I’m currently applying for housing at CU and there are a lot of options…
I’m stuck between 3 dorms…
They are all pretty central to campus, but two of them are the traditional hall-style and the third has a suite-style. They all have options where you have a personal bathroom, which I intend to apply for.
I’ve heard pros and cons of both systems, that the hall style is more fun but can be loud at times, and that the suite system makes it easy to be anti-social.
What do you guys think?
How important is your dorm in your overall freshman experience? How important is having a communal bathroom vs. a personal bathroom?
Suite style hands down. I’ve lived in both settings before and the traditional dorm with no privacy and a communal bathroom just is terrible after the first week there. Now of course, I’ve only lived in traditional closet dorms for two weeks at a time for summer camps, so my opinion may be biased.
I like suite style because I can stay up and study without bothering my roommates, and do whatever I feel like in my room without disturbing anyone, like watching TV, listen to music, or change clothes.
You’re right, it’s a great option if you’re anti-social. Am I entirely anti-social? Sometimes I do get lonely, but I can always leave my room and go to the common area of our suite and hang out with all my roommates, who I actually like all of them!
But of course, suites are VERY expensive. I live in the most expensive suite on campus, but I’m on the cheapest meal plan possible, only available to people living in this suite, which combined, is actually CHEAPER than a traditional closet dorm with the standard meal plan! Bigger and nicer room, more privacy, more freedom for less money? I think so! But since I’m on the cheapest meal plan, I have to budget my food more wisely.
Can you afford a suite? I would so totally go with it. I thought I was going to want a traditional dorm for the “typical” college experience, but the suite style is just… perfect!
To the point of a communal bathroom… your college will guarantee the bathroom is cleaned everyday. But A LOT can happen in a day. Do you hate using public restrooms at Wal-Mart or a gas station? That’s what you can expect multiple times a day with a communal bathroom.