Does the quality of dorms, food, roommate, weather conditions matter much if you’re only spending four years there?
Four years is a long time.
Of course it matters, the question is how much?
My D has an option in San Diego roughly equivalent academically to an in state option that is $17k per year less. Not paying that for her to be in San Diego and I don’t want her to be in debt for that either.
It matters, but likely on a continuum. For my kids, college life is hugely important. One needs to be near a big city to not feel suffocated and one craves warm weather and the ocean with every fiber of her being. Within reason and ability they’ll both frame their searches (and choices) around those things being important to them. For my younger daughter, who has celiac, food becomes an even more important consideration than it would be for most kids.
It’s very important. For the most part unless you’re at an ivy league school academic rankings only go so far. It’s 24/7 for 4 years so quality of life is very important. I applied to schools that I felt I could have fun in and enjoy myself. And now that im a third year I’m so glad I made that choice. Time goes by very slowly if you’re miserable.
If your goal is to graduate with a BS or BA degree, then you should put yourself in the best possible position to achieve that goal. If you succeed best surrounded by friends and “college life”, then choose a college that offers that. If you are an introvert, maybe other factors come into play. You might consider reflecting about “who” you are and what you need to succeed and ask for advice in a separate thread on what colleges folks might recommend for you. I am astonished by the level of knowledge posters have on this site. They can rattle off a list of 20 colleges that seem handpicked and perfect.
To answer your question, if college is important to you to succeed in college, then make that a criteria in your search.
Depends on the college. If it’s been your dream college for all your life, would you pass up because of the weather, mediocre quality of dorm, dining food, etc.? On the other hand, if you’ve been accepted to a few colleges to select from and you don’t have any strong feeling for one specifically, then the role of weather, dorm life, food, social scene, etc. can come into play a whole lot more.
Quality of dorms: Maybe the lowest. They really are mostly the same, for freshman. Now, lack of reasonable housing for upperclassman can be an issue, but I don’t think many people choose colleges based on that!
Food: Again, a lot of it is in the same range, with some outliers on either side. If you have an allergy or strong preference, such as gluten free/vegan etc, this will be important. For most, I think food is just another factor that plays into your daily life but not in a hugely significant way. I think most colleges have the basics covered.
Roomate: IMO huge. Anecdotally, about 2/3 of the transfer after freshman year stories I have heard had to do mostly with the roommate. Now is this something to obsess over, no, and there is no perfect way to select one. I think expectations need to be set and attitude and patience can go a long way into how much your roommate affects your college experience!
Weather conditions: For some, this will be a more important factor. If finances allow, college can be a nice temporary way to experience a different climate. Some have strong preferences for geography and weather, some don’t.
In short I think it depends really depends on each individual person how these things will affect their quality of life and therefore should be considered in the college decision. For many, all of these factors will be relatively minor, especially if you’re an easy going person who is open to new experiences. Maybe for some, these factors would only come into play if the “more important” factors (cost, program of study, academics, post-grad statistics, etc) are already being considered and they need something to tip the scales.
@TS0104 thanks so much! This really helps me gain perspective on different factors of the college experience. I think the only part that would really be important to me is the roommate but, like you said, is not a guaranteed thing. How often do students see their roommate?
Definitely personal preference!
I would have put “roommate” last on the list of things to consider. At most schools you have zero control over who you are paired with so it’s not something that can be planned. My roommate was horrible freshman year so I only used my room for sleeping. I had plenty of friends elsewhere and we didn’t live together again. It was less than a year of my life. Not the end of the world. My daughter hit the roommate jackpot and loves all her roommates (they’re in a quad).
Interestingly for my daughter, food, was more of a priority. One school we visited came off her list partially because the dining hall was so horrible.
My daughter doesn’t like the heat so southern schools weren’t even considered.
Dorms didn’t matter to her at all.
@momofsenior1 I was actually thinking of living in a triple or quad. It seems more appealing to me somehow and would be less expensive. Would you possibly recommend that?
My daughter didn’t plan on living in a quad but absolutely loves it. She would tell you to go for it!
@momofsenior1 Wouldn’t there be a greater chance of not getting along with the other roommates?
I was in a quad my freshman year as well (in the stone ages). Having two other roommates who I actually liked is what saved the situation for me.
There is going to be a risk of not getting along no matter what your living situation is. IMO, it’s not something that can be predicted. My best advice is to be honest when completing the housing questionnaires, communicate with your roommates, before hand, and to be respectful. You don’t have to be BFFs but living in harmony is worth its weight in gold.
PS. The other thing my daughter loved about being in a quad is that it extended her social circle more quickly at a school where she went in not knowing anyone.
@momofsenior1 Okay, one more question. Are triples and quads a haven for parties? I’m not much of a party person, but I like a group of close friends.
That hasn’t been my daughter’s experience at all.
Partying and having people in the room was part of the dorm questionnaire too, and they worked on a roommate agreement prior to school starting. The agreement was then reviewed with the RA a few weeks into the first semester.
@momofsenior1 Thanks! You’ve been really helpful and I will definitely look into triple and quad housing options to see what fits best.
For most students, what you list are unaffordable luxuries. Most families can’t afford to send their kids out of state to a school in California for the weather or the beach. They are stuck choosing from in state publics or whatever privates offer the most scholarships.
@roethlisburger Yeah, I don’t think I would ever be able to afford an out-of-state school. It’s great that I actually really enjoy Michigan’s weather! Most of the factors I listed I guess don’t differ that much (from the colleges I am considering). Just trying to choose between colleges in a long in-state list.
I agree that the roommate is not something you have control over! So it’s important to manage your expectations and attitude going in, because the relationship has potential to be a big part of your daily life. As for triple/quad etc, I would say to think about how heavy or light a sleeper you are!