<p>My daughter had been waiting and waiting for word from ResLife about her housing assignment and roommate. Of course, as soon as she left the house to catch a train for a week's trip the mail arrived. I was able to call her and she asked I open the envelope while on the phone. To our surprise, there was a housing assignment but no roommate was listed! She is in Lewis Hall.</p>
<p>I've now just looked on the ResLife site and saw you can click on floor plans and it becomes obvious that her assigned room is a single! That is why no roommate was listed.</p>
<p>A freshman in a single (mixed freshman - upperclassman, I belive) doesn't seem to be the best - not for my daughter anyway. She is gone for a week but I'll have to let her know. She was waiting for her return to talk to her roommate to buy some of the room items. Oh well......... I guess we have more shopping.</p>
<p>Actually, my freshman year I was aware of some kids who were in singles, and most of them really appreciated it. Another few I know were given singles b/c of "special needs." But I'm guessing that the bigger reason your daughter is in a single is because the housing lottery was so messed up this year. On another forum it was mentioned that Tufts may be doing a hotel dorm at a nearby Hyatt, since there's not enough room for everyone on campus (I think both the class of 2009 and 2011 overenrolled, and we already had a housing shortage). It may actually have been lucky for your daughter that she was given a room on campus. Or she might have gotten a forced triple, though if she really wants roommates she might not be too opposed to that. I'd guess that if I desperately wanted roommates I might call up ResLife and offer to switch into a forced triple, but I'm not sure how responsive they'd be to that.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry about being in mixed housing in Lewis, though. Lewis is single-sex by wing, so your daughter would have girls on her hall, and most of the people I knew in Lewis became good friends with the people on their hall, sort of out of necessity. That's not to say that there are no boys around, though! They're just around the corner. I'd suggest that on her first few days, she should just walk around her floor and introduce herself to whoever has their door open, and she'll make friends nearby and be fine. :)</p>
<p>Besides - at least she didn't end up with a roommate with whom she's really incompatible!</p>
<p>If your daughter is really that interesting in moving out of a single and into a double, she shouldn't have much difficulty. After a waiting period of a couple weeks, she can do what's called a "Direct Room Swap." Basically, she finds someone who is willing to switch rooms and with whom she is willing to switch, and Reslife goes, "Okay!" and you get to switch rooms. It shouldn't be too hard to find someone who'd like a single. Reslife may even be willing to help her find that person (after a couple weeks go by and the waiting period on room swaps ends).</p>
<p>I would like to echo the sentiment expressed above, however, that she might find the arrangement to her liking. Also, Lewis is pretty great, and the freshmen in there tend to get pretty close.</p>
<p>I spoke with my daughter today and she was surprised by the single but is getting used to the idea. Maybe she will be happier in the end. She'll just have to make extra efforts to be friendly and meet people. </p>
<p>I was a freshman Lewis and hated it but I was stuck in a transfer student hall, so was obviously not in the same social mindset as those kids. Note that Lewis is the most massive dorm on campus, so it's full of tons of kids to meet, but it was also built in the era of riot-proof dorms so it's somewhat monstrous and not completely conducive to meeting anyone outside your hallway. If she makes more of an effort she'll be fine. I mean, for me, 70% of my friends ended up being in Tilton Hall, which is right next door, and Haskell which is on the other side of Tilton -- and are much more social.</p>
<p>Welcome, bca! I'm another new Tufts parent who has gotten a lot of helpful info here on CC-</p>
<p>Our S. has been assigned a double-turned-triple in Houston Hall. He mentioned tonight that some of the freshmen have started groups on 'facebook' according to specific dorms. It might be a good way for her to get in touch with some of her hallmates before arriving on campus.</p>
<p>Another question: S. doesn't mind the single, but isn't crazy about bunk beds. Do forced triples always require bunking?</p>
<p>Hi,
My son is also in a forced triple in Houston - 4th floor! I've called residential life because I was wondering about the desk situation in a forced triple. Does anyone know? I assume that there will be a bunkbed and a single bed, the closets will somehow be shared as well as the dressers (if there are dressers - anyone know?) but what about the desks? I'm waiting for residential life to call me back.....</p>
<p>I know that each occupant of every room will have his/her own desk. Also, I've never heard of anyone needing to share a dresser, so I'm pretty sure that they move an additional dresser into the rooms as well - though I'm not 100% on that last point.</p>
<p>Do you know if you can loft the beds, in the corners perhaps with a desk underneath, or do they have to be bunked with one directly over the other?</p>
<p>I think the rules are slightly different for each dorm, depending on the beds. If you go to ResLife website you can click on whatever your dorm and the standards for the bed heights and rules about lofting will be listed. Actually, I am not sure if lofting is allowed anywhere. I know my daughter's dorm has adjustable height beds so we know how much space is available for storage. No lofting is allowed.</p>