<p>I think you can have some of your furniture hauled away by maintenance if you don’t need it. Those bookcases, believe it or not, aren’t always necessary, because you can store your books on the shelves above your desk. Having that hauled off might create enough floor space to allow the bunk beds to be uncoupled. I think being able to sit up in bed is more important than having all the allotted furniture in the room. Just a thought…</p>
<p>we asked about getting some furniture removed and we were told it is the students responsibility to make sure it is returned to the room at the end of the year. so they can haul it someplace but you better make sure it’s there to haul it back. for me it was hard to see some of the beautiful double rooms that could fit 3 more comfortably than the single used as a double. right now my daughter is very happy with her dorm, but let’s see when the winter clothes have to come out!</p>
<p>Honestly, I think a lot of this doesn’t matter to the students. They don’t spend much time in their rooms anyway. It’s harder for the parents who expected better accommodations (and are paying for them), but if the students don’t really care, it’s best to let it go. It’s good preparation for that first dingy apartment, in any case!</p>
<p>@Massmomm
Agree with this statement.</p>
<p>6 weeks into the semester and my daughter talked with her RD. The room situation was very stressful as they could not have any friends come over as only one of them could stand up at one time. She explained that all the rooms on her side of the floor were singles so how could they call this a double. We found all the rhetoric about equality was ringing hollow and if they only said we are overbooked and someone got the short straw. It was more the fact that they wouldn’t come clean and be honest. Amazingly they found some open genuine double rooms that are open. There is a difference between better accommodations and a fire hazard that was keeping me up at night!</p>
<p>I find this information about housing a bit troubling. I think its important for a student to be comfortable in their “space” and absolutely should have enough room to store what they need for the semester and move around a bit. I would have a huge problem if my daughter was assigned a room that could barely accomodate one person, never mind two. As I help my daughter prepare her list of pros and cons, we will certainly address the possible housing issue at Wellesley. In the end, it will be her decision (assuming she is accepted of course). Doesn’t anyone else think this affects sleeping and studying habits in a negative way?</p>
<p>Any housing at Wellesley is better than housing with raging parties and puking, or worse, in the halls. I’m sorry some have such a small room, but I don’t think it’s usual for it to be that small. The oldest dorms have very high ceilings, so I’m not sure how the headroom is a concern for bunked beds. The height of each of the beds is also adjustable, so they can be lowered if the ceiling is lower than normal. D is a first year and very happy with her dorm assignment. Every college has its pros or cons and apparently for some the first year housing is a con for them. With such a high retention rate, I think that even for those students the positives outweigh the negatives. For students considering Wellesly, I wouldn’t let that stop you from applying. Go see it for yourself. The college is gorgeous!</p>
<p>Hi all. I don’t have dog in the Wellesley fight, so feel free to ignore my opinion: Housing matters, especially to first years who are far from home.</p>
<p>Both my Ds attend school across country and don’t come home mid semester. The dorm room is home 70% of the year. At real home (my house) we live minimally; both girls shared a room and closet growing-up. They know how to cooperate and fully understand the concept of “less is more”. </p>
<p>Older Ds glorious dorm room shined as the high point of her first year. She did not easily transition into her Women’s College. The room, the well-matched roommate and all goodies that come with living in well maintained homey dorm kept her focused on the positive and (IMO) eased much stress.</p>
<p>Younger D, on-the-other-hand, is transitioning swimmingly. Good grades, nice friends, co-ciriculars–all good, except the dorm room. She’s on a co-ed floor (raging parties and puking as mentioned above), with a hellaious roommate who keeps the TV on 24/7 (among other annoying and “rule-contrary” behaviors). D visited the health center a few days ago. Basically she’s rundown and her asthma’s acting up. So I phoned her this morning to see how’s feeling. Come to find out, D was sleeping overnight on couch in the common room because roommate had volume on for both TV and Computer (netflix) while roommate wore headphones. (passive aggressive weighted to the aggressive side) The billed cost for housing at her school is 10K per year. 10K and my daughter is sleeping on the common room couch! I hung up and called the dean of residential life. Along with protection for my D, I am demanding a pro-rated refund for every night my D is unable to sleep in her room. Last we talked, D had a 101 fever. I have a near-by relative taking off work and on the way to pick her up for few says so she can get some rest and recover. </p>
<p>Parents can (and should) speak-up when they “feel” housing is inadequate. Just because they are college kids, our girls should not be living in unsafe situations (especially at premium prices). Kids need our guidance, and in extreme situations, our involvement. If you D is jammed into a single converted to a double, by all means speak-up. Not being able to open the door is most definitely a fire hazard. W is under obligation to provide safe housing. If they can’t accommodate all the students in university owned dorms perhaps they should look into leasing near-by properties. </p>
<p>5 star dorms are a bonus. Unsafe dorms are unacceptable. </p>
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<p>It isn’t character building to put students in situations that create potential danger. I’m kind of taken aback by the sense that it’s not unheard of for Wellesley students to be placed in doubles that are intended to be used as singles or that parents here are excusing the practice as something that either builds character or is something the student doesn’t mind or is acceptable because it’s better than a dorm with raging parties. Unsafe is unsafe. The door needs to have room to open and close and individuals need to be able to sit up in bed. Frankly, I’d rather see a dusty, dirty room that can be cleaned over a room that isn’t large enough to accommodate two people. This isn’t about parents expecting 5 star accommodations. One of my daughters lived in a dank, dusty room that had only a tiny window one year. (This was not at Wellesley.) It would have been completely unacceptable to me, even at that age. But it was her choice and small though it was, it was large enough to pass a fire code.</p>
<p>As the mom of a prospective student, I’m also concerned and will do some further investigation. As will my daughter.</p>
<p>@3girls3cats </p>
<p>Good news–Wellesley plans to renovate Munger.
Bad news–the renovations are delayed. And, during construction, 150 students will temporarily be housed in “swing space” such as converted singles, and “Substantial spaces such as the Cazenove dining room and the Shafer and Claflin recreation rooms will be transformed into extra bedrooms.”</p>
<p><a href=“http://thewellesleynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/THE-WELLESLEY-NEWS-11.19.pdf”>http://thewellesleynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/THE-WELLESLEY-NEWS-11.19.pdf</a></p>
I started this thread and now that the end of the year is in sights, I can say that while my daughter’s room would be surprising to anyone – even those of you who are in the tough-love, let-them-live-in-tents school – she has made the most of it.
As for everything else: couldn’t be better. I can’t even begin to describe the quality of the teaching and friendships she has experienced this year. She could not have chosen a better school. This is a special, extraordinary place – and as she begins to interview for summer jobs and internships, people say how impressed they have always been by Wellesley candidates.
What a school. Amazing.
This was a great thread. Thanks for reviving it.
My daughter was accepted to Wellesley yesterday (hooray!), and I’m just now reading this thread. I’ve yet to scratch the surface of the stuff beyond the acceptance letter, so forgive the seemingly dumb question: may freshmen request a certain dorm? Or is it completely random?
Random, but I believe certain allergies and gluten-free get placed in Tower.
Prospective Wellesley student here, how possible is it to get a single room as a freshman?
Would a person with asthma and pet allergies be placed in a certain dorm? Tower? The only part that worries me is dusty carpet…
Also, what’s the best dorm for vegan dining?
If it’s for a documented reason, getting a “medical single” is no problem! Otherwise, freshmen/sophomores who aren’t res staff get doubles.
redpoodles - If someone has asthma/allergies they are usually roomed in McAfee since it is a newer dorm with hardwood floor. They may also be roomed in an older dorm so long as it’s not carpeted.