<p>Hey! So I see that a lot of people are trying to find room mates on Facebook; but why, does Duke have a history of pairing people up with incompatible room mates? is it done randomly, or do we fill out a survey?</p>
<p>Also, when we fill out the room preference forms later on will we be able to state what dorm we want? (for example: I may want Wilson because it's suite style) </p>
<p>I was also thinking about doing the Wellness program....but I'm afraid that it has a social stigma to it or that it will affect my social life...does anyone know anything about that from experience?</p>
<p>Lastly, I want to do the Focus program but I've heard that many people say it's not worth it. Should I do it anyway?</p>
<p>The survey for roommate selection only asks and matches you for the following questions: do you mind if your roommate smokes, when do you usually get up/go to sleep, and do you prefer noise while studying? Aside from that, it’s mostly random unless you do a special program like Wellness or if you’re in a Focus.</p>
<p>Dorm selection is random. You can state your preference for single/double/triple and AC/no AC but you’re not guaranteed to get it. Special programs like Wellness have a designated dorm so you’ll be there if you do it. Each Focus also has an assigned dorm but you won’t know which dorm beforehand. All people in the same Focus will be living near each other.</p>
<p>There was an earlier thread about Wellness and the social stigma. The answer is no, no one really cares if you’re doing it or not.</p>
<p>There are pros and cons to doing Focus.
Pros: you live near and take the same classes with the same small group of people, so it’s a convenient way to build a group of friends; you get to know some professors in a small classroom setting, as well as have meals with them on occasion, making them a good source of recommendations early in your college career.
Cons: Focus classes don’t usually count toward any major, so all they’ll do is go toward your general requirements, making it harder to double major or take extra fun classes in the future; if you hate the other people in your Focus or your professors, I’d imagine it’d be a nightmare.</p>
<p>my sister is s senior at duke, and left it to chance freshman year and ended up with a TERRIBLE roommate, whom she had NOTHING in common with. i would definetly find a roommate myself if i was you. also my sister did the focus group adn did not like it at all. she siad it was a waste of time.</p>
<p>My 5th cuzin twice removed, who went 2 Dook at some point in time also said that he saw the GHOST of Jimmy B Dook in the mimoreal chaple and that a flying sauser LANDED in the trees behind their one night. The place’s totally WACKED!!!</p>
<p>Yea, so if I was going to Dook I’d DEFIANTLY avoid that whole West Campus part to avoid alien abductions and stuff.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help. I was going to do it randomly but now that I know how things might work out, I’m probably going to try and find a roommate. Thanks again!!</p>
<p>Parent here.
Son was randomly matched with his freshmen roommate and it was a terrific combination: they had a lot in common, got along, did some things together socially, in the same tent, had some separate groups of friends that overlapped occasionally…all in all, about as good as it could have been.</p>