Linda McMillian & daughter Christina un-pack

Georgia Tech welcomed its largest freshman class ever to campus — more than 2,800 students — and sent campus Housing scrambling to accommodate them this fall.

"We created 160 temporary tripled rooms in Folk, Caldwell and Towers halls," said Dan Morrison, director of Residence Life. "This means 480 freshman students are living three to a room. We had to get extra beds, wardrobes, chairs and work surfaces in about five weeks."

All of the campus' flex spaces — lounges that can be used as dorms when needed — were also converted to living quarters.

Housing also created a Web page for students and parents to "learn what, why and how triples were being handled," Morrison said.

The influx of freshmen also put a strain on housing for upperclassmen.

"We had over 120 returning students on our waiting list in July," Morrison said. "Normally, we would have been able to get many of them into a space, but could not this year due to the large freshman class."

Next year will bring new issues, Morrison said, as Tech's largest sophomore class, which is guaranteed on-campus housing, arrives with luggage in tow. "We will likely have to place more juniors and seniors onto a waiting list than ever before."