<p>My son will be attending University of Delaware in the fall. At orientation we heard that there will be 200 triples in doubles for room assignments. My son originally wanted a single we said no. He is a very quite kid, tends to spend a lot of time in his bedroom, but will participate athletically for UD. I thought if he had a single he would not meet anyone and form relationships with his fellow freshman. Does anyone have any stories about triples that might make me feel better about this situation? I may be changing my mind on a single if he is in a triple. I just don't know. I would assume the singles are taken first, and don't know if he could change to one anyway. Any advice would help, and thanks!</p>
<p>If he's going to be on a team, I'd think he'd have plenty of opportunities to meet people, so wouldn't be worried about whether he'll be in a single or triple. Most college students get their closest friends through organizations -- including sports -- that they're involved in because they have common interests with those people.</p>
<p>My own S to my surprise requested and to his joy got a rare triple at his college. He is looking forward to having roommates. Funny -- he's still a little shy, though he has lots of good friends and enjoys doing group activities, but still loves the idea of having roommates. I never would have guessed.</p>
<p>It's only 9 months - a triple would probably work out okay. Besides, he double his chances that one of his roomates will be decent and someone he might want to room with the next year. Based on his experience the first year he can decide what he really wants the second year.</p>
<p>Most schools try pretty hard to de-triple kids as soon as possible. Looking at the glass as half full, here's what I think: 1. You might have better odds of actually liking one of the roommates. 2. It is harder for any one person to monopolize the room. 3. Guys tend to care less about the triples than girls. I know, it's a tough situation...</p>
<p>It sounds like the college has a housing crunch, so the likelihood of his getting a single is not very high.</p>
<p>Triples are tough but heaps of kids survive them. My son had one for a semester--he and a buddy bunked with a campus activist. I never saw the room--only photos--but H said they all had their own stereos blasting htei rown music while they were studying! They all had their paramours over for sleepovers--at the same time!! Too too 2005 for me but he survived it with no visible battlescars. :eek:</p>
<p>Your son better find his own little corner in his own little UD world. It won't be quiet in that room in all likelihood.</p>
<p>Almost - I heard the same presentation but on a different day. At our session the presentor was asked about de-tripling. He said UDel's experience was that tripling wasn't a big issue because most who wanted to be de-tripled were during September, and that the problem was considerably less than 200 rooms since roommates often bonded during the first weeks and declined to move when a bed opened up on another hall. I'm not saying your S won't have a problem (or that he will), but I don't think the (quite small) prospect of initial assignment to a triple is cause for concern. JMHO.</p>
<p>I'm at Penn State in supplemental housing, and I have 5 roommates. Yes, 6 girls in one room. I'd kill for a triple.</p>
<p>It's probably OK -- because he's a guy.</p>
<p>With girls, there can be weird interpersonal dynamics in triples, but guys seem mostly immune to that sort of thing.</p>
<p>There are practicalities to consider, though. It sounds as though this room was intended as a double and has been converted to a triple. There may not be enough electrical outlets. Bring extension cords and a surge protector and those things that let you plug in more than two things into one outlet. Also, the guys had better talk to each other about what they're bringing. You do NOT want two TVs in a tripled-up double. There won't be space.</p>
<p>That is correct, Marian. The triples are going into doubles, so space will be at a premium. I am trying to put a positive spin on this for my son, but he is dreading a triple. Maybe they will be put into a newer dorm with updates that older dorms would not have. My best advice to him is that when you live in any dorm you have to roll with the punches and be willing to make the best of the situation.</p>
<p>My UCLA D was in a triple that was in what should have been a double last year. I agree with Marian for the students to coordinate with each other as to what to bring so you don't end up with multiple TVs, fridges, microwaves, etc. and no place to put them.</p>
<p>The guys across the hall from my son freshman year lived in a triple that had been converted into a quad. It was criss-crossed with electric wires and computer cables from ceiling to floor. I don't know how anybody managed to move around in there. But the occupants seemed to be having a good time (especially since one guy brought a huge TV and a DVD player).</p>
<p>One of the things you need to understand about dorms is that many were built before everyone developed their current electronics addiction. A generation ago, kids in a overcrowded room could considerably improve the situation by moving the furniture into optimal locations, but today this is much harder to do because the electric outlets and computer cables are in the wrong places, and NOTHING is more important than being able to plug everything in. So bring those extension cords (and buy extra computer cables at the campus store if necessary).</p>
<p>Often, one or two of the kids who live in a triple or quad will develop the habit of spending much of their study time in a dorm lounge instead of the room. But don't promise your son that he will be able to do this. If there's a serious overcrowding problem, colleges sometimes turn the lounges into sleeping rooms. My freshman year, our alleged lounge was occupied by six people until after Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>many of the frosh at ucla are put into triples because they guarantee housing but are still building enough to meet the demand. They do just fine. If 5,000 kids at ucla can survive, so can yours ;)</p>
<p>but DO bring your own fan. D was in a forced triple freshman year, and besides the crowding issue, it was unbearaby HOT all year. Dorms tend to be overheated in the winter anyway, and w/3 bodies, well, 3X the heat. It also kinda irked me that those of us w/kids in forced triples were not offered any type of break on room and board! But all in all, the 3 girls and ALL their piles of stuff survived quire nicely, and D and one of her roomies are great friends to this day!</p>
<p>I would consider your son's sleeping habit - can he sleep with noise in the background. I talked my D into a single. I told her that with a single she could leave her door open when she wants company and close her door when she wants to sleep. She loves her sleep and becomes disfunctional with lack of sleep. But my D is also a very social person, so she wouldn't have problem reaching out when necessary. I would ask the school if it's possible to get a single, if not, a triple won't scar him either.</p>
<p>A student's perspective:</p>
<p>I got a single and I'm very glad. It didn't interfere with friend-making at all.</p>
<p>Triples can suck.</p>
<p>Six years ago my eldest D discovered on move in day that her triple was really a double with an extra bed and dresser squeezed in (in a ratty old sixties era dorm with the radiators held to the walls with duct tape). She was the last to arrive so she got the top bunk All the parents and all the girls were somewhat horrified hat first day, but the kids made the best of it and went on to have a wonderful year together. My D was a shy, reserved kid and she loved having her little group to venture forth with. One of those freshman roommates is still my D's dearest friend 6 years later. Two of the three boys who lived in the same situation across the hall are also still her close friends. I hope it works out as well for your son.</p>
<p>Daughter is assigned to a triple at U. of Rochester. At least, they are discounting her room charges by 20%.</p>
<p>My daughter had a triple her freshman year and was also in a triple 2nd semester sophomore year (study abroad first semester). 2 different dorms, but both were in much larger rooms (than doubles), really built specifically for triples. She really liked it-- the bigger room, including more closet space, as well as the dynamics. The original 3 are all still friends; study abroad at different times prevented the same 3 from living together again last year, but 2nd semester she was in a triple, too--different dorm, different girls, worked out great. I can imagine, though, if 3 were put in a room meant to be a double, that would be less than ideal--space-wise--but I think the dynamics with 3 people can often be better than with just 2. I also think, unless you're a junior or senior, living in a single as a freshman might be a bad idea.</p>
<p>Because your son is on a sports team, I would have little worry about him not making friends. In fact, his teammates will probably end up being his best friends anyway. In the beginning of the year, EVERYBODY is looking to make as many new friends as they can (yes, even those with roommates). </p>
<p>I can't understand why those with shy kids want them to have roommates. Having a roommate doesn't ensure anything if it's a bad match. College has so many opportunities to meet new friends -- you don't have to live with them! Go for the single if it's still possible. Then, a roommate problem will be one less potential crisis.</p>