<p>When we went to Duke Blue devil days, we did not eat in the cafeteria. How is the food there? </p>
<p>Also, I think I see that a student needs to pay extra for air conditioning in the dorm. Is that true? If you don't request it, is it possible that you will get A/C anyway? Is A/C recommended.</p>
<p>The marketplace is awesome...</p>
<p>My D was interested in getting a suite as a freshman with three of her friends, yet everything we have been told and read is that students don't get to choose dorms or room options besides the typical single room/double room preference. Are freshmen able to opt for suites?</p>
<p>No - the questionnaire is very short. From what I remember... do you smoke, do you like music in the room out loud, sleeping schedule, whether you would prefer a single, and whether you would prefer sub-free housing or single-gender floors.</p>
<p>You can request a roommate, and you should be able to request a triple, but you definately don't get to pick a dorm, and if she thought she was going to get a suite for just her and her 2 friends, I don't think she had much of an idea about what dorms are like.</p>
<p>do students usually get their top choice of which dorm they would like to be at? also, are there any suite options for freshmen at duke? since the weather can get rather hot at duke, what % of dorms and classrooms actually have a/c? </p>
<p>sorry for all the questions, I wasn't able to actually visit duke so it would be really nice if anyone could share some insight. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>You don't get to pick your dorm - your only choice is whether or not you want air conditioning. The only way you might be able to pick your dorm is by applying to a FOCUS and hoping that they keep it in the same dorm (but they sometimes switch them around.)</p>
<p>Most dorms on East (freshman dorms) are not air conditioned, but it really only effects you the first 2 weeks of the year or so. After that you adjust and it becomes cooler. All classrooms/academic buildings are air conditioned.</p>
<p>Is Duke's roommate matching really as good as a lot of people claim it is?</p>
<p>And what do you mean you can choose whether or not you want a/c? Wouldn't everyone choose to have it then? What if you have allergies?</p>
<p>It is a big difference in cost (and not supported in financial aid as far as I know), and like I said, it is not that big of a deal past the first few weeks. Plus on average I believe air conditioned rooms are smaller.</p>
<p>If you have allergies you can have a single air conditioner unit installed in your room, but you will still have to pay.</p>
<p>The roommate matching seems to be about average I would say. There are some people who love each other, some people who hate each other, and mostly in between. I can't really compare with other universities, but I have a hard time imagining anyone is much better or worse at it. However, since Duke is a selective school, it is likely that you won't have to deal with as many psychos/druggies/etc. as you would at a State school.</p>
<p>AC:</p>
<p>Yes, last year that option cost $1000. However, if it is medically necessary and supported by a note from a physician, financial aid was adjusted to cover the increased housing cost.</p>
<p>Also: asking for a centrally air-conditioned dorm does not mean you will get it, unless, again, there is a medically supported reason. Otherwise, you will get a window unit.</p>
<p>Randolph and Blackwell are in general smaller? I heard Bell Tower is amazing though...and I'm inclined to pick A/C because I really think I'd need it. On the other hand, if they're that much smaller, then I dunno...</p>
<p>if you're put in randolph/blackwell/bell, do you automatically get charged $1000 more just b/c it has a/c? or only if you get a unit installed?</p>
<p>randolph/blackwell/belltower has central A/C, you'll automatically get charged if you are assigned there.</p>
<p>"and if she thought she was going to get a suite for just her and her 2 friends, I don't think she had much of an idea about what dorms are like."</p>
<p>Azmodan, I said "three" friends, and if there are not 4 in a suite, please enlighten me. That's what my typical experience of a suite is. From everything we've heard and read you can only pick a roommate, not suitemates (nor a dorm with suites), but one of her friends said differently. I was just double-checking facts. Just out of curiousity, how many dorms on East Campus are arranged in dorms?</p>
<p>Only Wilson is suite style.</p>
<p>As for Bell Tower.. I hear that's a reason why dorms are for the most part picked randomly, :D</p>
<p>Yeah, Wilson is suite style, the other 13 freshman dorms are normal dorm style. I'm fairly positive that you are correct in that you can't request suitemates.</p>
<p>In regards to A/C (or lack thereof), I didn't mind not having it freshman year and I'm from up north. Nothing a couple of well placed fans couldn't handle. Others have a different perspective, but it's not nearly as bad as people think.</p>
<p>Is there a housing app for Duke? I'm looking for one but I can't find it so either it doesn't exist, or I need to spend my afternoon looking fo rit.</p>
<p>You'll get one some time in the next month or so.</p>
<p>Duke housing is the worst thing I've ever seen. For a school that's supposed to be the *<strong><em>. The housing is *</em></strong>. </p>
<p>No A/C in NC? What the hell?</p>