<p>Our son is likely to attend CU-Boulder starting in Fall of 2013. We didn't have good experiences 30 years ago and firmly believe that it is not in the best interest of our son to live in the dorms, but CU-Boulder has a "requirement" that freshmen live in the dorms. How firm is this requirement? Obviously, if we lived in Boulder, he could commute, but we're about an hour away, and that is a bit too far, especially in winter. Are exceptions made? What would be the best way to approach the CU administrators? </p>
<p>Please, don't tell us what a wonderful and necessary experience it is to live in a dorm. You won't change our minds, and more importantly, we don't want this to turn into a religious discussion of the merits of dorm vs. off-campus living.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>It will be extremely difficult, say near impossible to get your kid out of a freshman dorm contract with CU. Oh and it is college, as difficult as it is, things do change and you need to give your kid some distance. Just let him stay in the dorm, it will be the best for him.</p>
<p>As far as I’m aware, other than the commuter scenario, you have to present some pretty exceptional reasons to be able to opt your student out. Simply because you as parents don’t believe it’s a good idea based in part on your own previous experience and your current perceptions of today’s dorm living aren’t going to be sufficient. As the mom of two recent CU-Boulder grads (2010 and 2012) I do have to say that both did just fine in the dorm experience - lived there the requisite one year; experienced both good and bad - and both turned out relatively normal and employed. 
I hope your son has a positive college experience, no matter where he goes.</p>
<p>I would simply tell CU that he was going to commute from home - problem solved, and then do whatever you think is best, after all, your his parents. Personally, I would rather my child live at Williams Village (which is usually quieter and is away from campus) than have him live off campus in his Freshman year.</p>
<p>I did exactly what AEL2011 is describing. Told them I lived at home and got a house. Wish I went to the dorms, but hey my parents didn’t care and I didn’t want to pay dorm rent.</p>