<p>I really like the idea of a private bathroom, but I’ve heard that the high-rises are generally infamous for stilting social life. Even with the Freshmen program in Harrison, is meeting and socializing with people all that bad?</p>
<p>On top of that, I’m an engineering major and I’ll really need my study time. Would living in the Quad detract from my studies because of its focus on a social life? Where do most people study anyways?</p>
<p>They really aren't that bad, I have friends that love the highrises and had great experiences even as freshmen. It really is what you make of it anywhere you live on campus, If you want your hall to be more social knock on some doors if not or if you really need to study on a Saturday night or something close and lock your door, get some earplugs and you'll be all set. Some people get very unsocial floors in the quad, I personally had a great experience in Gregory so much so that I lived here this year too. I would warn you that the quad can be loud at times but there is the biomed and van pelt libraries 5 minutes away if that is better for you to study. There are just so many options and so many diffierent scenarios. Plus keep in mind that some people are overdramatic about their "bad" experience while others just like telling everyone their only horror story. If studying and having your own bathroom is important to you go for a highrise or gregory or Stouffer. The quad is social but most of my really good friends are from classes and clubs not my floor so remember that it is not do or die by any means. Hope my ramblings help!</p>
<p>My son, who is an incoming freshman, knows a lot of current students. They tell him that the one advantage of the highrises is that you get preferential placement if you are already there as a freshman, since high rises are highly sought after for sophomore year once people have met their friends. At Previews last week one of the student reps did warn the kids against living in the highrises as a freshman, because it's not as social over there for freshmen. And some kids are put there not by choice. The trick may be to have a friend in the highrises and then opt to room together as a group 2nd year. Highrise accomodations are larger and nicer than the typical freshman housing locations, ie. quad, Hill and KCEH. For most freshmen, however, the choice seems to be based more on who you're with, not where you are!</p>
<p>As far as engineering majors, I believe some like the location of Hill or KCEH because of the proximity to those classes</p>
<p>It's true that some hallways "even" in the quad, the ones with a lot of singles, for example, are not so social. Also, each college house has study/computer rooms so its not hard to find a place to do work, and you don't have to go out to the llbrary. I thought that was a great feature.</p>
<p>If you have a group of friends, the high rises aren't bad at all.</p>
<p>I visited Penn and talked to the students. In general, people do say that the high rises are not as social as in the quad. upperclassmen generally do advise to not choose the high rises for the first year. the quad is where you want to be to get the best social life, partly because you have to go out of your room to go to the bathroom. also, some people dont lock their doors/suites. also, the quad is simply beatiful and unique. Hill is the other house that will give you a lot of freshman social life.</p>
<p>i personally haven't decided yet either but Im leaning towards the quad right now</p>
<p>A not-so-bad option may be to apply to the Infectious Diseases or Women In Science (if you're a girl) residential programs. I'm pretty sure that they're housed on their own floors in Ware, so you'll most likely be on one of those quieter floors, though still in a really social dorm - the best of both worlds, really.</p>