Would you see this anywhere but b-school?

Question

Seriously, can you guys imagine seeing something like this at, say, a sociology program, or something like that? 


******************************


Luxury Fuqua Student Home

· Living environment tailored to the needs of Fuqua students

· Designed by a Fuqua student for Fuqua students

· Three fully-furnished rooms available - just bring clothes
and a toothbrush. Toothbrush included!

· Many other amenities: gourmet kitchen, state-of-the-art
conference room, relaxing deck, guestroom, etc.

Why go through the hassle and expense of moving your belongings to
Durham for just two years at Duke? Why pay a fortune in apartment rent
and utilities only to live a limited lifestyle during the time you
should focus all of your attention on school? Why spend late nights
fighting for team room space at school when you and your teammates can
meet at your team conference room?

This newly-constructed luxury home was custom designed with the unique
needs of Fuqua students in mind and will be available for 2007. It is
situated on a half acre lot in one of the most exclusive areas of Durham
near several country clubs but still close to Fuqua School of Business.
The creator, a current Fuqua student, put painstaking effort to ensure
everything is optimized for the best business school living experience.
This experience has been so well thought out that you can arrive the day
before orientation with only your clothes if you choose.
Amenities
* Three fully furnished private bedrooms include

* King- or Queen-sized bed (depending on the room)
* High-definition Television (HDTV) with computer connectivity
* Dresser and nightstand
* Closet with integrated custom-designed organizer and necktie
rack
* Key lockable door and private safe
* Blackout honeycomb shades to control the keep out the sun
after late nights
* Luxury bed and bath linens
* Central air conditioning and heat
* 320 square foot executive team room with adjacent restroom

* Seating for ten
* High-definition projector and whiteboard
* Visitor's bedroom conveniently located off of the team
room offers two beds
* 160 square foot shared office and computer lab

* Three personal workstation areas
* Private storage space
* Filing cabinet at each workstation
* Kitchen with modern appliances

* Granite countertops
* Brand new dishwasher, oven, range and microwave
* Fully stocked with pots, pans, glasses, plates, and
silverware
* Outdoor barbequing center with natural gas plumbed grill
* Family with High-definition Television (HDTV), fireplace and
comfortable seating areas
* Dining room with seating for six
* 400 square foot deck nestled in the woods
* Other resources include new steaming washer and dryer, iron
and ironing board, vacuum cleaner
* Wired and wireless high speed Internet access
* Electricity, gas, water, sewer and garbage utilities are
included
* Garage parking available
* Relocation assistance including automobile leasing assistance
and an airport pickup on your first arrival are available

Room prices start at $915 per month including all of the amenities
above.

For more information, contact your fellow classmate....blahblahblah....

johnnyx9 · Answer

That's hilarious. I've never heard of a "relaxing deck" before, but I'm sure it's totally necessary to make it through school.

pelihu · Answer

Is this some student trying to start up a business concept? I think it might work. The difference with business students compared to other grad students is that for the most part, business students work full-time before starting up school (the majority are successful professionals) so they will have some cash. This much different that grad students living off a teaching stipend or even law students that have never held full-time jobs.

This disparity was always very evident around Michigan each spring. The school of social work is right between the business school and the law school. Each spring, you'd see literally dozens and dozens of new BMWs, Mercedes' and SUVs being driven by business and law students that had collected their bonuses and stipends. I always felt kind of bad for the social work students.

sm176811 · Answer

Yeah it is crazy. I was at Evanston during the DAK and happened to visit some of the local apartments there. Most of the luxury apartments are marketed to only Kellogg students. Majority of them are ridiculiously priced and the websites/brochures seem to include pictures of Kellogg and talk about distance from Kellogg as opposed to the NW University.

lepium · Answer

It sounds like a good business idea: if you see the demand and can supply and get a price that exceeds your cost through marketing and differentiation, then go for it.

I, personally, would not rent a place like that (I'll be staying at a dorm at least for the 1st year) but do not judge people who do. I mean, I do think they are probably placing too much value on confort and/or prestige (in the same way that a driver who buys an SUV with a 5-liter V8 to ride the highway and transport groceries does), but let them be.

(I also think that by using the sociology example you are subsconciously expressing your feeling of "having sold your soul to the devil" by attending B-school.) END OF CHEAP PSYCHOLOGY PARENTHESIS :lol:

dukes · Answer

Not quite as high-end as the Fuqua house, but there are a good number of places like the one linked below for Insead students. It seems like alot of people in the town (including some former alums) have made a business out of catering to students with an "all inclusive" housing solution.

https://www.arbresechouse.com/

johnnyx9 · Answer

I guess some people might be interested in these sorts of living arrangements, but don't most people normally value privacy over luxury? In other words, if I had a thousand dollars to spend on housing each month, I would rather spend a thousand dollars for a non-luxury studio apartment, instead of spending a thousand dollars for a luxury room in a house that I share with however many random people. 

Maybe some people like the idea of living w/ classmates, but it just seems like when you live with more than one or two people, all sorts of issues (like dirty dishes in the sink) sort of arise an create conflict.

I'd rather drive a Dodge Neon by myself than share a Mercedes with a bunch of strangers.

dukes · Answer

I like having several housemates, assuming they're reasonably respectful and I have my own bedroom. I'm the same at the office. I prefer a nice spacious cube over a private office just to have some social interaction throughout the day. I don't know if I'm in minority though. 

A car is altogether different thing. I'm not sharing my bedroom or desk.

lepium · Answer

Now that I think about it, what really annoys me is that I'll be paying about the same each month for an 11'4" x 7'5" room with a private bathroom. No HDTV, no appliances, no deck in the woods, no toothbrush, no visitors room, no workstations. Just basic furniture (including dorm size single bed) and hi-speed internet.

Arghh, Boston is so expensive! :evil:

L.

sm176811 · Answer

I think I will keep the tooth brush! I can live without the rest.

johnnyx9 · Answer

Boston is expensive, but NY is absolutely ridiculous. I'll be in a similar dorm set-up as what you described Lepium for the tidy sum of $1650 per month.

pelihu · Answer

I'll be paying about 1/3 that. That should leave some extra money for beer.

aaudetat · Answer

Nah, I'm not judging. I'm marveling at the different mind-set of b-school students. And I'm also trying to imagine a sociology student even DREAMING up an idea like this. I think it's a great biz idea and I'm hoping to be on a team with whoever lives there. Private team room sounds lovely.

Lepium, I am not selling my soul to the devil. I'm taking private lessons and then I'm whup his @ss.

:lol:

GMATT73 · Answer

How much extra for maid service?

Lorenzino · Answer

erm i'm a bit lost... we're just talking about a (very) nice house with many comforts for a (hypothetic) reasonable rent

all these comments about "prestige", "luxury" and "selling your soul to the devil" should be cut from here and pasted in the investment banking thread

thanks :D

johnnyx9 · Answer

Well I agree that there aren't golden faucets and diamond crusted door knobs, but I think the reason people are throwing around words like "luxury" and "prestige" is because when you compare this place to typical student accomodations it is much, much nicer. It's something of a tradition that students live in complete squalor and misery since they don't have any income.

aaudetat · Answer

Real estate prices are always relative. You can get a 2-BR apartment (recently rehabbed) in a good neighborhood near Duke for $600 - $750. You can buy an entire 3-BR house also near Duke for $100k to $140k.

Would you see this anywhere but b-school?

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