I know I won’t have to worry about housing for awhile, but I was just wondering–how likely is it to get a single freshman year if I put down single room as my first choice? Also, does anyone know what the setup for most singles is (hallway bathroom or a few singles sharing one bathroom)? Is it considered odd to have a single at WashU or do a fair number of people have them?
I just have become rather hesitant about having a roommate after hearing so many roommate horror stories over the years, especially knowing how much I like my personal space and privacy. At the same time, though, I don’t want my lack of a roommate to get in the way of making friends or adjusting properly to college life. I just want to know if it is even likely that I would be able to get a single before I start worrying about what the ideal dorm setup is for me.
Thanks in advance for any information/insights you have to offer.
Best to decide what you want and choose it. Don’t worry about what everyone else does. This is a new start so you don’t have to follow.
Although singles aren’t anywhere as common as doubles, I do know a few people that have them. Also I know people that got “stuck” in a single even though they put double so if you put it as your first choice, you’ll probably have a good chance of getting it. The bathroom will be in the hall and communal if you’re in the traditionals Lee and Beaumont. If you’re in a modern dorm I’m pretty sure you still share your bathroom with a double but I’m not completely sure. Floorplans are available on the residential life website.
As for “roommate horror stories” it’s a very rare occurrence and if you do realize there’s absolutely no way you can coexist, res life will find you a single and you’ll be able to move out. Realize that you don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, at the bare minimum you just have to respect each other and coexist. Either way it is up to you. As long as you make the effort to leave the room and socialize there’s really no way a single should hinder your social life.
@srivapau Thank you so much! Your feedback is really helpful!
You’re welcome, glad I could help!
I realize that your question at this point is limited to seeing if a single would likely be an available option at Wash U. I think that has been properly answered for you. Nonetheless, I will add some unsolicited thoughts.
--Learning to co-exist is a process for which the college atmosphere is perfectly suited. Many people find out that they are able to work out how to do that while preserving their privacy and personal space to a readily acceptable degree. Many discover that the edges of their personal space are more flexible than they thought. These skills will never be so easily learned as now and most of us need those skills as we share space with others going forward--in our world and in our homes.
--Although there are rare instances of the roommate 'horror stories' you refer to, the instances of positive roommate experiences are common. Many times those positive instances continue to enrich our lives long after a bad experience would have been forgotten. There are online services to help find potential matches. At least explore before reaching a conclusion.
--There are very likely to be some negatives to living in a single, especially as a freshman. Be sure to objectively include those factors in your evaluation.
Best of luck, whatever you decide. Wash U is an incredibly welcoming environment.
My daughter is a freshman and her first choice was a modern double. She ended up with her fourth choice which is a traditional single. It’s a suite style. She was very disappointed at first because she really wanted a roommate. But now she’s loving it. She has bunch of girls in her suite and a room all to herself. But my point is, this is not what she originally wanted and now loves it so you don’t know until you try it. Most of her friends have no problems with their roommates. One has a huge problem and is being relocated next semester. Interesting enough the 2 girls found each other on the Internet. The impression I got is that if you find your own roommate and you both request a modern double, you most likely will get it. My daughter decided to go random and got a single. But this is just an observation