatever floats your boat. But at a co-ed college, a single sex hall can be a nice change of scene.</p>
<p>I would avoid a triple for a few reasons:
<p>I’ve seen tremendously successful triple groups in massive dorm rooms, but I’ve also seen it be terrible and one roommate requesting to move out by the end of first semester.</p>
<p>As for co-ed halls vs. single sex… I lived in a co-ed floor, and in terms of actual distance, I was much closer to guys than to girls. It wasn’t even weird in the least. I never felt that there was less of a group of people with shared interests to hang out in. I never saw any tension, “performing”, or stress. In fact-- living with all the girls and dealing with squabbles and screaming matches and boyfriend drama was more stressful than having drunk guys streak down the hall.</p>
<p>I appreciate all the help in this thread. I will be choosing a double and coed dorm (more variety). Great advice guys!</p>
<p>mikemac is correct from my experiences. coed floors are somewhat more clique-like where as all male/all female floors, I was able to form a stronger bond and some of my female friends agreed. People are more themselves and not trying to impress as much.</p>
<p>believe me, from personal experience, DO NOT GET A TRIPLE!!! enough said</p>