<p>Money pouring into private projects at U's around US.</p>
<p>IMHO, this is one reason why college costs are through the roof (no pun intended.) Kids feel like they have to have these amenities, plus dining halls that cater to every food fad and lifestyle choice known to mankind. Our idea of a luxury dorm was one with air conditioning. My school also had telephones - wall-mounted, rotary dial - in every room, which was unusual 30 years ago. Both my sons attended/will attend my alma mater and the dorm they consider old was the one everyone tried to get into when I was there. And when I tell them we had a choice of maybe two entrees and side dishes per meal, plus a salad bar in the dining halls, it’s like telling them we had only three channels on TV. </p>
<p>Well, in theory this private investment might save the universities money and allow them to focus on being academic institutions rather than luxury resorts. Economic segregation on campus is my main concern about this, rather than private dorms driving up costs for everyone. Trouble for the colleges would arise if they feel they need to compete with these resorts. To some extent, though, that’s a choice.</p>
<p>I have seen faculty–mostly on the left–worry about the economic segregation aspect and the potential that the campus leadership might feel the need to compete with these mostly private off campus projects. For me not a huge deal but some kids might be more sensitive/envious of others.</p>
<p>Wow, $870/month, utilities included, furnished, walking distance to campus, with a gym?? As a student who literally just navigated the Philly housing process, that’s actually a pretty great deal.</p>
<p>it is a great idea! if the schools updated housing so students are not stuck in a triple room without air conditioning and a community bathroom down the hall, they would benefit. in the meanwhile students will need to look to alternatives.
p.s. the cost of school is not going up because of students choosing nicer off campus housing (it is a small % of students who get this opportunity and not connected to the school sticker price…it is an added luxury) the talking point about new gyms and dorms on campus causing the cost of school to sky rocket is just off base. </p>
<p>"IMHO, this is one reason why college costs are through the roof (no pun intended.) Kids feel like they have to have these amenities, plus dining halls that cater to every food fad and lifestyle choice known to mankind. Our idea of a luxury dorm was one with air conditioning. My school also had telephones - wall-mounted, rotary dial - in every room, which was unusual 30 years ago. "</p>
<p>And we walked uphill in the snow, barefoot, both ways.</p>
<p>In 2006, my kid spent $800 a month for a bedroom in an apartment in Boston. It was very convenient to BU, but was really substandard student housing. Oh…and did I mention that they turned the LR into a bedroom. Four people shared this apartment. No amenities at all…not even a parking space.</p>
<p>You walked uphill in the snow? With a ton of coal on my back to sell to pay my tuition, I could barely crawl uphill in the snow. And that was just in summer.</p>
<p>Wow, thumper1, $800 a month for a bedroom in a substandard near BU in 2006. COL varies so much between regions. In fall 2014 my D will be paying under $400 a month for a bedroom in a four-bedroom student apartment near UGA. Complex is not old, nicely maintained and furnished, every bedroom has a private bathroom, complex has a large outdoor swimming pool and other amenities.</p>
<p>The huge state university where I did my masters had way more freshmen than on-campus housing spaces, so private dorms were very much a thing. They provided some of the additional programming and structure students usually get in dorms and probably some better amenities as well.</p>
<p>S paid $185/mo for his bedroom in a 4BR house just north of OSU. Shared bathroom but everything else house has, plus yard.</p>
<p>@Pizzagirl - Perhaps. But I toured S2’s dorm with him yesterday at freshman orientation. It was built around 1970 and has a/c but otherwise is a traditional dorm - he’s thrilled beyond belief with it!</p>
<p>Yeah, well frankly for the big bucks I’m paying for my kids, their housing should be nicer. S’s housing has always been unimpressive; D’s housing is magnificent on the outside but it’s no great shakes on the inside. </p>
<p>Here is the new “luxury lifestyle” student housing they just built at University of Delaware. The video is impressive. I’ve seen them in person (from the outside) and the place looks very nice. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.retreatnewark.com/retreat-newark/”>http://www.retreatnewark.com/retreat-newark/</a></p>
<p>I feel that for the cost of “regular” dorms that pretty much look like freshly painted prison cells with a door, the least they could do would be to have a/c with the weather so unpredictable these days.</p>