When someone mentions a dorm room, chances are, the image that comes to mind is hardly one of luxury. Most likely the thoughts associated with college dormitories are a far cry from palatial: cinderblock walls, carpeting matted down with decades-old stains, tiny twin-sized beds and being perilously close to accidentally elbowing your roommate should either of you move too suddenly. In fact, dorm arrangements can be so comically subpar that living in the cramped quarters has become almost a rite of passage for many young college students. But all of that is changing on some campuses across the country as schools begin offering insanely lavish dorms that rival even the old homestead.
Boston University will its newest student housing hall, Student Village II, in 2009 and its gleaming halls are a prime example of university dorms turning from pitiful to posh. The residence hall features a five-star-hotel worthy view of the Charles River and Harbor Islands, a soundproof piano room for those who wish to tickle the keys and flex their musical skills, and in each room, a private bath and walk-in closet. Never again will BU students living in "StuVi II" have to worry about being stranded out in the hallway in nothing but a towel after enjoying a hot shower. But that’s not all. Purdue University’s First Street Towers also offers its tenants private baths, and more peculiarly, it also only features spacious single bedrooms. This means that students living here never have to worry about having to tolerate a filthy or noisy roommate. Still not convinced? First Street Towers students also receive free maid and laundry service. Now that’s good living that more resembles kicking back in a hotel rather than in a college dorm.
Schools are going through the trouble of offering luxurious accommodations in order to lure in more students during these troubled economic times. It may seem counteractive to offer students dorms that can cost up to $5,000 more each year than living in a regular dormitory, but a surprising number of students have shown interest in taking up residence in the grand residence halls despite the financially difficult time. Some do so because they know that after graduation, their living situation may be profoundly tough as they make their foray into the job market. Living in the lap of luxury during college is those students’ way of enjoying one last extravagance before having to shack up in low-rent apartments for a few years. Whatever the reasoning, it is clear that opulent dorms are successful as they continually draw in students willing to pay more to live like kings.
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