<p>Pros, cons, feedback from any of you, or your kids, who have experienced living in these dorms?</p>
<p>I think its great, but my D wouldn't go for it. Even though she doesn't drink or smoke, and really doesn't tolerate anyone who does, I think she thinks the substance free dorm would be filled with geeks. I don't agree. The colleges we visited, the substance free dorms all looked very nice, and seemed to be in nice locations on campus. I would also like to hear feedback from someone who lives in one. Is it mostly females who request it? I don't know why but I would imagine alot of guys wouldn't request it.</p>
<p>This was my curiousity: is it "geeks" or is it a nice, vomit-free zone where you can go to sleep at a reasonable time if you <em>want</em> to?</p>
<p>My D is non drinker & non smoker but definitely very sociable and fun, a little zany, and her friends are diverse (some are partiers.) She is also still getting taller so sleeps more than any teen I know; actually usually goes to bed before 10pm! (I know this will change in college.) If the people were fun/open minded in substance free she'd probably enjoy it...</p>
<p>A friend of my sons, who graduated last year and is a college freshman this year, indicated "no preference" on his housing form and was placed in a "substance-tolerant" dorm (and to think I didn't even know there <em>was</em> such a thing). He got so tired of the drinking and (especially) pot smoking going on around him 24-7 that he transferred to a room in another dorm that is "substance-free". He is much happier, and has no trouble finding fun and social activities.</p>
<p>I live is a substance free dorm at WashU and I love it! It is a lot quieter than the other dorms (although that doesn't mean we're quiet). Some people on the floor drink at parties, but alcohol is not allowed in our dorm. Our building definitely isn't full of geeks. Some people choose sub-free because they don't drink -- some choose it because they want a quieter dorm to study in. lowermorelandmom -- Our floor is 50/50 male/female.</p>
<p>"This was my curiousity: is it "geeks" or is it a nice, vomit-free zone where you can go to sleep at a reasonable time if you <em>want</em> to?"</p>
<p>No one said music or video game free dorms, so I doubt sleep is entirely the issue (at my S's current university/high school dorms are actually segregated by type of music people listen to). My S will probably insist on a "substance free" dorm, though his school will probably be higher on the geek scale than most.</p>
<p>BuffyAngel,</p>
<p>Thanks for chiming in! This sort of enviornment would probably appeal to my D.</p>
<p>One of my sons lived in a substance free zone for a year and liked it. He said it was nice walking out in the hall and not seeing vomit stains, (or kids vomiting) etc. He said it was a huge (positive) difference for him. And yes, the kids in the substance free dorms still have a lot of fun! </p>
<p>I know of two kids that quit (2 different) public universities last year because they could not stand the amount of partying going on. They moved home and now commute. I can't help but to think that maybe if they had requested "substance free" they would still be there on campus. Again, both of these kids are "fun" kids, they simply don't drink or do drugs and don't care to be in an environment where everyone is trashed all the time.</p>
<p>My oldest D did not get assigned to a substance free floor her freshman year, but did get on a "quiet" floor meaning no room parties after a certain time. The second floor of her dorm was the substance free floor and I am not sure what the first floor was, other than all males and mostly upper classmen. She really enjoyed the arrangement, but it is a small campus so she had friends in many different dorms. Never had trouble finding a loud party when she wanted one but could always study in her room when she needed to. A friend's son had a different expence at a different LAC. He complained that the substance free dorms were a joke because parents forced their student to sign up for them when the student had no desire to be in a substance free dorm. All depends on the individual school. I am glad that there are choices. The "quiet" floor was nice, I don't know if they still offer that option.</p>
<p>My daughter was in a subfree dorm for three years. She decided it would be quieter than a "quiet" dorm that quiets down after 10.
It was very nice, most kids stayed together for 2years, then several took advantage of upperclassman status to get nicer dorms on campus.
This was a small college, and virtually all students chose to be in this dorm, a few were assigned for lack of space but offered alternatives when they opened up.</p>
<p>Those of you interested might look at "Choosing the Right College." It covers 150 selective LAC & Universities, and one of the things included in the essays is whether or not the schools have (and what kind) of substance-free/single sex/quiet/limited visitation dorms. It has been helpful to us. Available online just google it.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your comments. Sounds like these dorms work out well for many kids.</p>
<p>My daughter already needed to select her housing preference for her ED school. I think she would enjoy a substance free and quieter atmosphere, but she did not want to choose to be with a particular type of people for her first year. Her idea was to see what the different options are like as a freshman, and then perhaps select the substance-free as a sophomore. I hope that there is not too much drinking and vomiting in her dorm.</p>
<p>SBmom, it really depends on the college and the dorm. My kids have friends at colleges where the label is just that, a label. The "substance free" is only as substance free as the kids make it and enforce this policy, along with the RAs and university. My friend whose son is in one of those dorms said that she saw beer cans and various bottles when she visited her son there. And she called her son a few times when he was "stupid" from some substance. As for the vomiting and drunks or druggies, I believe in most of these dorms, the substances can be consumed outside of the premises--the kids are not necessarily substance free. But generally those kids who do end up in those dorms are at least not philosophically opposed to the idea, and they are probably less flagrent at least when imbibing. When I hear of these environments the tune to "There are no cats in America" comes to mind.</p>
<p>what is a "geek" anyway, grow up people</p>
<p>No offense JJ, just shorthand for "anti social study-oholic"</p>
<p>wyogal:
Could you post a link for that? When I googe it I get several things that look similar...Thanks!</p>
<p>Weenie, I think Wyogal is talking about the book by the same name. It's available from Amazon and in many bookstores. Here's a link to the organization that publishes it:
<a href="http://www.isi.org/college_guide/choosing_right_college.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.isi.org/college_guide/choosing_right_college.html</a></p>
<p>I have read this book and found it useful but when I mentioned it last year many here pointed out that the organization that is behind it is known for its conservative views. The value of the book, for me, was that it describes in detail the graduation requirements of each school that it covers. Be forewarned, however, that the writers are biased towards schools with core curriculums that focus on "Western Civilization" and do not have tolerance for schools where there is any sort of perceived liberal slant to the faculty or students. Didn't bother me, but it apparently annoyed some here.</p>
<p>"No offense JJ, just shorthand for 'anti social study-oholic'"</p>
<p>You may have that confused with "room rat". A true geek tends to be more concerned with technical issues than with people issues. I do like Merriam-Webster Online's definition:</p>
<p>1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake
2 : a person often of an intellectual bent who is disapproved of</p>
<p>I never knew Ozzy was a geek.</p>
<p>Thanks, Strick11; I like room rat. That's exactly what I mean.</p>