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Hello.

I was accepted to and might attend Cornell University. Upon reading Cornell's website, I was amazed by the number of residences available. Basically, I will describe things about me and maybe someone could place me into a hall that would best fit my personality.

Firstly, I need a single room (are these difficult to acquire? Without a single, I would never go to a college).

Second, I really want a room with cable hook-up. Although sure, the common room has a television, I'm rather quiet and would like to be able to stay in my room and watch it.

Here are some other descriptions:

I'm generally quiet and would like to live where there is not a lot of noise. If at all possible, I'd prefer living in a smaller residence hall.

I generally like old architecture and areas located among trees. I would like to live near a dining area and not be so isolated that it would take a ridiculously long time to go to class (I'll be attending the College of Arts and Sciences).

If possible, I'd like to live somewhere where the rooms of the dorm are not paper-thin as if I decide to listen to music, I wouldn't want to have to worry about upsetting others in my building.

I would like a room in which I could hide away in my neuroses. If I decide to live in my room and emergy solely for dining purposes.

I plan to major in biology and will likely double major in French. Are there areas on campus where I could go to study languages (like a language lab or a location that has a selection of foreign tapes, foreign television, etc.)?

I'm a vegetarian (no animal flesh whatsoever).

What are you allowed to bring into your room?

Basically, that's it. Wow that was long. I would greatly appreciate if someone of knowledge could read this post and respond--quell my uncertainties!

Thank you VERY much.

Michael

By Paulita (Paulita) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 04:00 pm: Edit

my brother got a single his first year. don't think it was difficult to get. i'm planning on living alone too. i wouldn't like to have a roommate either, especially the first year.
lol i'm quiet too. and shy.

By starz on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 04:06 pm: Edit

Hi!!
I was accepted to Cornell ED and I just received information about dining and housing, today.
I'm also pretty shy and I've had a room to myself ever since I was born so it would be really nice if I could get a single. On the other hand, having a roommate might ease up that HS to college transition. Which should I choose? A double or a single?
Oh, Smartmika...I'm also majoring in Biology!!

By Smartmika (Smartmika) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 04:15 pm: Edit

Also, which dorm do you recommend?

Thank you again!

Michael

By Smartmika (Smartmika) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 06:26 pm: Edit

*bump*

By Tge (Tge) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 06:31 pm: Edit

dickson is a single but doesnt offer cable tv. singles in other dorms MIGHT offer cable tv, but dont bet on your chances.

By Grace226 (Grace226) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 06:39 pm: Edit

I was looking at the housing website and the floor plans of the dorms, what is up with the all the doors, are those closets or something else? Anybody know?

http://housing.cornell.edu/housing_residential/balch_floorplans.asp

By Smartmika (Smartmika) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 10:11 pm: Edit

bump

By The_Slc_Bug (The_Slc_Bug) on Saturday, April 03, 2004 - 11:32 pm: Edit

I know someone who requested a double for his freshman year and got a single room. I don't think it's too hard, but don't expect one. Just know there is a decent chance.

I know that Mews has the option for cable tv., as should Court. Those are the two newest freshman dorms. I doubt that the older dorms will have cable hookups.

I know that Donlon is loud, but I think most of the others are fine for a quieter person.

By Smartmika (Smartmika) on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 02:01 pm: Edit

Any more suggestions?

By Smiley13 (Smiley13) on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 04:29 pm: Edit

i was wondering, can you request dorms or do they just assign you to them?

By Lurker (Lurker) on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 06:20 pm: Edit

The following was true for last year's incoming freshmen --

In the late spring / early summer all incoming freshmen received a packet of information about housing, dining plans, ordering Ithaca bus passes, etc. There were a bunch of forms to be filled out, including a housing form. (BTW, almost all forms could be filled in and submitted online.)

The housing form DID NOT ask for a specific dorm preference. It did ask a relatively few number of questions about housing preferences. If I can remember, the questions were --
1. Type of room -- single, double, or doesn't matter
2. Type of dorm -- single sex, coed, or doesn't matter
3. Townhouse or traditional dorm?
4. Neatness -- Are you neat or sloppy?
5. Sleeping patterns -- Do you tend to get up early or late?
6. I think there was a quiet/noisy question, but I don't remember how the question was worded.

Overall, the housing questionnaire was really short.

You could also request to be roomates with a specific person, if that person also requested you as a roommate.

The specific housing assignments were then done by Cornell and posted online. Not all students got their housing assignments online at the same time. Also, all students did not also get what they requested. I believe a lot of girls who wanted a double in a coed dorm ended up getting singles in Balch, the VERY nice but girls-only dorm.

Here's a piece of advice -- get your housing form in ASAP!!!

Here's another piece of advice -- If you ever get a piece of mail from Cornell with what appears to be your student ID number, SAVE IT!!!!! If you have your student ID number, you can access your bursar's office account before they start to officially post housing assignments. Your bill will give the name of your dorm. That way you'll get to find out your housing assignment early.

BTW, most of the freshmen dorms on North Campus are really nice, I wouldn't worry too much about housing!