<p>I really wanted a double, but instead got stuck with a triple (my third choice just before single). Not to mention I also got stuck in a high rise when I really wanted a social dorm like Donlon.
Then, I checked the profiles of my 2 roommates. I said I stay up until 2 and wake up at 11. They both said they went to bed at 11 and woke up at 6. I thought they were supposed to be putting us with people with similar sleeping habits????</p>
<p>My daughter is in the same boat. She called me this AM to see if I would call the housing office. She searched for a roommate on line, made a connection with a girl who has similar habits and then got put in a triple with someone who stays up until 2, is messy and listens to rap music. She wanted a social dorm as well and is in a low rise! Her question to me was, why did she put in a survey if they did not listen. I was told the match ups are done via computer.</p>
<p>in terms of sleeping habit concerns: you have less to worry about than you think you do. Many peoples’ sleeping habits drastically change in college.</p>
<p>Also people who wanted a single have a tendency to make themselves as highly undesirable roommates as possible.</p>
<p>I got a single. Guess I lucked out getting my first choice assignment.</p>
<p>The housing assignments are made randomly. Surveys can only do so much when every incoming freshman either wants a single or has a specific dorm in mind ( Donlon or CKB). Trust me, sleeping habits definitely change. Don’t stress over what dorm or what roommates are assigned, focus on preparing for the year.</p>
<p>Yeah, honestly the surveys Cornell has students do to match roomies is so ridiculously lame. I mean c’mon…organizing someone by the type of music they listen to? It’s called headphones. But totally true as mentioned, sleeping habits changed so you won’t necessarily see that 6am-kid up everyday at the time with a blaring alarm clock. Granted, it’s not exactly fun to be in a triple since you do notice the difference of space, but at least you’re paying less?..</p>
<p>If you really want a double, try contacting housing about a swap, since some people who wanted roommates, but got singles are complaining (they don’t know what they’re getting themselves into…)</p>
<p>As for being in the high rise, don’t sweat it, every dorm is social in its own way and no one said you have to be in or near your room at all times. Socializing at friend’s dorms is common, so feel free to drift around North all week.</p>
<p>The thing that irks me is that my kid ended up in a single when double was requested. That is not such a big deal. What is a big deal is that Cornell now expects me to pay an additional $980 this year. They are willing to offer a loan to “help” us with the extra cost. That is just wrong–taking out additional loans becuase they don’t accomodate selections is not right.</p>
<p>When choosing Cornell we carefully weighed costs, financial aid packages, etc. We got more aid (better loans really) at Dartmouth and Duke but felt we could manage the Cornell costs becuase the school was a better fit. Now we feel like this was a bait and switch. $980 is a lot of money in my world.</p>
<p>“For first year and transfer grant- recipient students who do
not preference single rooms as their first choice for housing and are
placed
…in a single room or a townhouse, these students will automatically
receive an increase to their grant aid to cover the cost difference.”</p>
<p>… i think</p>
<p>I know that Cornell gives you financial aid if you applied for a double and were given a single, but does this also cover the cost of a program house that you didn’t apply for?</p>
<p>uhh. i don’t know </p>
<p>their email is:
<a href=“mailto:housing@cornell.edu”>housing@cornell.edu</a></p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Are you sure? Because I know a couple of people who requested doubles and were placed in singles (one of them in Mews, no less!) and told me that they paid the rate for a regular double. To my knowledge, if you requested a double on your form and they put you in a single, they cannot make you pay the difference–it’s not allowed or something (which makes sense).</p>
<p>whats wrong with rap music</p>
<p>If you receive grant money, they will give you more grant money to cover the difference. If you only received loans or got no aid at all, they will loan you money to pay the extra $1000. Doesn’t seem fair. And, if you try to change to a double or triple, they charge you $100 and don’t guarantee that you will get what you are seeking. This is what they say:</p>
<p>"For first year and transfer grant- recipient students who do not preference single rooms as their first choice for housing and are placed in a single room or a townhouse, these students will automatically receive an increase to their grant aid to cover the cost difference.
All other “aided” students can apply for a loan by doing a budget increase in the fall, and “non- aided” students can talk with the financial aid office about an additional alternative loan to cover this cost.</p>
<p>Unfortunately we are not able to give everyone their request.
If you still want to request a room change once you get to campus, you will need to see your Residence Hall Director to complete a room change request form. There is a $100 room change fee. Please keep in mind that a room change may not be possible for several weeks into the semester since we must first complete a room census to determine vacancies. We also cannot guarantee that a room change will even be an option, since it will be based upon availability and the need.</p>
<p>Starting in July we will notify students of a site where they can go to fill in information regarding their request for a room change.</p>
<p>We will be using this information, as a tool, to try and meet some of the requested room changes before the students arrive on campus. We will be doing this by providing some direct room switches between students. If we are able to offer you a direct room switch you will be notified by email before the actual switch will take place for your approval.</p>
<p>i got what i wanted, which was a single- but ended up getting a balch single to top it all.
if i had to make any complaint, it would be that my room appears to be on the sixth floor
(BALCH UG 6444- that’s the sixth floor, no?) </p>
<p>but that’s such a small thing. i’m very happy with my room assignment.
i guess i have to be extra grateful, seeing all of the people who didn’t get their
room preferences :/</p>
<p>^–Balch is a good dorm (for the girls anyway, obviously lol).</p>
<p>TKsmom: I wouldn’t fret too much - I know plenty of people who wanted doubles and got singles were able to get back in a double. Given you’re a new student too, if you can just explain the situation over the phone instead of just through email, the office will definitely let you swap the rooms without charge. If people wanted singles and got doubles or triples, they’re going to be less lenient. Since there are going to be TONS of kids calling in saying ‘I wanted a single and I’m in a double blablabla!’, the office will probably be delighted to hear someone is giving up their single.</p>
<p>If that doesn’t work and they still want to charge you, have your son/daughter find someone with a double who wanted a single on Facebook or through the housing system or something and do a direct swap (those don’t cost anything if both parties are willing to switch, as long as you do it before school starts.)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>First: the profiles are BS. They really mean nothing. Everyone tries to play a game so that they’ll get put with kids who aren’t rowdy or more studious/that’s probably what their parents told them to do. This means absolutely nothing and I’m willing to wager that your roommates will not sleep at those times at all.</p>
<p>Second: If you wanted a double, chances are you’re somewhat sociable and a triple won’t be that big of a difference. I think it’s a much bigger difference to be put in a double vs. a single. </p>
<p>Third: The High Rises are much better than many of the other dorms you could have been placed in. You could have been put in the townhouses or Hasbrouck which are normally reserved for adults but also have special overflow/emergency housing. It could be much much worse.</p>
<p>It really is what you make of it. If you want to be sociable, you’ll meet others just like yourself.</p>
<p>You’ll barely be in your dorm for the first month anyway: there’s so many events and things to do/take care of on campus that you’ll pretty much just sleep there and leave.</p>
<p>What do you know about the low rises?</p>