<p>Hello, parents! I'm asking for your advice...</p>
<p>I have a predicament for next fall. I will be a sophomore without a roommate.</p>
<p>This year, I stayed in an all-girls residence hall. One of my suitemates transferred last semester, my roommate is transferring after this semester, and my other suitemate is transferring after this year as well. Basically, my core group is all leaving. It's an unfortunate situation. I love my roommates. What about my other friends, you say? My prospective roommate and closest friend applied to be an RA so she won't be having a roommate. My other friends are staying in an expensive on-campus apartment (9k expensive..) and I don't think me or my parents can justify that cost.</p>
<p>What am I looking at? I can stay in my current residence hall and save money to then use for an off-campus apartment after sophomore year. But, the downside is I will more than likely have a freshman roommate/suitemates. The upside is laundry on every floor and central location and well, the dorm isn't that loud which is nice? However, there is an upperclassmen residence hall that is not 9k but 7k - it has a full kitchen, is apartment style, but is not very centrally located and probably isn't the best place to make friends (I have them but not a lot? I'm naturally introverted). But, I would be basically guaranteed at least a sophomore ranked roommate instead of a freshman roommate. But 2k more a year for just a full kitchen and less than ideal location?</p>
<p>Frankly, I'm stuck. I don't know what to do. I feel like a loser for not being like everyone else who has a roommate picked out for next fall. It just really bites that three of my best friends out of the few I've made are up and leaving. I'm worried that next year will be way worse - I'll be 'more' lonelier and this housing situation is just stressing me out. Will karma bite me by giving me a splendid first year housing situation and then making sophomore year hell? I have until the third week of February to decide... What would your advice be?</p>
<p>Is that $9K/year per PERSON or are they splitting that cost? Are there only 2 dorms on you campus? Is there a facebook page or campus site for people looking for roommates?</p>
<p>What’s wrong with having freshman roommates? If you got along with all three of your suitemates this year, the chances are good that you are pretty easy to live with and will make new friends next year, too. You’re only a year older than they are, right? You’ll be the cool sophomore who knows where everything is and can get them into apartment parties.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to minimize your disappointment at your closest friends leaving. That’s a loss. But you don’t have to resign yourself to life as a lonely loser as a result. Start over in the situation that gives you the best odds of making new friends and that you can afford. Sounds like that would mean staying in your current hall.</p>
<p>SteveMA: The cost is 9k per person per academic year in the on-campus apartment. There are about 10 residence halls/dorms, but the majority are party dorms or too expensive and one is all-boy so that’s obviously out.</p>
<p>Hanna: Thank you! I think I would get along fine with a freshman, but I worry if they would be uncomfortable. I can help them with adjusting, sure, but am in no way a route for parties and exciting things? I just worry about the other person more so than myself in this situation, I guess. You make a great point. Our hall is pretty quiet, though, but it certainly has a lot of prospective friends (600+), so that’s a point to consider heavily.</p>
<p>OP, you sound a great deal like my DD2 who roomed with a freshman her second year - not a partier, quiet. She’s graduating this year and has some great friends she texts and calls (more often than her mother and I).</p>
<p>The only caveat I would place on staying where you currently are is if you are doing so with the assumption that your hall will be pretty quiet next year simply because that has been the vibe this year. I point that out because you’ve mentioned it twice and it seems to be a plus factor for you. Moving in 600 new first year students next year you have no idea what vibe the hall will take on. Each year can be different. I’d just hate for you to use that as one of your deciding factors and then find the hall to be loud, party central, etc.</p>
<p>“I just worry about the other person more so than myself in this situation, I guess.”</p>
<p>Nah, they’re only at a disadvantage if you were the kind of sophomore so settled in your life that you weren’t open to making new friends. That’s the opposite of what you are.</p>
<p>Your friends in the expensive apartment are likely to remain your friends if you put some effort into staying in touch. Having an expanded network on campus is good for everyone – you’ll get to know the new freshman class, and they can potentially get to know yours.</p>
<p>Does the Student Housing office have a room-mate matching service for students who are already there (not incoming freshmen)? It seems to me that my school did, but that was long ago. Maybe some people are transferring in to your school too and need room-mates?</p>
<p>If you go for the apartment style with full kitchen, domyounhaveto have a meal plan? And next year where will your classes be? Are we talking an extra five minutes walk time?</p>
<p>I would go for apartment style and avoid freshman dorm. I say this bbecuase your friends would rather hang out in an apartment then with a bunch of freshman in a cramped dorm room. There is a benefit to cooking for yourself as well. As well you could get a really wild roommate who has wild friends and dives right into the college party scene.</p>
<p>Have you asked around to friends of friends and made sure you can’t find another sophomore to room with next year? Also I would consider the dorm with the kitchen as well. You will still be able to see your friends in the expensive apartments. Just make sure you keep reaching out to them.</p>