H is for Housing!

Hey all, just a quick blog on housing (I mean really quick).

Most colleges will require their students to live in a dorm their first year. In fact, most kids are going to be in two-person dorms for that Freshman year. However, there is more than just the two person dorm situation, so I want to over those other options.

Single-person: I for one would hate living alone, but some people are more of the loner type. Keep in mind however, these types of rooms are rare for first year students.

Single-sex: There are three ways the genders are going to be housed--in separate buildings, on separate floors, or it doesn't matter. Those of the third category will have guys and girls on the same floor. Sometimes a college will have a mixture of all three.

Suites: These tend to be for upperclassmen. These are sort of like mini-apartments (usually just two to four rooms attached to a common room). Again, don't count on these for your first, or even second year.

Special Interest: These are houses surrounded by a common interest. These interests include, but aren't limited to: race (Latino/Latina, African-American, Asian, etc.), major, honors, cultural, career, etc. [These are also known as Living-Learning communities]

Apartments: Some colleges own and rent out apartments on campus. Other kids just move off campus when they are allowed to do so.

Some colleges require you to live on campus all four years, while others only require the first two, or even just the first year. Some colleges won't guarantee housing all four years, while others will. Keep this in mind as you begin building a college list.

The Deal With Greek Life:
[Like everything else about the college process, there are pros and cons to each and every thing. I am here to provide information, and will neither advocate nor oppose Greek Life. That's for you to decide.]

Greek life refers to Sorority/Fraternity housing, and began in 1776 at William and Mary. Their purpose is twofold: one, be a social organization for undergraduate students and two, philanthropy. Many Sor/Fra have made a huge difference, supporting such causes as MDA, Make-A-Wish, etc. There are also religious, racial, and cultural housing (such as Jewish, African Americans, etc).
Some, but not all of them require initiation of sorts. When, I visited Vanderbilt, my student buddy explained to me the school's sorority system. It's basically a week of courting, fun activities, and sugar. At the end of the week, a girl turns in a card with her top choices and if the house and the girl matches, voila! welcome to the house.
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A little different from the terror filled picture of hazing. However, I do want to make it clear that hazing does happen at some schools/houses. Keep in mind that hazing is illegal in 44 states. Always stay vigilant. If a group is pushing you into something you find illegal, unsafe, or against your limits, walk away from that house. Hazing is inappropriate and stupid. Not all schools/houses will do hazing though, so keep an open mind when it comes to Greek life.

If you choose to pursue Greek life, be careful with alcohol consumption. Frats and Sororities often have parties, and some will involve alcohol. That itself really isn't a big deal. Often, the officers of the house will be of a legal drinking age. Again, I am not here to either advocate or oppose drinking, that's a personal choice. Most of us will have at least one drink in college. The difference lies in the person. Getting drunk all the time, not securing a way home, being promiscuous while under the influence, all of those things can lead to serious repercussions, so be smart.
I want to stress that several Uni grads each year decide to be a part of the Greek system. They are happy in it, successful in school, and make the right choices. So don't avoid Greek Life if you are afraid of judgment from your peers.
Below are links to read if you are considering Greek life:
http://www.suite101.com/content/college-student-alcohol-safety-a46078
http://www.collegetips.com/greek-life/
http://www.ultimate-college-experience.com/college-greek-life/

Anyway, keep posted, we have some exciting blogs coming your way, including a blog from Stef, a blog about Ivy Leagues, and more!

Ciao,
Celinda :]