<p>Just back from visiting our Freshman son at Family Weekend and have a question I'm hoping someone can answer. Our son tells us that almost all the sophomores get kicked out of Wiess, and only "about 10" of them will get to live in Wiess sophomore year. He would very much like to live on campus next year but was a bit fuzzy on how the lucky few get chosen to stay on campus. Is he right about this? Can anyone explain the process of how students are chosen to live on campus in Wiess as sophomores? Thanks.</p>
<p>There is a freshman jack to determine this. ALL rising sophomores names are placed in a hat. (except athletes guaranteed housing, some students with disabilities etc.)</p>
<p>They draw names from the hat one by one. First one out is the last to get housing. The list thus starts from the last person drawn out to the first person. This is done publicly (in front of everyone at a study break) so it is fair. This list is then put up on the wall.</p>
<p>First, freshmen are assigned rooms. Then Upperclassmen get to pick housing. The remaining beds are then offered to the people first on the list and it works it’s way down.</p>
<p>A lot more than 10 have gotten housing. The issue is this
- You may find out very late (into the summer)
- You will probably not get a choice of room.</p>
<p>If there is a suite of 3 upperclassmen, a sophomore who wants housing will be assigned to fill that spot. Many people leave the jack altogether as they want to live with friends.</p>
<p>Does this answer your question?</p>
<p>So at Duncan, which doesn’t have many upperclassmen, a rising sophomore will have a much better chance of staying on campus? And as time passes, and the same student then becomes a junior and then senior, they get priority? Seems like it is great to be a Freshman at Duncan if you want to stay on campus. Does this logic follow through or have I missed something?</p>
<p>That is very helpful–thank you! More questions: How do roommates get paired up? If two want to live together, do they just hope that both of them make the cut? Also, if students are not notified until late in the summer, isn’t it hard to find housing near campus? We live out-of-state (on the east coast) so an apartment-hunting trip mid-summer would not be very convenient for us. Also, our son does not have a car, so housing near campus is an important factor.</p>
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<li><p>Upperclassmen suites pick each other. As a sophomore, you get thrown into an empty bed. So you may have a terrible roommate</p></li>
<li><p>“If two want to live together, do they just hope that both of them make the cut?” - Yes</p></li>
<li><p>If you are far down the list, I would recommend that your son and his friends look for off campus housing. It varies for year to year. If the list is moving fast, then wait.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Home is up on the east coast for me as well, and I did not have a car. I got lucky to stay on campus. There is a lot of housing nearby though. Its also often much cheaper than staying on campus</p>
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<p>You are probably right. You get a new building and better housing chances. This is balanced out by potentially having terrible sports teams, no traditions and no established college architecture.</p>
<p>It depends on what you are looking for. Your college experience will not be “worse” at Duncan. Just different. And that can be a huge positive.</p>
<p>It all balances out in the end… does that make sense?</p>
<p>Both my kids lived off-campus; one for two years and one for one year. Neither had cars and both found places within a few blocks of campus (and saved us some money!). DS is back on campus for his senior year. He had a super duplex (4 bedroom /2 bath) which he shared with Rice students, and he really enjoyed the space, though he is happy to be back on campus this year. He likes rolling out of bed to eat breakfast, and being in the center of things.
DD’s college kicked off sophomores, some colleges kick off juniors. It seems scary as a parent, but what happens is that the students end up “taking over” the leases of graduating students or students returning to campus. Rice U also owns some housing near Rice (I’m not talking about the two different grad housing complexes, but other apartments). There is quite a bit of housing, and the kids work it out.<br>
If your kid REALLY wants to stay on campus, he or she can serve as an officer in the college. Many kids choose to group together and take over the place of other students, instead of staying on the waiting list. BE NOT AFRAID, but do encourage your kids to network with kids currently in off-campus housing and see if they can get dibs on the lease the following year.</p>
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<p>No position at Wiess available to a sophomore guarantees housing</p>
<p>Ahh. Thanks for the correction…</p>
<p>Its actually a good thing. Too many underqualified people run for office just to get housing.</p>
<p>DD left sophomore year and has stayed off campus for the rest of the time. She is still connected to her college and participates in it. A lot of friends went back on campus. She just prefers the amenities of an apartment. It did seem scary at first, but she and her roommates found a nice place that was being vacated by upperclassmen and were able to arrange the leases. She is about a mile away from campus and a car has been a good investment for peace of mind when she had late rehearsals and bad weather.</p>
<p>I think what Antarius said here is really the key: “If you are far down the list, I would recommend that your son and his friends look for off campus housing. It varies for year to year. If the list is moving fast, then wait.”</p>
<p>Your son will know in the Spring what his chances are for getting on-campus housing next year and can decide at that point whether to hold out for a spot on campus or team up with others who are going to live off campus.</p>
<p>To anyone else reading this thread, it’s important to note that every residential college has their own policy regarding room Jack. Some colleges have less people kicked off during jack than others, and the individual systems vary.</p>
<p>Also, some colleges jack juniors and some do sophomores.</p>