Housing Selection and Lottery; Quiet House?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Clark University
1

<p>Hi:
I was wondering if anyone had any information about the Quiet House at Clark. My son is a freshman and is wanting a more quiet environment for next year than the dorm setting. He has selected The Quiet House as his choice, but it only accommodates 12 students and he is not sure he will get it.<br>
Any info pro/con about The Quiet House (**not to be confused with the Wellness House)</p>

<p>My son had a lot of trouble sleeping this year and would prefer a quieter setting. That said, he does play guitar (quietly!), so hope that still will be okay. Hopefully so, as he won't do it at 2:30am!! </p>

<p>The housing process is very confusing. Be fair-warned freshman! I'm sure it will be old hat next year, but it seems somewhat complicated presently. </p>

<p>Any advice welcome!
CCL</p>

2

<p>If your son’s dorm is not quiet enough for him to sleep at night, does that mean there’s a lot of partying going on or why is his dorm so noisy?</p>

<p>This is very important information because, although my D has no problem sleeping even in somewhat noisy situations, if it means that Clark is a party school, she won’t want to go there.</p>

3

<p>IMHO: On some level, all schools which have gathered a bunch of 18-19 year olds in a shared living situation are parties waiting to happen. My impression is that Clark is less of a party school than many, although not as authoritarian as some. Listening to college age kids who gather at my home during vacations, I have not heard about such intense Clark parties as at some other schools. OTOH: I have not surveyed or interviewed students, merely overheard conversations and listened to my own kids as they talk about their lives at their respective colleges.</p>

<p>There will always be people who need a quiet living space, a place to regroup from the hubbub. Freshman year at many schools can be difficult because single rooms are seldom offered or encouraged. I believe Smith may be an exception.</p>

<p>S2, a dorm living Clarkie, can appear to be a fairly social guy, but he really needs time for quiet. Fortunately, his roommate is a very respectful kid; both take their academics seriously. There was a period during the fall when a group on a particular floor of the dorm was quite noisy; I believe peer pressure from other residents told those kids to settle down. Not sure whether the RA intervened. S has not complained about dorm chaos, although he has chosen to have a very quiet, low key spring break. He likely needed the quiet respite.</p>

<p>Later today, he goes back to Worcester. When he wakes up, I will ask him about dorm partying. I know it is less than at S1’s school.</p>

4

<p>I haven’t been to the quiet house once it was moved to 112 woodland, but looking at a layout of it online here [Residential</a> Life and Housing | Clark University](<a href=“http://www.clarku.edu/offices/housing/options/oncampus/hallhouses.cfm]Residential”>http://www.clarku.edu/offices/housing/options/oncampus/hallhouses.cfm) it doesn’t really look that appealing. Based on my experience with the housing lottery it is very difficult for sophomores to end up anywhere but hughs, dana, and possibly maywood. I ended up not getting a room at the housing lottery my freshmen year and didn’t know where I was living until a week before the fall semester of my sophomore year. They ended up sticking my roommate and I in johnson with a bunch of freshmen, transfers, and other “undesirables” (just a joke). </p>

<p>Another thing to note is that it looks like a majority of the rooms are singles. I am assuming these are treated like singles in an apartment, which are the second most expensive housing option on campus (just behind a single in blackstone). I could be wrong about that though.</p>

<p>Finally, if he does live in the quiet house, he is going to have to get used to walking. 112 woodland is kinda on the edge of campus, but safety shouldn’t be a worry.</p>

5

<p>What about gender neutral housing–I understand that Clark has it, but it is not available to freshmen. Does anyone know how hard it is to get into it?</p>

6

<p>Its not very difficult. They will only do it if both you and your potential roommate request it. I have a friend who did it sophomore. She shared a double with a guy in a suite in maywood. Their parents knew. They didn’t have any problems, they don’t live together anymore, but are still friends. </p>

<p>Its also possible for guys and girls to live together in separate rooms in a suite. I know a bunch of people who’ve done this. There isn’t anything special you need to do.</p>

7

<p>Oh god, the variety offered is endless! Are people already making choices, taking up the most desirable places?</p>

8

<p>Thanks for everyone’s input. Sorry for the delay in responding. My CC notifications are going to an email that I hadn’t checked! Felt bad when I came today and saw all the replies.<br>
My son did an application for the Quiet House, but at the last possible minute, switched his application to regular suite style/dorm. He surprisingly got a very good Housing Lottery number, so quickly was approached by other students wanting to room in a 4 person suite at Maywood (2 singles/1 double). It is more expensive to live in suites. </p>

<p>Here’s what we’ve heard: His freshman dorm, Wright Hall, is noted for being the loudest dorm. We were very disappointed last year when he was placed there, as it was his last choice. The year could have been very different for him, and honestly, even two weeks ago I called Resident Housing to see if he could move at this point, as it is bothering him so much. His roommate (and his friends) are not the completely respectful type. Coming in at 2:30-3AM, waking him up, rummaging through his little snack drawers for food etc. The other night at 3am, someone was screaming in the lounge, and my son never got back to sleep until 6am, last week, it happened with roommates friends coming in the middle of the night, and then he felt so sick in the morning, he couldn’t attend a very important field trip with a class. I was livid. </p>

<p>Most kids do adjust to dorm noise, unfortunately my son was not one of them, plus not having a roommate who is respectful is tough. It’s not that he personally is loud, but he is a partier. I don’t know what’s going on with the RA and wish they could help. My son of course, doesn’t want to complain, etc. so part of it is his lack of advocacy for himself and not wanting to make a big deal of it. </p>

<p>As for Clark being a ‘party school’, I don’t think that is it. I just think this particular dorm is the largest freshman dorm and a magnet for social gatherings. Plus my son unfortunately is overly sensitive to it. He does not party so the combination is not a good mix.</p>

<p>I’ve heard nice things about the Quiet House, so I’m hoping he didn’t make a mistake for next year choosing Maywood suite style living. My niece lived there after two years in the [louder] dorms and said Maywood was much better and he should be fine. </p>

<p>I’m happy that my son is hanging in the library a lot just for some quiet, but the fact that he feels like he has to do that because his roommate and friends are playing video games in his room is a bit annoying. Oh well.<br>
Thanks again everyone.</p>