I interviewed an employee of the Housing and Dinning Services at CU-Boulder today to find out on what basis does the school decide where to put students.
Elise told me that the decision on which dorm students live in is based on three factors. Date of application, eligibility and preference questions.
Date of application is probably the most important factor for getting the dorm of your choice. Rooms are filled on a first come first serve basis. Therefore if you apply early and are eligible you are very likely to get your desired room.
Eligibility is specific to your major. Certain halls allow only students with certain majors. For example Farrand Hall only allows arts and science majors or the engineering quad only allows students in the engineering school to live there. You can find information of the eligibility requirements of any dorm online.
Preference questions are used to match you with your roommate(s). They ask questions about your cleanliness, sleep schedule, if you are a smoker and what kind of activities you enjoy. On a side note I asked Elise how they choose the students that live in the five person sweets (arguably the best rooms on campus). On your preference application you must check that you want to live in a sweet. This usually means you will live in a three person room but could mean that you get the five person sweet atop of Farrand Hall.
I would also like to make the point that although they look at preference questions those can only go so far. Incoming freshmen are really paired with someone totally random. You could be living with any type of person really for an entire year.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Interview with anonymous dorm residents
How would you rate your overall experience in the dorms?
"6-7 out of ten because I have met alot of good friends here and its close to classes but then some downsides are like I do not like all the rules about drinking and they're too strict, it's like a concentration camp"
Do you see the friends you have made in the dorms as long term friends?
Yeah, they are my closest friends at CU.
Has the hall director and R.A.s been helpful or fair?
The R.A. for our hall has been great, helping me with academic advising and questions I have about CU. The hall director should be fired immediately, he is unfair and has a grudge against students.
How do you get along with your roommate?
Good, very easy going and easy to live with.
What dorm would you recommend for an incoming freshman?
Cheyenne Arapaho, closest to Ferrand Field, and broadway.
Where are you living next year?
University Village, near Boulder Creak
Whats your Major?
International Affairs
Where are the majority of the kids in your hall from?
Cali
Why did you come to CU?
California public colleges are horrible and this just seemed like the place for me.
How would you rate your overall experience in the dorms?
I would say a six out of ten. I was able to meet tons of people through the dorms, but was also falsely accused by the RAs a few times.
Do you see the friends you have made in the dorms as long term friends?
Yes. There are definitely friends who I have met that I think will be long term friends.
Has the hall director and R.A.s been helpful or fair?
No. I do not beleive the RAs have been fair. I was treated with zero respect on numerous occasions.
How do you get along with your roommate?
My roommate and I are alright. We pretty much just do our own thing.
What dorm would you recommend for an incoming freshman?
I am not sure. I have not experienced many others.
Where are you living next year?
In a house.
Whats your Major?
Open-option, but I am looking to do something in Leeds.
Where are the majority of the kids in your hall from?
I am not sure. There is a mix of in state and out of state kids.
Why did you come to CU?
My family is out here.
"6-7 out of ten because I have met alot of good friends here and its close to classes but then some downsides are like I do not like all the rules about drinking and they're too strict, it's like a concentration camp"
Do you see the friends you have made in the dorms as long term friends?
Yeah, they are my closest friends at CU.
Has the hall director and R.A.s been helpful or fair?
The R.A. for our hall has been great, helping me with academic advising and questions I have about CU. The hall director should be fired immediately, he is unfair and has a grudge against students.
How do you get along with your roommate?
Good, very easy going and easy to live with.
What dorm would you recommend for an incoming freshman?
Cheyenne Arapaho, closest to Ferrand Field, and broadway.
Where are you living next year?
University Village, near Boulder Creak
Whats your Major?
International Affairs
Where are the majority of the kids in your hall from?
Cali
Why did you come to CU?
California public colleges are horrible and this just seemed like the place for me.
How would you rate your overall experience in the dorms?
I would say a six out of ten. I was able to meet tons of people through the dorms, but was also falsely accused by the RAs a few times.
Do you see the friends you have made in the dorms as long term friends?
Yes. There are definitely friends who I have met that I think will be long term friends.
Has the hall director and R.A.s been helpful or fair?
No. I do not beleive the RAs have been fair. I was treated with zero respect on numerous occasions.
How do you get along with your roommate?
My roommate and I are alright. We pretty much just do our own thing.
What dorm would you recommend for an incoming freshman?
I am not sure. I have not experienced many others.
Where are you living next year?
In a house.
Whats your Major?
Open-option, but I am looking to do something in Leeds.
Where are the majority of the kids in your hall from?
I am not sure. There is a mix of in state and out of state kids.
Why did you come to CU?
My family is out here.
Sewall Dinning Hall
This is a picture of Sewall Dinning Hall. This is the dorm that has the best food in the dining hall judging from the surveys!
Interview with RA Brandon Springer
Interview with Sewall RA Brandon Springer: by Gina Nygren
Q: Do you like being a RA and would you recommend it?
A: Yes! I absolutely love it. It has its ups and downs each day, especially when you have to punish your residents, but overall it is great. It takes a certain type of person to be a RA, but I would definitely recommend becoming one.
Q: Why did you choose to be an RA at Sewall?
A: Sewall is by far my favorite dorm on campus. I study a lot, so the location is very convenient since it is right next to the library. The food in Sewall is also the best, and thats a plus for me since I have lived in Sewall for 3 years. I would not choose to live in any other dorm.
Q: What is the down side of living in the dorms again?
A: Honestly, I love living in the dorms. I would rather live here than at a house on the hill. Quiet hours make is easy to live in a dorm. Having someone else cook for you is another plus. There is free tutoring if you live in the dorms, which comes in handy at times.
Q: What is your favorite part about the dorms?
A: I love the social atmosphere in the dorms. I have been an RA for 3 years, and I have made new friends each year. It is fun always being around people and having a community to live in.
Q: What would you tell students that are going to be living in the dorms next year as advice?
A: I would tell them not to pack too much, you will not use half of the stuff you bring. I would also tell them to always keep their door open to meet new friends and be open to that. Studying is a must in college and if it is too crazy in your dorm then go to the library that is right on campus.
Q: Do you like being a RA and would you recommend it?
A: Yes! I absolutely love it. It has its ups and downs each day, especially when you have to punish your residents, but overall it is great. It takes a certain type of person to be a RA, but I would definitely recommend becoming one.
Q: Why did you choose to be an RA at Sewall?
A: Sewall is by far my favorite dorm on campus. I study a lot, so the location is very convenient since it is right next to the library. The food in Sewall is also the best, and thats a plus for me since I have lived in Sewall for 3 years. I would not choose to live in any other dorm.
Q: What is the down side of living in the dorms again?
A: Honestly, I love living in the dorms. I would rather live here than at a house on the hill. Quiet hours make is easy to live in a dorm. Having someone else cook for you is another plus. There is free tutoring if you live in the dorms, which comes in handy at times.
Q: What is your favorite part about the dorms?
A: I love the social atmosphere in the dorms. I have been an RA for 3 years, and I have made new friends each year. It is fun always being around people and having a community to live in.
Q: What would you tell students that are going to be living in the dorms next year as advice?
A: I would tell them not to pack too much, you will not use half of the stuff you bring. I would also tell them to always keep their door open to meet new friends and be open to that. Studying is a must in college and if it is too crazy in your dorm then go to the library that is right on campus.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Interviews By Nick Stollings
After interviewing two dorm residents in Williams Village it seems that a conclusion on this issue is not easy to reach. Kyle Lynch, an academic student advisor (ASR), who is also a senior, believes that freshman living in the dorms is a good way to make lasting relationships that would have been much harder to make if living somewhere else. However, he also recognizes that students are more than ready to leave the dorms by the end of the second semester, if not before. Sam Wilson, a freshmen living in Darley South, believes that for the money he spends a semester on the dorms, he should be offered more than what he has. He has enjoyed the relationships he's made and gives credit to the dorms for making it easier to meet people. Residential Advisors also seem to be a popular topic when dealing with dorm life. Sam admits that residential advisors are more often avoided than looked for within the dorms. My conclusion is that its good for freshmen to experience. It is easy to meet people and although it is expensive, its easy living and the relationships you make are worth it.
Interview with Kyle Lynch (Academic Student Advisor)
Q1: Bein a senior, how do you feel about living in the dorms?
A1: Its hard to say because I'm not just a normal senior living in the dorms. Being an ASR means that my housing is paid for.
Q2: If you weren't living for free would you still see living in the dorms worth it?
A2: "Yes, it is expensive for what you get but as a freshmen it can be hard to make relationships and the dorms make it a lot easier."
Q3: Have you lived in the dorms all four years of your college career?
A1: Yes, after my first year I became an ASR and have kept the job ever since then.
Q4: Because you lived in a dorm all four years of your college career, would you say that you have gained enough knowledge to assume how your new residents will react to dorm life at CU?
A4: Yes, even those who don't like living in the dorms usually make lasting relationships and have fun. "It's never boring in the dorms."
Q5: What is your overall feeling of dorm life at CU?
A5: "First year, dorm life is great. It Forces you to meet people and make friends but I recommend living elsewhere after that because you can usually get a better apartment for less than what it costs to live in the dorms."
Interview with Sam Wilson
Q1: AS a freshman, your first year in college, how do you feel about your dorm?
A1: Living in the dorm is hard to get used to, you don't really have any alone time. But the people i have met are great.
Q2: Does living in the Darley effect how you feel about the dorms more so than if you had lived in a different dormitory?
A2: Living in Darley is nice because we have sinks and air conditioning but its far from campus which is a major downside. "I don't feel connected to the rest of the school."
Q3: How about relationships you have made?
A3: I have made some good friends and i am actually living with a few of them next year.
Q4: When you say your living with them, do you mean in another dorm?
A4: No, in a different apartment.
Q5: How about Residential Advisors?
A5: They are nice at times but most people just try to stay away from them as much as they can, as if they are the residents parents.
Q6: If you could change anything about the dorms, would you?
A6: "Yes. The dorms would be on campus... all of them... and the residents would get more for their money."
Conclusion
After interviewing both under and upper classmen living in the dorms seems to be an overall good experience. Many people feel that it's a good way to meet new people and be in a situation that you're not used to. In addition it seems like the upperclassmen liked it because it was on campus and you didn't have to cook for yourself. The underclassmen seem to enjoy the dorms mainly for the fact of being with and meeting new friends. Some of the bad aspects to living in the dorms was that you're having to accomodate to other people's schedules during unusual times.
Based on our surveys, many of the dorms seem to be more popular than others. Sewall seems to be the winner of the best food. Many of the students don't really realize before going to CU that Sewall is a good dorm to be in. Farrand is loved for location and community. These two dorms seem to be the best among all students. Many people know that Will Vill is not a very good dorm to be in because of the location and bad food. So what students should get from this is that they need to ask people who have experienced "dorm life" which dorm they prefer. This will yield the best results in finding the right dorm for you!
Dorm Life in the Outside World!
Before you go to college, there are some things you need to know!!!!
In order to get the best college experience read these tips!
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/campus-life/79.html
http://www.collegebound.net/content/article/campus-living-on-campus-vs-off-campus/2049/
In order to get the best college experience read these tips!
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/campus-life/79.html
http://www.collegebound.net/content/article/campus-living-on-campus-vs-off-campus/2049/
Interview Questions by Tiara Streng
For freshmen currently at CU:
1.) What do you think is your favorite part about living in the dorms?
2.) What is your least favorite part about living in the dorms?
3.) What advice would you give for future students looking to live in the dorms?
4.) Do you think living in the dorms is a helpful way to meet people?
5.) Are there any bad experiences that you’ve had living in the dorms?
For upperclassman that used to live in the dorms:
1.) What do you think was your favorite part about living in the dorms?
2.) What was your least favorite part about living in the dorms?
3.) What advice would you give for future students looking to live in the dorms?
4.) Do you think living in the dorms is a helpful way to meet people?
5.) Are there any bad experiences that you had living in the dorms?
6.) What dorm did you live in?
Freshmen answers:
Julia Traylor age 19 says:
1. The Community
2. No temperature regulation!!!
3. Don't pick your roomy, meet someone new.
4. Definitely.
5. People being loud on the floor above.
6. Kittredge West
Josh Schaffer age 19 says:
1. my favorite part is the social connection and sense of unity i am able to develop through waking up everyday and seeing these people.
2. least favorite part is the fact that i am within 5 feet of somebody every part of the day.
3. advice... be prepared to have your social boundaries pushed. the fact that you do not have a place where you can be by yourself really pushes the boundaries.
4. yes. i have met many great friends and made good memories with them through living in the dorms.
5. the onlybad experience i have had is not having any privacy but other than that i have an overall good experience.
6. libby
Jessica Knese age 19 says:
1.) What do you think is your favorite part about living in the dorms?it's a good transition from home with the dining halls so close and people to live with. it's a good chance to meet new people
2.) What is your least favorite part about living in the dorms?haha i can change my temp! but you have to take everyone one else in the hall into account since you're not living alone and you can still get in trouble.
3.) What advice would you give for future students looking to live in the dorms?be open minded and make your room into your own place
4.) Do you think living in the dorms is a helpful way to meet people? Probably the best way to meet people as a freshman
5.) Are there any bad experiences that you’ve had living in the dorms?weird neighbors
6.) What dorm do you live in? Arnett hall
Michelle Gabossi age 19 says:
1. my favorite part is that youre always close to your friends and getting to class in convenient.
2. least favorite part is that it's hard to sleep since the walls are so thin! and germs get spread easily so ive been sick a lot more that usual.
3. for future students living in the dorms i'd say just be really social and make sure you get to know everyone on your hall well :-) it makes it a lot more fun.
4. I think living in the dorms was a great way to meet people. Now it'll be a test to see who really keeps in touch next year!
5. my living situation with my roommate didnt work out, but other than that it was good :-) I have a bigger room now all to myself anyways so it all worked out haha
5. I live in Sewall :-)
Answers from upperclassmen:
Carlos Torres age 21 says:
1. You can easily meet and make many new friends.
2. They are very expensive for only getting one small room you have to share and lots of rules.
3. It is a good experience, but you aren't going to want to do it for more than a year. and don't be shy to meet people.
4. Very.
5. Hearing people scream and be loud at 4 in the morning. Going into the bathroom early in the morning and seeing that somebody had puked everywhere and not cleaned.
6. Libby
Khyla Burrows age 22 says:
1. Making new friends and not having to cook!
2. Small rooms,paying way too much for them, gross food and not being able to control the temperature in the rooms
3. Introduce yourself to everyone on your floor the first week and bring fans!
4. It is a helpful way to meet people as long as your friendly!
5. The rooms are to hot and bugs get into our room
6. Kittredge West
Shelley Mclean age 21 says:
1) Making friends and being close to campus and classes
2) The food, the price, and the temperature
3) Go around to different rooms and introduce yourself
4) Yes if you're an outgoing person
5) It can be super loud from cars, ambulances, other people, etc.
6) Kitt. West
For freshmen currently at CU:
1.) What do you think is your favorite part about living in the dorms?
2.) What is your least favorite part about living in the dorms?
3.) What advice would you give for future students looking to live in the dorms?
4.) Do you think living in the dorms is a helpful way to meet people?
5.) Are there any bad experiences that you’ve had living in the dorms?
For upperclassman that used to live in the dorms:
1.) What do you think was your favorite part about living in the dorms?
2.) What was your least favorite part about living in the dorms?
3.) What advice would you give for future students looking to live in the dorms?
4.) Do you think living in the dorms is a helpful way to meet people?
5.) Are there any bad experiences that you had living in the dorms?
6.) What dorm did you live in?
Freshmen answers:
Julia Traylor age 19 says:
1. The Community
2. No temperature regulation!!!
3. Don't pick your roomy, meet someone new.
4. Definitely.
5. People being loud on the floor above.
6. Kittredge West
Josh Schaffer age 19 says:
1. my favorite part is the social connection and sense of unity i am able to develop through waking up everyday and seeing these people.
2. least favorite part is the fact that i am within 5 feet of somebody every part of the day.
3. advice... be prepared to have your social boundaries pushed. the fact that you do not have a place where you can be by yourself really pushes the boundaries.
4. yes. i have met many great friends and made good memories with them through living in the dorms.
5. the onlybad experience i have had is not having any privacy but other than that i have an overall good experience.
6. libby
Jessica Knese age 19 says:
1.) What do you think is your favorite part about living in the dorms?it's a good transition from home with the dining halls so close and people to live with. it's a good chance to meet new people
2.) What is your least favorite part about living in the dorms?haha i can change my temp! but you have to take everyone one else in the hall into account since you're not living alone and you can still get in trouble.
3.) What advice would you give for future students looking to live in the dorms?be open minded and make your room into your own place
4.) Do you think living in the dorms is a helpful way to meet people? Probably the best way to meet people as a freshman
5.) Are there any bad experiences that you’ve had living in the dorms?weird neighbors
6.) What dorm do you live in? Arnett hall
Michelle Gabossi age 19 says:
1. my favorite part is that youre always close to your friends and getting to class in convenient.
2. least favorite part is that it's hard to sleep since the walls are so thin! and germs get spread easily so ive been sick a lot more that usual.
3. for future students living in the dorms i'd say just be really social and make sure you get to know everyone on your hall well :-) it makes it a lot more fun.
4. I think living in the dorms was a great way to meet people. Now it'll be a test to see who really keeps in touch next year!
5. my living situation with my roommate didnt work out, but other than that it was good :-) I have a bigger room now all to myself anyways so it all worked out haha
5. I live in Sewall :-)
Answers from upperclassmen:
Carlos Torres age 21 says:
1. You can easily meet and make many new friends.
2. They are very expensive for only getting one small room you have to share and lots of rules.
3. It is a good experience, but you aren't going to want to do it for more than a year. and don't be shy to meet people.
4. Very.
5. Hearing people scream and be loud at 4 in the morning. Going into the bathroom early in the morning and seeing that somebody had puked everywhere and not cleaned.
6. Libby
Khyla Burrows age 22 says:
1. Making new friends and not having to cook!
2. Small rooms,paying way too much for them, gross food and not being able to control the temperature in the rooms
3. Introduce yourself to everyone on your floor the first week and bring fans!
4. It is a helpful way to meet people as long as your friendly!
5. The rooms are to hot and bugs get into our room
6. Kittredge West
Shelley Mclean age 21 says:
1) Making friends and being close to campus and classes
2) The food, the price, and the temperature
3) Go around to different rooms and introduce yourself
4) Yes if you're an outgoing person
5) It can be super loud from cars, ambulances, other people, etc.
6) Kitt. West
Survey Questions
Survey Done By Gina Nygren:
Questions What dorm are you in?What do you think about the food?How do you like the location? What is the community like?How are the rooms in your dorm?Which dorm do you wish you lived in if you could change?
Kelly age 19: Brackett. We don't have a dining hall, but i don't like the food. The location is good besides the fact that its kind of a long walk to the hill. The rooms are small. If i could change i would live in either sewell or Farrand.
Madison age 19: Cheyenne arapaho. The food is terrible. Love the location, its right on campus and close to everything. The community is a lot of fun! the rooms are small. I wouldn't change the location.
Kyle age 19:Darley North, Will Vill. The food is awful 6 out of 7 days of the week.The location is nice since it is off campus, but the commute is a pain.The community is close and I am able to recognize the majority of the people.The rooms are well sized and have heating and A/C.
Sewall was my first choice and the rooms seem nice, I hear minimal complaints.
Tracy age 19: I live in cheyenne arapaho. Food is horrible, i don't eat it other than breakfast or the grab n go's (paizanos or burritos from willville). Love the location and community, so much fun and close to everything. Rooms are pretty small, smallest actually. Wouldn't change my dorm.
Dymond age 19: Sewall. The food sucks, expect for the cereal, salad, and chinese.
Love the location, best location. so close to all my classes. The rooms are big. mine is big.
I wouldn't change my dorm, but if i absolutely had to i would say farrand.
Alexandra age 19, I live in Libby, i like the chef station at libby most, not really the grab and go, location is great, community is fun and friendly, nice sized rooms, i wouldnt change where i live.
Hailey age 18: Sewall, food is fine, i love the location, the community is nice and warm, i would still live in sewall.
John age 19: Sewall, progressively worse each day, community is good and friendly, large room and pretty nice, a dorms a dorm i dont care.
Forest age 19: I am in Chey ho. The food is real shitty most of the time. I really like the location. The rooms are the smallest out of every dorm i dont mide though. If i could change i would live Farrand.
James age 19: Kittredge West Hall The food is always below average. ha actually to be honest they did have a pretty good burrito bar there at the beginning of the year but then i stopped going there. I hate the location, i went there basically because i thought i'd be spending most of my time in classes by the business school, but in reality all my classes are on the opposite side of campus.I'm not sure of the community.The rooms are fine, although i have to carry around a key to egt in unlike most dorms where you can just swipe your card to get into your room.I would live in Sewall, better food, closer to most of my classes, friends, and the hill, and the library, with a better community.
Scott: Libby The food is inconsistent. sometimes pretty good but other times horrible. Location is good, i'm in the middle of everything pretty much. The community is good, no real problems with it. The rooms or ok. Libby's rooms i have noticed are a little smaller than other dorms.Sewall because i think it definitely has the best dining hall and it is right next to rec center and the hill.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Dorm Life
This is a blog dedicated to informing incoming freshman about what dorm life is really like. Our survey of dorm life is a result of the lack of information provided to us as incoming freshman. Our survey will compare the various dorms at CU-Boulder in all aspects of dorm life. We will compare rooms, food, location and community of each dorm.
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