<p>I was just wondering, for you Chicago students, what are the pros and cons of having a roommate? Do you guys have roommates or not? Can you also give some anecdotes about your experiences with/without roommates?</p>
<p>I'm in a single, and for me, it's the best situation ever. I like to know that I time to myself whenever I want or need it, and that I can sing along to Rihanna (I do), have long phone conversations, and go to bed early or late, without worrying about the roommate.</p>
<p>A lot of people who have roommates really like them, even those of my friends who are introverted and like having alone time. The housing office does a pretty good job at matching people with similar living habits-- your first goal is to live with somebody who has habits like yours, your second goal is to become their friend. Some roommates I know become exceptionally close; others are just good partners.</p>
<p>The only roommate horror story that I can recount comes not from Chicago, but from my cousin at GWU. I don't know how her roommate survey was, but she was paired with somebody who was her polar opposite in every way (plus was struggling with an eating disorder). My brother shared a room with one of his good friends his sophomore year, and that also didn't work out that well, because their living habits were so different.</p>
<p>There's a 3-week grace period at the beginning of the year on switching rooms, but after that, you can switch around. So say you're stuck with the Worst Roommate on Earth and you're looking for a way out, you'll have one after 3 weeks.</p>
<p>My best advice is to give as much information as you can about yourself on your housing application as it pertains to you, your living habits, and what annoys you. You might want to include things like, "I'm extremely religious and I prefer a roommate who doesn't drink" or "I want to room with somebody who shares in my socially liberal views."</p>
<p>How are the rooms at Chicago, generally? Are we talking closet-sized? I understand that many dorms are just revamped hotels... are these very out of the way of the campus? General housing information would be great. :)</p>
<p>Me and my roommate chose to room together this year (our second) because we could have two other friends in our suite and the room is bigger. We're guys, and we're really tight, so having personal space isn't an issue. Having a roommate you get along with is awesome, especially if you drink way too much; we have saved each other's lives on multiple occasions. </p>
<p>While it's subjective as to whether or not you do that your second year, the rooms in Max (the only dorm I've lived in) are surprisingly spacious, we bunked our beds and so we have a futon and coffee table in the room.</p>
<p>One dorm is a revamped hotel. Not many. And the rooms are palatial by college dorm standards.</p>
<p>unalove, is it harder to get a single? is it more expensive, I assume? You've been very helpful in this forum. Thanks.</p>
<p>As one who pays the bills, I believe that all rooms are the same price for first-years. In subsequent years singles are more expensive.
I can't answer your first q.</p>
<p>If you wnat to get a single with a privatge bathrooom, woudl it be wise to respond to the acceptance earlier, or can I actually wait until the deadline and still expect to get such a room?</p>
<p>The only dorm with singles and genuine private baths is Broadview, which, to my knowledge, is not that high up in demand. I think you have a pretty good chance of getting it at the deadline.</p>
<p>The dorms that are the fastest to go are Snitchcock, BJ, and Palevsky, in roughly that order.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, why are those dorms so quick to go?</p>
<p>They're the closest to the quads (though you could easily make the argument that Shoreland and Broadview are closer to the things that count, like DKE and the downtown #6 bus), BJ and Snitch are neo-gothic and have that "Woo-hoo they're a fireplace in my room!" charm to them.</p>
<p>Palevsky has great accommodations and is a really great place to live.</p>
<p>The other dorms all have their ups, too. It can be work to convince people that Pierce is a great place to live, but everybody I know who has ever been there has been immediately sold on it.</p>
<p>My daughter had a single in BJ all four years and loved it (she graduates in June and is looking for an apartment near her new grad school). Anyway, she liked it because she could open her door and be social or close it and do her own thing. Also, she made really close friends and they all roomed next door/across the hall from each other for all four years.</p>