Living in dorms is one of those American college rites of passage that a lot of us wouldn't trade for the world. Sure, there are compromises. You have to learn how to share space, you might have an annoying roommate, you might face a sexile. But these are all growing experiences that aid you on your path to becoming a fully-fledged adult. Sure, I hated having to shower with flip-flops on for a whole year, but on the other hand, it exposed me to a fleet of germs that surely helped boost my immune system. And I learned how to make eggs in a microwave. All valuable survival skills.
I understand why you'd want to skip over this necessary evil, but certainly not in favor of living with your older cousin. You need to be free to do your own thing, for Pete's sake! That's why everyone quickly took this woman's side when a family argument broke out.