<p>Any current Columbia students, alumni, or just prospects that have an opinion, which residence hall at Columbia do you think is best and why?</p>
<p>Just did the tour with D Wednesday and it seems the main difference is whether you have a single (or double) on a traditional hall or a double in a suite. Our tour guide suggested the suites dorm(s?) were more social and the single halls somewhat quieter. Some have dining halls in them - John Jay for one - some don’t.</p>
<p>So I guess “best” depends on what you want. Tour guide also said 80-90% “get their 1st or 2nd choice”.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/347790-helpful-columbia-threads.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/347790-helpful-columbia-threads.html</a></p>
<p>That thread links to a lot of useful Columbia threads (though some information might be out of date). </p>
<p>I’m a hopeful, but (from what I’ve read) I’d probably go for Carman or John Jay as they give more of opportunities to socialise with people in your own year.</p>
<p>Basically:</p>
<p>Carman - known as ‘more social’ - doubles and 4:1 bathroom ratio. All Freshmen. Apparently ~50 per floor. Close to dining halls and cafes, and next to Butler library if you need a quiet place to revise and/or get away from parties. Apparently pathetic kitchen (but you’ll be able to get food elsewhere).</p>
<p>John Jay - corridor style, mostly singles, 2 bathrooms per floor. All Freshmen. ~50 per floor (I think). Has clunky elevators and no A/C, but has its own dining hall (so, apparently, people go down to eat in their PJs a lot) along with access to LLC facilities - laundry room, computers etc. Also has a piano. Next to the Butler library.</p>
<p>Furnald - has some sophomores but has recently become more of a Freshmen dorm. ~25 per floor (I think), is touted as having the nicest facilities and looking like a hotel. Has shower stalls for disabled people.</p>
<p>LLC - has more sophomores and upper-classmen. Has singles, and apparently, it tries to make students organise activities to promote interaction but people ignore that.</p>
<p>All the dorms are quite close to each other.</p>
<p>Current Columbia student here. Another thing to note: Because each dorm supposedly has its own “personality” (accurately described by jcxlcc), each one will generally attract different kinds of people. An example: most people in Carman are <em>extremely</em> outgoing, and there are always people hanging out in the lounge. So if you are, say, somewhat introverted, this may not be the best dorm for you. (Your friends during freshman year will almost certainly be the other people on your floor, so pick a dorm that tends to have personality types you can get along with.)</p>
<p>As a current student, totally agree with @thumbtack. I am somewhat reserved until I get to know people, and am miserable in Carman. (Then again, my floor is mostly athletes who have formed their own cliques already)</p>
<p>BTW OP, please don’t get the idea that Columbia is only for extroverts! Just Carman for freshmen. I heard that Furnald or even JJ are better for slight introverts.</p>