<p>I just got accepted ED and was wondering if any currents Cornellians can answer in detail ( if you can) which first year dorms are the best and which are the worst and why. Also a list of pros and cons of other dorms. I think most incoming freshmen are curious and we would love to hear from first-hand experience!</p>
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<p>I am specifically interested in Court Kay Bauer and Donlon. Which would be better for a girl thatâs very social and likes gatherings and parties but would like privacy like for bathrooms and studying hours?</p>
<p>I think I will like donlon for the vibrant student life and itâs close proximity to Appel but CKB is newer and the dorms are bigger and the building is cleaner.</p>
<p>My only issues are the co-ed bathrooms in donlon and the rumored less social activity at CKB. How are the bathrooms at donlon from a girls perspective? Also, are the rumors true about CKB social gap? </p>
<p>I know I canât choose my dorm but I am just interested in what others have to say!</p>
<p>You already know you canât choose, so I donât see what difference it can make. Probably best to make the most of whichever dorm you are assigned. </p>
<p>Anyways Iâll share my experience, I lived in Court last year. I found the community (at least within the floor) was pretty tight-knit, and everyone was super friendly. My floor definitely had a nice vibe to it, but I knew of friends in other floors who really didnât like the people on their floor. </p>
<p>The distance from CKB to Donlon is like less than 2 minute walk, in particular from Court to Donlon took me around <20 steps of walking. So distance to the dining places shouldnât be a relevant factor.</p>
<p>I canât comment on the bathrooms in Donlon, since I didnât live there, but from my experience this semester with large floor bathrooms in Cascadilla, itâs not too bad. In a way I find it convenient if there are a lot of stalls, whereas in CKB itâs a suite type bathroom for every 5 people, and if someone is showering, youâd have to wait for them to finish, but if there are many stalls waiting isnât really an issue. I thought Iâd care a lot about privacy in the bathroom, but after a while you stop caring and adapt.</p>
<p>Not sure what you mean about the CKB social gap. Lots of people like to socialize and others not so much. A lot though are on the fence and indifferent, so if you really want a vibrant social scene wherever you are, you can take an initiative of some sort.</p>
<p>Again I advise not to hype yourself up over a particular dorm because you donât know what youâll get, so just make the most of wherever you get assigned.</p>
<p>inb4 you get one of the low rises.</p>
<p>I think the point of this thread is to know what to expect when we get assigned our dorm, whatever it is. What are the positive aspects of some of the âbadâ dorms so we know how to make the best of what we get. What are the âbadâ aspects of the dorms so we know what to expect and what to prepare for when we get there. </p>
<p>Just my two cents. :)</p>
<p>There are pros and cons with every first year dorm. I donât have too much experience with all of them, but here are my three and a half cents:</p>
<p>@ LOW RISES <a href=âwhere%20I%20currently%20liveâ>Low Rise 6 || Low Rise 7</a>
::: PROS :::
Each Low Rise building (there are two of them, Low Rise 6 and 7- the program houses are technically Low Rises as well) consists of four units. Each unit is sort of like a floor, but since the Low Rise buildings are split-level and âriot proofâ they are structured very oddly, each unit doesnât really correspond to a floor. Anyway, each unit consists of 43 people, and the layout of the unit is centered around the lounge and kitchen area. This creates a very close and social atmosphere within the unit, since the lounge becomes a central place for everyone to hang out when they have nothing to do, or are bored of doing what they have to do. Overall, the Low Rises are great social dorms. They are also pretty close to RPCC (which has dinner, Sunday brunch, and Nastyâs [a takeout place and convenience store] )
::: CONS :::
The Low Rises are pretty old and ugly, and their very weird layout may bother some people (but personally, I like it). They are very far from Central Campus (where all your classes will be) and far from Appel (dining hall for weekday breakfast). Also, the RAs come around to check on everything very frequently, which makes hosting parties stressful and difficult. </p>
<p>@HIGH RISES [High Rise 5 || Jameson]
::: PROS :::
The High Rise buildings have the same structure as the Low Rises, except these are six stories high (the Low Rises are two stories each). They are also extremely close to RPCC, closer than the Low Rises. They are also not as gross.
::: CONS :::
As part of the riot-proof planning, you canât get to the second floor from the ground floor without waiting for the elevator (that means, there are no stairs from the ground floor. You get down to the ground floor with stairs through a one-way staircase, however). They are also very far from Central and Appel, but marginally closer to Central but farther from Appel than the Low Rises.</p>
<p>@DONLON
::: PROS :::
Donlon is often remarked as the loud, crazy, party dorm. The Donlon lounges are very nice and the main lounge on the first floor (humorously called, âThe Morgueâ) can actually be quiet sometimes. Iâm pretty sure the whole âcrazy partyâ thing is a self-propogated stereotype-- such that everyone hosts parties there because they believe thatâs where the parties should be, based on Donlonâs reputation. Donlon is pretty close to RPCC, not too far from Central, but pretty far from Appel.
::: CONS :::
Far from Appel, can be loud at times.</p>
<p>@DICKSON
::: PROS :::
Good distance between Central and RPCC. Nice kitchens.
::: CONS :::
Pretty ugly inside. </p>
<p>(sorry, but I canât say much about Donlon or Dickson)</p>
<p>@NEWBIES [Court â Kay â Bauer || Mews]
::: PROS :::
With Court-Kay-Bauer (three adjacent, identical, connected buildings) built in 2003 and Mews in 2005, these represent the newest and nicest dorm buildings, and their layout is pretty much the same. They are extremely pretty inside, have awesome recreational rooms, and very nice lounges. Mews is right next to Appel, and CKB is pretty close as well.
::: CONS :::
These dorms are known to be pretty anti-social â the lounges are located pretty far from most peopleâs rooms, but several of the lounges are used primarily for studying. The doors do not stay open by themselves, so walking through the dorm, EVERYONEâs doors are closed. Its socialness all depends on who you live with, so it may be hard for people on the socially-awkward side to make friends in Mews/CKB. Also, Mews is pretty far from RPCC, and CKB is not too bad of a walk to there. As a Low Riser, I would not like to live in Mews.</p>
<p>As with @BALCH and @RISLEY, I donât know too much besides theyâre close to Central and far from both Appel and RPCC. Risley does have its own dining hall and Balch has its own caf</p>
<p>Oo **** you live in the low rises.</p>
<p>What if I already know you.</p>
<p>Oh well Iâm not revealing my identity.</p>
<p>Well there are 336 Low Risers in total⊠unless you live in my unit (<em>gasp</em>) I probably havenât met you.</p>
<p>Question: If we prefer Balch, can we request it? Or is it totally random?</p>
<p>Balch, Risley, and the program houses can be requested.</p>
<p>I live in CKB right now. My opinion is similar to johnny05âs comments. I would also like to add that it is definitely possible to host parties as long as you keep the crazy stuff in your room. </p>
<p>Also, if you have allergies, asthma, or both, you can increase your chances of getting into CKB by filling out this form: <a href=âhttp://sds.cornell.edu/Forms/Asthma_Allergies_Form.pdf[/url]â>http://sds.cornell.edu/Forms/Asthma_Allergies_Form.pdf</a>
Housing will prioritize placing you in Mews or CKB.</p>
<p>I know someone who had a very anti-social time in Mews. Like a side, it all depends on who you live with.</p>
<p>@jeremyMC27 is right⊠I am aware you canât choose but Iâm just nervous about housing and I think most ED people are too. Itâs a long way until any info about housing or dining or anything that comes out in April and I just want to get first hand info to help the time pass by. Itâs a lot of nervous energy really.</p>