<p>Alright, I just got a couple quick ones, but I figure others are bound to ask some more, so here's the thread.</p>
<p>Ok. First, how's the car situation. I thought I read somewhere that freshmen couldn't have cars or couldn't have university parking. Could someone clarify? Are they needed?</p>
<p>Second, When did you guys get info on dorms and housing? Which residential college is best? (in your view)</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I'm game to answer some questions.</p>
<p>First off, freshmen are not allowed to have cars, nor are they needed. If you have a map, it takes approximately ten minutes to walk from Scully (a dorm on the southside of campus) to Nassau Street,so time isn't that big of an issue -- in fact, during a high school debate tournament last weekend (which I was judging at) it was a lot more unwieldy to drive around campus than to walk around. Upperclassmen are allowed to have cars, but at a cost.</p>
<p>As far as the residential colleges go, I live in "The Kitchen Suite," a large nine-man suite in Wilson College. Here's a quick breakdown of the colleges. I could have some of the dorms off, but they're more or less correct.</p>
<h2>Rocky</h2>
<p>Dorms in it -- Holder, Blair, Buyers, Witherspoon</p>
<p>On the whole Rocky is probably the best college to be in. If you end up in Rocky, you'll probably be put in a quad somewhere in one of the aforementioned dorms, meaning that you'll have two large doubles connected to a common room. The best dorm to live in in Rocky next year will be Holder (they're renovating it this year) or Witherspoon (best dorm on campus this year), and Rocky's dining hall has the best food this year IMO. The only downside to living in Rocky is that you can be rather far from Frist and the Street.</p>
<h2>Mathey</h2>
<p>Dorms in it -- Campbell, Blair, Hamilton?, others (upcampus)</p>
<p>Mathey is also pretty good. I have a friend who lives in Campbell and he has a medium-sized quad. Here again you will be likely living in a quad composed of two doubles and a common room, and again you'll have much of the same (dis)advantages as Rocky. On the whole, however, Mathey's dorms are not quite as nice as Rocky's, and their dining hall isn't too well lit (though it shares a kitchen with and thus has the same food as Rocky)</p>
<h2>Butler</h2>
<p>Dorms -- 1915, 1922, 1940, 1941, 1942, Lourie-Love, Walker</p>
<p>Butler is, in the opinion of most, the worst residential college; Butler's buildings aren't too attractive from the outside (except for 1915, which is DEFINITELY the best Butler dorm) and inside they are virtually all singles and doubles -- I think there is one six-man suite in all of Butler. Butler is fairly inconveniently located, but they do have a nice college center, Wu Hall, which has the most ergonomic dining hall (though the least ergonomic kitchen). I also like Butler's library. 1915 Hall is without a doubt the best dorm in Butler; it has a mix of quads, I believe. </p>
<h2>Forbes</h2>
<p>Dorms -- Main Inn, Annex, Addition</p>
<p>Forbes <em>is</em> rather out there (a 5-10 minute walk to Frist and a long walk to the E-Quad). Almost all of the rooms in Forbes are rather large doubles, while all the rooms in the Main Inn have their own bathrooms. Forbes is reputed to have the best food -- a reputation I disagree with -- but they have a nice dining hall. Forbes people tend to stick with other Forbes people due to their proximity from the rest of campus, but it's not too bad. Some rooms in Forbes (which mostly sophomores get, so you'll have to hold out a year) have AWESOME views of the golf course adjacent to Forbes and the Graduate College tower. On the whole, Forbes isn't too bad.</p>
<h2>Wilson</h2>
<p>Dorms -- 1927/Clapp, Feinberg, Walker, 1937, 1938, 1939, Dodge-Osborn, Gauss</p>
<p>Wilson is the college I know best and is made up of a disparate groups of dorms; they can be divided into four subgroups:</p>
<p>1) 1930's, Gauss and Dodge-Osborn
These are all ugly brick buildings built in the early 70's, I believe. Inside, they mostly house singles, but each building has a couple of large suites, some of which are arguably the best rooms on campus. All of these buildings are two to three stories tall; 1939 Hall is a substance-free hall, which means you can't bring alcohol or drugs into the building. I'll get to the larger suites in a minute.</p>
<p>2) Feinberg/1927/Clapp
These buildings were all built in the 80's and are slightly weird looking -- Feinberg is a five-story, futuristic-looking, plum-colored tower built into a hill while 1927/Clapp is a three-story building, built into a hill, that looks like a mix of the 30's buildings and Feinberg. Inside these buildings are mostly quads and a few six-man suites, which I'll detail below. Feinberg is an all-freshman building, while 1927/Clapp is always swooped up by sophomores.</p>
<p>3) Walker
Walker is a Gothic (!) building shared with Butler. Inside, Walker has some decent-sized doubles, all of which are fairly charming. Each floor has its own shared bathrooms that are cleaned daily by staff. On the top floors of Walker lie some quads which are usually party suites -- "The Tank" is a notorious party suite at one end of Walker while "The Tower Suite" is a four-man, two story quad that is quite nice. Walker usually ends up being quite a drinking dorm, so beware if you're averse of alcohol.</p>
<p>The Wilson Suites --</p>
<p>Like I said, there are some awesome suites in Wilson:</p>
<p>1) "The Zoo" -- an 11-man suite in Dodge-Osborn that is perpetually a party haven
2) "The Penthouse" and "The Playhouse" -- two-story six-person suites at the top of Feinberg. Both feature views of the Wilson quad and have insanely high (20-feet) ceilings.
3) "The Kitchen Suite" and "The Cuckoo's Nest" -- these two suites in 1939 Hall, both on top of eachother (the Cuckoo's Nest is on top of the Kitchen Suite), used to be amazing party suites until this past year when 1939 Hall became a sub-free dorm. The KS (where I live) used to have a kitchen, which was removed two years ago and is a two-story, nine-man suite with a big big common room, while the Cuckoo's Nest is an eight-man suite with a similiar floorplan to the KS. Both suites have two bathrooms which must be cleaned by the occupants
4) "The Fishbowl" -- a four-person suite on the ground floor of Feinberg with a humongous window; usually goes to freshmen girls
5) "The Eye" and "The Retina" -- two sophomore suites on the top floor of 1927; similiar in layout to Feinberg's best suites and the most in-demand suites
6) The Gauss Suite -- a large 11-man suite in Gauss, usually claimed by fraternities; almost always goes to sophomores.</p>
<p>Hope that helps. Here's a link where you can view the floorplans of the dorms:</p>
<p>Feel free to IM me @ TunanFish if you want.</p>
<p>TN</p>
<p>Very nice. Thanks, tunanfish!</p>
<p>You really don't need a car, but knowing someone with one is nice (for runs to walmart/the market/anywhere).</p>
<p>I found out about housing during July. I ended up in a double in Walker Hall (part of Butler/Wilson). I got very lucky (if you know about walker and the rest of butler/wilson dorms).</p>
<p>Does anyone have any tips for how to fill out the dorm questionairre in order to get the dorm you are looking for (esp. rocky/mathey)</p>
<p>For example, if I say I want a dorm with a darkroom as I am a visual arts concentrator...</p>
<p>Tunanfish: Friggin awesome dude. Thanks.</p>
<p>Oh, and one more:</p>
<p>Laptop or Desktop?</p>
<h2>Rocky</h2>
<p>Holder, Buyers, Little, Edwards, The Spoon (upcampus)</p>
<p>Rocky is the best college to be put in because they tend to have the most resources in organizing events. However Rocky is probably the least diverse of the residential colleges and is usually regarded by other students as a haven for rich White people. Most of Rocky's rooms are quads and doubles. Since Rocky has Little this year, which used to be Senior Housing, some of the doubles in the basement are quite huge and the quads are also very large. However Rocky will lose Little and gain Holder next year, which is newly renovated. Although Holder rooms will be smaller, Rocky students will still manage to be in the nicest rooms. As for the food, Rocky and Mathey share a same kitchen and the food at Rocky/Mathey tends to be a little better than the food downcampus (Wilson/Butler) but not as good as Forbes.</p>
<h2>Mathey</h2>
<p>Blair, Campbell, Joline, Edwards, Hamilton (upcampus)</p>
<p>I live in a double in Mathey and for the most part, Mathey also consists of mostly doubles and quads with a few singles here and there. Mathey college is one of the more diverse colleges, however is also one of the poorer colleges in terms of resources. The quads in Blair hall, especially are very nice. However Joline and Campbell are still not renovated, thus they tend to be not as nice as Blair. Edwards hall, which used to be upperclass housing are all singles, with the exception of a few rooms and I belive will become all Mathey next year. The best hall in Mathey is definitely Blair Hall because it is arguably the nicest looking hall on campus. Mathey also features a courtyard which Rocky does not have. The food is the same as Rocky. However one major problem with upcampus housing is that it's a pain in the butt for engineers and science majors such as myself. Every morning, I have to walk from one corner of the campus to the other corner of the campus for physics class. </p>
<h2>Butler</h2>
<p>1915, 1922, 1940, 1941, 1942, Lourie-Love, Walker (downcampus)</p>
<p>Although everyone rats on Butler, it is actually a pretty damn nice place when you do not consider the architecture of the new new quad. Butler and Wilson are centrally located, they are right by Frist campus center and are right next to the natural science buildings. Therefore most Butler people tend to be engineers and science majors and most humanities majors shun Butler. In terms of finanical resources, Butler probably has the least and the dorms consists of mostly doubles, singles, and hallway suites (which are a set of singles or doubles converted to a "suite"). Wu dining hall is the best looking dining hall on campus, however the food is not that great. If I had a choice as to where I'd live, I'd definitely say Butler or Wilson. If Butler, then 1915 because of the people there and the fact that 1915 is the nicest Butler dorm</p>
<h2>Forbes</h2>
<p>Main Inn, Annex, Addition, New Wing</p>
<p>Forbes has mostly singles, doubles, and one room triples. Forbes tends to be separated from the rest of the campus due to the fact that it is so far away and most Forbes people tend to stay in social circles that are exclusively Forbesians. Forbes does have the best dining hall on campus, because of the food there. However their dining hall is weird and has this emergency door placed in the center of the hall. So once in a while, somebody would set off the alarm going through that door, thinking that it's the actual door. Forbes is engineering hell, because it is the farthest you can possibly get from the E-Quad. Thus most Forbesians have bikes.</p>
<h2>Wilson</h2>
<p>1927/Clapp, Feinberg, Walker, 1937, 1938, 1939, Dodge-Osborn, Gauss</p>
<p>Tunanfish has covered Wilson pretty well.
Wilson does have the reputation as the insane asylum due to the number of huge suites in its quad.</p>
<p>Would you recommend using AP credits for Advanced Standing?</p>
<p>I would highly warn against doing advanced standing. There are a lot of wonderful classes in all of the departments that you should try to take, and six semesters (four of which would be spent mostly in your department) isn't enough to cover that. Another thing I would say regarding that is not to just take intro courses your year. I see far too many people taking schedules that are filled with courses like Macro/Micro, Political Theory, Intro to Sociology, and Psych 101. While there's nothing inherently bad with those courses, you can take courses similiar to those at other schools. I would <em>highly</em> recommend not coming to Princeton with the attitude that you've selected your major. Even if you want to become an I-Banker or whatever, that doesn't mean you have to start taking Econ + Finance courses off the bat.</p>
<p>Also, I'd like to disagree with Goldeneye on a few points. He suggests that Rocky is know as being an undiverse college. As an unbiased spectator who lives in Wilson, I can tell you that college assignment is random -- the richest kid I know lives in Butler, while a Rockefeller lives in Wilson. Someone asked how to maximize your chances of getting in a college, and I'm 99% sure there is none -- they'll randomly assign you to a college first, then look at your housing forms. Even as a moderately rich white kid, it does bug me to see wealthy legacies to get put up in rooms in Blair or Spoon, but there are just as many of them downcampus.</p>
<p>Also note that you won't be assigned to any college because of a major you have. Why? You don't have a major yet! Getting to Guyot (Geosciences) or Jadwin (Physics) from Butler is certainly quicker than from Forbes, but that doesn't mean they assign Geosciences and Physics majors to Butler. Now, if people are more apt to become those majors <em>because</em> they're closer . . . that's another story. But they certainly don't assign you to a college based on prospective major. In Upperclass housing, people often congregate by major -- for example, Scully has lots of math and science majors since it is close to Butler (and thus Fine and Jadwin).</p>
<p>Also, I maintain that the Forbes food isn't the greatest. I have eaten brunch both there and in Wilson, and the difference is negligible. The ill-placed emergency exit in the dining hall is funny, though.</p>
<p>If I had to rank my top five choices for underclass dorms (considering I'll probably be a History major . . .)</p>
<p>1) Witherspoon - Rocky
2) Hamilton (open next year?) - Mathey
3) Buyers - Rocky
4) 1927/Clapp - Wilson
5) Blair - Rocky</p>
<p>Also, if you opt for sub-free housing you will get a nicer room in some cases. If you do want sub-free, I would suggest asking for a larger room -- I got my nice suite that way and I know there are some neat suites in Buyers.</p>
<p>I would definitely recommend you get a laptop. You don't know whether you'll like your roommate(s) that much and it's nice to take advantage of the wireless internet + projectors around campus.</p>
<p>TN</p>
<p>A laptop is infinitely more flexible than a desktop. There's wireless internet in scattered places around campus (Frist, etc) so a lot of people will take their computers there to work.</p>
<p>If you need a power laptop with a strong vid card for graphics work or gaming, check out many of the lesser-known options at <a href="http://www.notebookforums.com%5B/url%5D">www.notebookforums.com</a>.</p>
<p>The University provides discounted Dell and Apple laptops, but I found both a bit lacking so I ordered my own following advice from notebookforums.</p>
<p>Tim is definitely right about sub-free housing. Buyers has some of the best suites in Rocky, and the U made it sub-free for that reason.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, talking to several upperclassmen who have had friends work in the housing department for fin aid jobs, housing is mostly random but there is still heavy bias. That's why there are an uncommonly large number of asians in Butler, and applicants often get increased chances of getting into Rocky/Mathey depending on the choices they indicate on the housing forms.</p>
<p>But don't worry about housing now -- those forms don't come until may, and most people are satisfied enough with their situation come fall.</p>
<p>If I could make a single recommendation about housing it is:</p>
<p>Unless you have an insane amount of difficulty making friends, don't request a double.</p>
<p>75% of the people I know in doubles don't like/hate/despise their roomate.</p>
<p>My suggestion: ask for either a large suite, quad, or single.</p>
<p>There are so many opportunities to meet people, and everyone is so friendly, that being forced to live with one person and spend a healthy amount of time with them is not good. Why not be a social free agent? I know of very few roomates who love eachother and spend actual social time together. If you are in a single you can befriend the good people in a suite near you. In a large suite, there will at least be someone else you like. In a quad, one out of three is pretty good.
In a double you are stuck.</p>
<p>Also people here tend to have pretty weird sleeping habits so having your habits mesh with someone else can be difficult. I have tons of friends/people to socialize with but can always return to my own inner sanctum in 1-person 133 Gauss.</p>
<p>Just my thoughts; definitely understand those who prefer roomates.</p>
<p>also...</p>
<p>laptops >>>>>>> desktops</p>
<p>sub-free can be risky, the people in wilson sub-free are pretty cool (tim included) but be sure you are that type of person and are willing to forego a major element of princeton's social life before you make the plunge</p>
<p>that being said, a wise man once said, "better to be a tee-totaler living in a mansion than a wino living in the projects"</p>
<p>What's the dress/fashion like there? Are people rocking designer stuff like abercrombie everywhere or what?</p>
<p>haha, designer like <i>abercrombie</i>? </p>
<p>anyways, the food from dining hall to dining hall is the exact same, no need to worry about that.</p>
<p>and there's really nothing you can say on your housing form to get a certain college/dorm/anything. for example, i was (and still am) dying for a single, so i requested 0 roommates and put down all sorts of other anti-social tendencies. I got a double. My friend, who was dying to be in a quad/suite got a single. I really doubt they even look at your housing sheet, its so random.</p>
<p>I also requested substance free housing and got put in walker, which i don't mind, except for the fact that there's always parties/drinking going on. once i returned to my room to find a party in it. <strike>good times </strike></p>
<p>One other thing I remembered re: sub-free is to keep in mind that a sub-free room in Wilson or Butler will probably be nicer than sub-free room in Forbes, Rocky, or Mathey -- at least in one way. If you want to go out drinking and you live in Butler or Wilson, you'll still be quite close to the street. If, however, you live in a sub-free room in Forbes you may feel kind of isolated. Also, I wouldn't like to be in a sub-free single -- kind of seems redundant.</p>
<p>Could someone explain what "sub-free" is?</p>
<p>Substance-free: no alcohol or drugs allowed in the dorm. In your body, however, is completely fine.</p>
<p>i would love to be sub-free in a single. hopefully next year.</p>
<p>What are you allowed to do in the regular dorms that aren't substance free, just have alcohol and the university will turn the other cheek? Plus, are there parties with alcohol in the regular dorm buildings, or are there just simply not the facilities to have parties in the residential colleges? </p>
<p>Do regular dorms allow smoking, because I hate smoke but I wouldn't mind having some beer on the weekends? What do most people choose? and are the substance free dorms usually more tame and easier to get your work done in?</p>
<p>You can have alcohol in the normal dorm rooms and the University will tend to look the other way. As someone who lives in Wilson, there are definitely parties in the larger suites every other weekend or so, but most people (freshmen included) just go to the Street. Residential Colleges ocassionally have large party-like events, but most of the time they stage quieter study breaks or academic-related events.</p>
<p>I'm not sure what the deal with smoking is, but I know you can request to not be housed with a smoker; furthermore, not too many people smoke. On the whole <em>by far</em> more people select non-sub-free housing, but they often do so without knowing the benefits (namely, better rooms, at least in some colleges). If, however, you can see yourself drinking in your room, you'd be best advised to not mark yourself down for sub-free housing.</p>