Holland College can't meet demand for residence

The demand for a room in residence at Holland College is so great, the school is turning away hundreds of students.

The Charlottetown residence has 186 beds, but the demand is about three times that.

The rooms are reserved months before school even starts, said Holland College accommodations manager Tracey Campbell.

"It's a little heartbreaking sometimes when people can't get in," she said. "Everybody's got a story, and some people's story are quite touching and I wish I could build another room and take them but unfortunately I can't."

It's a little heartbreaking sometimes when people can't get in.- Tracey Campbell

Logan Dowe said he was disappointed when he got an email from the college last January saying residence was filled up and his best option was to look for an apartment.

"I would have loved it," he said. "Living off campus is harder to make friends."

Patch Smith is one of the lucky ones to get into residence.

He said living in residence is more convenient than off campus.

"I usually need to go back to school after I've eaten supper and get some more of my school work done there and it makes my life easier that I can just walk there and it doesn't even take five minutes."

The demand is so great, some Holland College students will even stay in residence on UPEI.

Campbell said she hopes at some point another residence will be built at Holland College so she doesn't have to keep turning students away. Each year for the past few years, there has been a waiting list of about 200, she said.

"Some parents are pretty persistent," she said. "They call every week and I understand how they feel."

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