<p>so i know everyone is assigned a minerva house but freshmen don't get to live in them right? i think i read freshmen are put in doubles or quads..is one better than the other and how do they decide who gets what? first come first serve?</p>
<p>My son is a freshman. I believe there are 4 dorm options; all have singles, doubles and suites. One dorm (Webster) is designated focused study - for kids who pledge to be substance free. Funny concept, since all dorms are supposed to be substance free but reflects the rational view of administration. Other dorms are Davidson, West (where the freshman dining room is) and I forget the fourth. I think the room choice is based on your preference. My son is in a suite (2 doubles around a common area) with the rooms slightly smaller than the true doubles. As far as I know there are no triples, and yes, students can't live in the Minerva's as freshmen.</p>
<p>There is a large grassy area in front of West that was called "West Beach back in the day when I attended Union. While on tour with my S, I found out that it is still called that (30 years later :)) It's a nice place to hang out and read or toss a ball around when the weather is warm enough. The rooms in West are traditional doubles. It is nice to be able to wander right down to the dining hall for brunch on Saturday or Sunday without leaving the dorm. I would check with a current student, but it was a popular place to live when I was there.</p>
<p>My last visit to West was the kiss of death in terms of killing any thoughts my S had to follow in Mom's footsteps. I thook S on a tour of Union in his junior year. I SWORE I would not be one of those obnoxious alums on college tours who act like they know more than the tour guide. I kept nice and quiet until we got up to second floor West and I saw my old room from freshman year. I started gesturing excitedly and exclaiming to S, "There's my room!" He looked like he wanted to crawl under a rock and disown me:) He applied and was accepted, but after that incident I think he decided to go somewhere where he could make his own memories and not worry about Mom reliving hers:)</p>