<p>When we viewed the Ridgecrest South model room, there was a high cafe type table with high chairs for two, even though it was a four bedroom suite. This was probably for show to make the living room seem less cluttered, but I was wondering if this is actually how the dinette looks in the Ridgecrest dorm rooms. If so, do all four suitemates not get to sit down together to eat/study/play cards? I know this may seem minor, but I can see where it would be an irritation if all four guys want to hang out together, or if you have a group of friends over.</p>
<p>The other honors dorms have the lower table and four chairs. They probably found it not to be needed because rarely would all 4 roommates be eating together - at least at a table.</p>
<p>but I can see where it would be an irritation if all four guys want to hang out together, or if you have a group of friends over.</p>
<p>I imagine that students often eat TV-style…on the couch with food on the coffee table. Keep in mind that most meals aren’t eaten in dorms - they’re eaten in dining halls, etc. When students want to play cards/games, etc, they can use a coffee table or one of the table and chairs sets in the game room in Ridgecrest. </p>
<p>When parents aren’t around, kids are less formal…</p>
<p>I guess if suitemates want to be able to eat together at a table setting, they should choose one of the other honors dorms.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that rarely would 4 suite-mates have a schedule that would even allow them to eat together on any kind of regular basis. Some will have 8 am classes, some will have 9 or 10 am classes. Some will eat dinner at 5; some will have class until 7pm and will eat at 3pm.</p>
<p>So it wasn’t a design trick, they really have the high cafe table in the suites? Which suites have this, all of Ridgecrest, or only certain Ridgecrest communities.</p>
<p>As for eating together, heck, we don’t even do that here. I think the low dining table would probably be a good place to do homework together, especially since you’d be next to the kitchen and could grab a snack or a drink while you’re hard at it.</p>
<p>Ridgecrest South has the high cafe tables. The other honors dorms have the low tables.</p>
<p>The low dining tables in the other dorms are also small, so not a likely place to do homework together (imagine a student with a laptop, books & papers - not really room for more than one student). The lower table is about 3 1/2 feet in diameter. </p>
<p>If you look at the [Housing</a> & Residential Communities - The University of Alabama](<a href=“http://housing.ua.edu/halls/lakeside.cfm]Housing”>http://housing.ua.edu/halls/lakeside.cfm) and scroll down for the pics…click on “next image”. You’ll see that the table is too small for kids to gather to do homework. </p>
<p>In one of my son’s dorms, the kids put up a conference table in the living room, which they use as a study room. Also, there are study rooms in the res halls.</p>
<p>AFAIK, the higher tables are only in Ridgecrest South. Every other supersuite dorm I’ve been into has the lower table. Really, either table is too small for four people with multiple dishes. If making a big meal, people often just use their floor’s kitchen area with the higher cafe tables and bar-type seating area. Of course, the coffee table in the living room could be a dinner table if you didn’t mind sitting on a pillow or something like people do in other countries.</p>
<p>Thanks so much guys for the responses. In walking through Riverside this weekend, I was surprised to see single students using the study rooms. Now I can see why. More room to spread out your stuff. The conference table was a great idea your boy had, mom. I have a fold up card table that I pull out when it’s tax time so I can spread all my paperwork out. That might be a good option for kids that don’t want something permanent.</p>
<p>I think the height of the table and chairs bothered me more than the work space. I know when we go out to eat, we specifically ask not to be seated at those kind of tables, although that’s probably more an issue for older people than young. </p>
<p>I also found a facebook link on the housing page. Is that the facebook link y’all are referring to for roommate search?</p>
<p>Montegut, I PM’ed you the link to the facebook group.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, Seatide. I got it! I’ll tell son to join if he’s interested in finding a roommate and I’ll pass this on to our friends that are going to Bama. I was hoping there would be a more anonymous survey he could fill out on the housing site, just asking smoking/nonsmoking, early bird/night owl, and other such matching questions. Is there such a survey for people who want to do potluck? There’s not too many boys on the facebook site and not many honors either. Maybe there will be more as we get closer to registration time. Thanks again for the help.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>More will likely join FB as it gets closer to “school selection” time. </p>
<p>Did a CBH finalist Facebook group form? Usually someone starts one.</p>
<p>^^^A lot of kids haven’t decided if they are attending UA yet. I know there are CBH facebook groups, but I haven’t spent much time searching for them.</p>
<p>Housing generally does not do potluck roommates. If facebook roommate finding doesn’t work out, people seem to just place themselves in a random room in the building they want to live in. The selection page lists who your other roommates will be, along with their e-mail addresses. One can always do a facebook search to learn more about the people living in a certain room. Once one decides to attend UA, join the Alabama network on facebook and make it the primary network.</p>
<p>I do know of people who didn’t have good luck finding roommates, so they contacted their UA representative and found a roommate that way.</p>
<p>Thanks, again. Thankful that if you do pick a random room in your preferred building, you can see who you’ll be with if someone is already there. From perusing the roommate facebook, I saw that some kids did indicate if they were going Greek, non honors, smokers, things that might rule out a possible roommate choice. I’m guessing non honors wouldn’t be an option, though I’m sure exceptions have been made. Great idea also of contacting our rep. We have an excellent rep who is always willing to help, and I may contact him if need be. </p>
<p>Thanks again for all your help.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but you guys are cracking me up 
I’m the first one to over-analyze finances, degree programs, transport costs etc., but deciding which size table in which palace-like dorm room is best… thinking back to how little we knew when we went to college, the random roomates, limited meal plans, shared showers with the entire hall…
it will all work out, our kids are more flexible than we give them credit for! :D</p>
<p>You’re right! I am way too obsessive about this stuff. But seriously, my son is a Big Boy! I just can’t see him up on that little cafe table! But thanks for the reality check. I will try to chill out!</p>
<p>I’m worrying about the REALLY important stuff, like many hours on average does the parent cry after dropping their son/daughter off? :)</p>
<p>I cried on the way there.</p>
<p>Really I had 1 giant bathroom and shower for the entire floor. This suite is bigger than most of the Apartments i rented in college. Then it was a trek to class. This is a hop skip and a jump over a bridge. They will have thhe time of their lives. 5 years I dont think we sat at a table once.</p>
<p>*5 years I dont think we sat at a table once. *</p>
<p>LOL…we ate on the couch or on the floor.</p>
<p>Those suites are BETTER THAN MY HOUSE, much less any apartment I ever lived in. </p>
<p>I’d kill for that kitchen and bathroom.</p>
<p>No need to cry. In this economy, more than likely, your kids are gonna come to back to live you after graduation.</p>
<p>^Hopefully it’ll be better by the time they/we get out, especially since I’ll be going to grad/law school, but who knows?</p>