<p>I understand that North Halls is the newest with AC and carpeting etc, and that a lot of freshmen live in East Halls, but are there any particular dorms that should be avoided or on the other hand might be underated??</p>
<p>Obviously I’m only an incoming freshman, so I’m not necessarily the most knowledgeable, but from what I saw on my tour, I think you’re going to get more or less the same with all the halls. The experience you’ll have is probably pretty dependent on who is in your halls. From what I hear, with a lot of Freshmen living on East, often times its very rowdy and loud. They took me into a typical room in East and it wasn’t bad or anything, but it wasn’t amazing.</p>
<p>Stayed in West Hall, not sure which section, while attending summer wrestling camp. I guess they are the oldest. They were OK and the food was good. Haven’t really seen any others to compare against. I am hoping some current students or parents of students might have some input.</p>
<p>The dorms are all different, not just in appearance but in the experience they offer as well. It’s not really that one section is better than another, they are just different. Most freshman live in East(4400 students) I think. People complain because of the distance, the noise, the puke in the elevators on weekends, etc-but most people agree that it is the best way to get to know other people and they would do it again as freshman because they end the year with good friends. Pollock and South are also not bad for freshman. There are still some freshman but you are mixed in with upper classman. Sorority floors are all in south and pollock, which can be either a positive or negative depending on your outlook. They are centrally located and at least one South building is being renovated this year and will be brand new next fall. West is the prettiest set of dorms, they are old but bigger with nicer windows. The problem with living in west as a freshman is that it is really hard to meet people, they do programs and if you are outgoing you won’t have a problem, but if your shy it could be difficult. North is also better living conditions, but the experience is similar to west. In truth, most freshman feel bonded over the fact that they “survived” east and most feel they were better off for having lived there. of course this is only my opinion and as others have stated most situations are what you make of them!</p>
<p>Dorm living is a personal choice, so you first need to think about what you want. And the reality of what you get. For every person who loved East, there is someone who hated it. None of the dorms are awful, you just want a fit for you. And there is plenty of time to decide or change between now and March/April. But from a local’s perspective, here we go:</p>
<p>East: biggest dorm complex in the US. Furthest from…well, from everything. Bazillions of freshmen, which you may think is a good or a bad thing, depending. Bus stops are crowded. Findley dining is good but crowded. Nearest to IM fields, BJC, and stadium. Reputation as a noisy, hot, rowdy, chaotic space. Cinder-block rooms. Not for the very studious (NOT that East students are dumb–just that the sheer number of people makes it noisier) or the the very introverted, but ymmv</p>
<p>South: Closest to town. proximity to stores, but proximity to street noise. Many freshmen, and many sororities. Cinder-block rooms. South dining is considered some of the best on campus. A nice blend of many things. S2’s friends are trying to move out because they are tired of the noise from College Ave. </p>
<p>Pollock: very similar to South, but further away from things. Many freshmen. Some of the dorms are under construction and being modified/upscaled. Rooms are reputedly the most beat-up. Close to the Schreyer dorms, too. Dining halls are notoriously crowded. Nephew lived in Pollock and had a fine experience but the room was a dump.</p>
<p>West: best/great location, fewer freshmen, many of the “hard science” majors live here because of the proximity to west campus. Great dining hall. Close to rec hall and the exercise rooms. downside is that it has many fewer freshmen, but if you are an engineering/IT major you will meet many of those here. Rooms are bigger. More single rooms in West than anywhere else. </p>
<p>North: central location, apartment-style rooms (no cinder block), all are suites of 2 or 4 students who share their own bathroom. Only 4 buildings. A/C. Carpet. Little rooms. Lots of arts/architecture/SLO students, very quiet. Most expensive --by a lot — option on campus except for Eastview (which is not open to freshmen). Their dining hall closes on Saturdays. A surprising number of freshmen live here. Also, North is the only complex that guarantees a contract year-to-year for all 4 years. (they don’t tell you that, but it’s true!) S2 lives here and was unsure at first, but absolutely loves it.</p>
<p>Great information greenbutton!! Thanks.</p>
<p>D was accepted to University Park and has choose ID/Immunology. Is there an SLO she could participate in?</p>
<p>Any information on the SLO Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) House located in Ritner Hall? Is Ritner hall all female dorm and/or is it being updated in the renovations to Pollock?</p>
<p>Ritner and Wolf are the only all-female dorms on campus – most of the sororities are on those floors. WISE incorporates all the female freshmen engineering majors, regardless of where they live. (Or, at least, we have friends who are participating and they live in South Halls, so it must be possible)</p>
<p>[Penn</a> State Live - South Halls renovations, addition approved, scheduled for spring start](<a href=“http://live.psu.edu/story/58467]Penn”>http://live.psu.edu/story/58467)</p>
<p>My bad, it’s South Halls that are undergoing the renovations; it’s a long term process. (In my defense, a street divides Pollock from South and I just guessed wrong about which side I was thinking about!)</p>
<p>from my experience, I think Pollock would be the best dorm. Especially Hartranft or Mifflin. It’s pretty much in the center of the campus so its close to everything such as the hub, pollock dining common, south commons, white building (gym), and pretty close to downtown too.
Also, simmons and mcelwain (both are south) is pretty much the same as Hartranft and mifflin. they’re like 10ft apart.</p>
<p>Halls you want to avoid is EAST and South HOYT HALL. East may be good since it’s all freshmen together and whatnot, but it’s far from almost every classes. Hoyt hall, which is south, it’s pretty much like east, but in the opposite direction. It’s close to downtown, but classes are sooooo far. </p>
<p>North/West both are good, but I wouldn’t live there since I do want to party a bit from here and there.</p>
<p>(1 being the best)
- Hartranft (clean dorms) P
- Mifflin P
- McElwain S
- Simmons S
- Beaver P
- Shunk P
- Hiester P
- Porter P
- Ewing S
- Hoyt S
- West Halls (dont know the hall names)
- North Halls
- East Halls</p>
<p>I am a freshmen at penn state and agree with everything that has been posted, but if you are going to live in east, hastings hall is the most run down/beat up.</p>