Housing Assignments for ‘29s Released Today

In this Issue: some thoughts for P’29s and ’29s on the release of ’29 housing assignments

A note for all P’29s and ‘29s in the Daily Deacdom: housing assignments were released today; our team completed them early and wanted to share as soon as the room assignments were final. Given that news, I want to offer my annual words on keeping perspective on where your new Deac lands.

When new students get their residence hall assignments (and roommate assignment, if applicable), it tends to generate a lot of feelings: excitement, anxiety, uncertainty – the whole gamut of emotions – potentially for both the student and their family! What I would urge you to do is not worry.

Some students may feel chagrined if they are not in one of our newest residence halls. This is a simple matter of economics – new students need to be spread out among all first-year residence halls, not just the newest ones – so our first-years have a relatively low chance of landing in one of the two newest halls. Rest assured that the other residence halls are fine. I have lived in Bostwick (unairconditioned during my time, I might add), Collins, and Babcock (back in my day, women lived on south campus and men on the Quad) and all my rooms were OK.

In fact, there have been upgrades and renovations (upgraded bathrooms, sinks, common areas, new furniture/paint/carpet/removal of the fixed desks, etc.) depending on the building. This summer, Collins is being updated: this includes the removal of the built-in closets to create additional space and the installation of wardrobes for each resident. We have also replaced the built-in desks with free-standing desks. So there are pros and cons to each residential community (and yes, there are even some cons to the newer halls).

Some students may be chagrined that they wanted a roommate but end up in a single. To any of those students in a single (or their families), experience tells me that sometimes not getting a roommate can be a wonderful stroke of luck. In my 26+ years of working with students, I can remember only a couple of times that a student or family member called/emailed me unhappy about being in a single. I get far more calls/emails about students not being happy with their roommate. So a single can be the gift you never knew you needed. 

Also let me reassure that being in a single doesn’t mean a student will be alone all the time or won’t have friends, just as having a roommate doesn’t mean a student will automatically have friends and never be alone. Whether your Deac is in a single or has a roommate, they will need to put themself out there and make an effort to meet people.

Some students with a roommate may feel concerned about how well they think they will fit with their roommate, particularly if they seem to be quite different from themselves re: worldview, background, beliefs, etc. My own first-year roommate and I were miles apart in that regard, but we shared our space very well. Whether you feel a deep kinship with your assigned roommate or “we’re not at all alike!’, having a roommate means you will both have to adjust and compromise. If you keep your eyes on the prize of sharing the room peaceably, and commit to being kind, diplomatic, and being willing to give and take, you’ll be setting yourself up for success.

Here are a few other important points re housing assignments:

Given that we have 1,550+ students, Residence Life and Housing staff do not have the capacity to take individual room measurements for your student’s room configuration, bed/desk size, etc. Thank you for your understanding in not making those requests. However, students will receive a Roomie link with their housing assignment, which will allow them to see their room in 3D. Students are encouraged to use the platform to visualize, plan, and design their room before their arrival (this is a great time for students to start connecting/collaborating with their roommates on how they’ll share their new space!) You can also visit Residence Life and Housing’s website to learn more about each building. 

Please check with your student/get their approval before you to go to your social media/message board of choice and say “Anyone else have a student living in Babcock 3rd floor?” Your student may have valid reasons they don’t want their living space on blast to people they don’t know, so again, ask before you post. See more recommendations for families to maintain their students’ privacy.  

Finally, I’d urge patience and understanding that students’ room assignments will not be changed (either to a new hall or a new roommate), so your students (or you!) should not ask Residence Life and Housing for changes. Instead, students should focus on getting to know their roommate and embracing their new community. 

I am an anxious person by nature and worry a lot. My late P’92 mother’s constant refrain about worry was “don’t borrow trouble.” By that she meant don’t spend your time worrying about what might happen, because it robs you of enjoying what is happening right now. 

No matter where your student is living, or whether or not they have a roommate, things tend to have a way of working out. I know that is easy to say and hard to believe. The keys to starting college are approaching it with an attitude of patience, flexibility, compromise, and willingness to try new things. No matter where your Deacs land, if you help them see that perspective, you will be doing them a great service.