Lack of campus housing?

<p>I have recently read that due to the large number of upperclassmen who wanted to live on campus next year, many current WPI freshmen were shut out in the on-campus housing lottery for next year. Apparently much stress resulted for these kids and their parents. </p>

<p>This came as a surprise to me, as when we visited WPI with my high school student last year we were given the impression that almost everyone who wants on-campus housing gets it. I realize that most schools do not guarantee four years of housing, but the idea of my student forced to find a Worcester apartment after only one year of campus living is a real turn-off. Anyone have or know a current WPI student in this situation? Does this seems to be a trend that is likely to continue? WPI is apparently growing in popularity and size but this is not a good thing if the campus facilities (including housing) cannot keep pace. Thanks for any info.</p>

<p>It’s hard for me to believe that freshman would lose on-campus housing options. There are dedicated dorms for freshman and the freshman are not in the room lottery in most colleges. The lottery is where existing students get a number, then pick from available spaces when their number is called. Freshman typically choose a type of housing or sometimes building, but usually are not in the full lottery.</p>

<p>In any event, need to get some clarity from an official WPI source.</p>

<p>Many students do move off campus after just one year. My DD (currently a senior) was one of them. WPI is adding more on-campus housing, so that should ease the situation somewhat.</p>

<p>My DD thought process in choosing to live off campus:

  1. It is a lottery to determine the order in which one can select your residence hall, so she might not get her first choice.
  2. Many of the residence halls require you to be on the meal plan as they have no kitchens. She did not like this as she is a fussy eater and also a good cook, so having a place with a kitchen was a requirement for her.
  3. Once the lottery takes place, those that don’t get what they want will put more pressure on the good available apartments.
  4. She (and her friends that were going in on an apartment with her) could get ahead of the game by looking for and acquiring an apartment before the lottery (which is what they did).</p>

<p>As WPI has not had enough space for all of it’s students, there are a number of apartments quite near school that are available to the students. My DD is about 10 minutes walk from the quad.</p>

<p>I just re-read the OP and see that lotsalego said ‘current freshman’… That puts a different spin on it. I misinterpreted it to be incoming freshmen. </p>

<p>We visited WPI last year too and were told similar. Sure there are lots of good reasons to move off campus if that’s what you want to do…but I too would feel uncomfortable if my sophomore child didn’t have the choice. He’s a student athlete and I’m not sure how he’d enjoy walking 10 minutes in the MA snow for a 6am team workout. If WPI is a serious contender I think it’s worth a call to res life and see what their plans are for making more rooms available and what the schedule will be. </p>

<p>Yes, JoBenny, I would have similar concerns. We will definitely do additional research on this if WPI is on his final list. It will be interesting to hear how it all turns out this year. There was a pretty emotional thread about this on the WPI Parents’ FB page in late February. Sounds like some sophs were getting housing via the waitlist, but one at a time and not necessarily with the friends they had planned to room with.</p>

<p>If you are concerned about walking 10 minutes thru snow at 6am for a team workout, then avoid most schools in the “snow belt”. Some “on-campus” housing at WPI is about 5 to 7 minutes walk to the athletic center. And that is typical for a lot of schools I have seen. Dorms aren’t always right next to the athletic facilities. {I played varsity hockey in college (not WPI) and had a 15 to 20 minute walk back to my “on-campus” residence after evening practice. It never felt as any kind of big deal to me, even when there was snow on the ground.}</p>

<p>I don’t mean to be snarky about it but, if you live in snow country, you learn to live with snow; whether it is walking to school, going to class from one end of campus to the other, walking to the store or just going out in the evening.</p>

<p>HPuck, we are from the Northeast, so snow does not bother him. Nor would walking in general. The concern would be walking to and from an off-campus apartment at very late or very early hours. (My student is not an athlete but has other interests that might require this.) I fully realize that some kids don’t mind this; I also realize that many enjoy living in an apartment for a variety of reasons. But my kid likes the idea of living on campus and residence hall life, doesn’t mind cafeteria food, and thus I was taken aback by hearing that it might be difficult for rising sophomores to get campus housing, which was not the impression we got from our initial visit. That was the point of my original post.</p>

<p>I was addressing the comment that JoBenny made about walking in snow. I realize that some kids prefer café food as they do not like or have the time to cook. Apartment living is different from dorm life and I do realize that some prefer dorms.</p>

<p>BTW, WPI does have a safe ride service. My DD has used it when returning to her apartment from the campus at night when she is by herself.</p>

<p>I was never under the impression that WPI guaranteed housing after freshmen year. My D lived off campus since sophomore year, and hasn’t regretted it. Her apartment is much nicer than the dorms and much less expensive. She also uses the shuttle at night.</p>

<p>This is the first time WPI did not have enough housing to meet demand. Even last year I remember them advertising they still had some open beds after the lottery, and last year WPI rented out a few rooms to Becker College students. So Becker must have been short on dorm space that year.
Seems like too many upperclassmen decided to stay on campus this year.
Last I heard, they had made accommodations for most of the kids who had lost out in the lottery.
Also note, the campus is surrounded by apartments, many of which are rented out to students, so some of the kids don’t have far to walk at all.
I wouldn’t let this current situation be a deal breaker. Shortages of dorm space is not that unusual. </p>

<p>My D lives off campus as a sophomore this year and is also an athlete. Her house is right across the street from a dorm and is a shorter walk to the field than her freshman dorm last year. I do, however, understand the concern of parents. I went to a school for undergrad where 90% of students stayed on campus all 4 years. I was a little concerned about the thought of my D moving off so early. My H, on the other hand, is an alum of WPI and thought I was crazy being so concerned. I think it all comes down to understanding the culture of a particular school. WPI is literally surrounded by student apartments, most of which are a shorter walk to virtually anywhere on campus than many dorms at larger schools like UMass. For my D, the decision came down to food (she hates the campus food), affordability (12 month off campus lease is MUCH less expensive than dorms for school year), and convenience (being able to come and go as she pleases during breaks and being able to consider summer internships near Worcester knowing that she will have housing). That said, she has many friends who decided to stay in WPI on campus apartments this year who are very happy as well. Just be aware that one of the newest and most popular spots for upperclassman (Faraday) is a long walk from the main part of campus. Students living there walk by many frat houses and off campus apartments on the way to class! </p>

<p>Thanks for the input. I don’t think this will be a dealbreaker – just one of many possible comparison points. There is certainly a lot to like about WPI.</p>

<p>I just returned from a WPI visit and asked this very question. I was told roughly 125 people had been locked out of campus housing after the lottery. The school has since accommodated all but 20. They plan on eventually finding suitable housing for these students. I was told bottom line, if a student really wants to live on campus they will be accommodated.</p>

<p>Yes, costs are quite different for on-campus housing verses an off-campus apartment. WPI’s website lists costs and the line item for “room and board” is over $13,000. My DD split the cost of their apartment equally and her share (for 12 months) was $4,000. Her share of the utilities was under $70 a month. She ate out once in a while, but did eat at her apartment most of the time. Never did take the time to figure out her actual food costs but it wasn’t a whole lot as they frequented the discount food stores that are nearby.</p>

<p>Biggest hassle was getting furniture. We are from the opposite coast and so had to obtain everything back there. Bought her a decent bed at a furniture store and everything else at Ikea. Their common living room furniture was stuff they bought used from other students that were moving out or off of craig’s list. Actually found some pretty good stuff. Much easier if you are local.</p>

<p>Thanks, crazymama and HPuck, for the information.</p>