<p>My dorm hall says microwaves aren't allowed unless it's rented/bought from Cornell at an absurd price. How would it play out if I were to have a microwave in my room, ignoring the rule? Is that fairly common?</p>
<p>I think most if not all dorms have a microwave available in the common pantry-like area. The reasons are fire hazard and current draw ratings of microwaves. They are hard to control if housing lets everyone bring their own. I’ve tripped circuit breakers in the rooms with a target $5 kettle. We ended up boiling our hot chocolate water in the hallway outlets. Low Rise 6.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with current draw ratings of kettles/microwaves but I’m guessing that it probably would not work out well for you if you brought your own. None of my friends have ever brought their own though since there’s a common microwave.</p>
<p>You really don’t need one. There’s a microwaves in all the common rooms of the dorms. And there’s usually not a line waiting at the microwave. Why not just save money by not buying/renting a microwave at all?</p>
<p>It is not common to break that rule. They do look at the rooms for things that shouldn’t be there. A microwave is a bad idea. Use the one in the common kitchen.</p>