<p>if you try to sign up for a program do u have a better chance of getting your no.1 choice?</p>
<p>how come everyone is saying that the freshman shouldn't live in the high rises? I heard the facilities were alot better [you have your bathroom and in some cases, own kitchen and living room].
I do understand the point about the conveinience of having a dining hall in the house tho</p>
<p>It's because it's really hard to meet other people, hear about parties, etc.</p>
<p>Where exactly are the high-rises located? Do they cost significantly more than other dorms? Is KZECH considered a high-rise?</p>
<p>Maps</a> & Buildings @ Penn</p>
<p>The high rises are Rodin, Harnwell, and Harrison. Kings Court - English House (KCEH) is not a high rise. The cost of rent varies depending on single vs. double occupancy, but in general the high rises are more expensive.</p>
<p>The high rises are anti-social, which is something you DON'T want in your freshman year. It's VERY hard for freshmen in the high rises to meet other people. A private bathroom is something that sounds wonderful, but you'll live. As a freshman, you're required to have a large meal plan, and you won't have the time to cook. Live in the high rises as an upperclassman, after you have made friends and had time to evaluate them.</p>
<p>I live in the Quad, and haven't seen one mouse. A few roaches, and some unidentified species of spider+centipede that my friends and I assume was some genetics student's idea of a senior prank, but no mice yet. </p>
<p>If you want pretty much the traditional college experience as a freshman, live in the Quad. Standard dorm life. </p>
<p>Hill is another traditional college venue. It's more social than the Quad from what I've seen (everyone is like one big family -- either a plus or a minus depending on whether or not you like other people tending to be in your business more often than not). The drawback is that Hill accommodations suck compared to other houses (part of the reason why everyone there is so close.. I guess it's like being in prison or something and you develop that mutual camaraderie from being in a tough environment).</p>
<p>There's also some barren wasteland named Stouffer or something. It's over Wawa which is the only reason I know it exists. Kidding, but I don't have many friends who live there so I can't really tell you much about it.</p>
<p>This post is made tongue-in-cheek, though. I personally prefer the Quad, but while most Hill residents will probably second the notion that Hill's accommodations are mediocre, it's not like Hill's awful. I hang out there a lot, and it's pretty fun (especially since I pulled an all-nighter studying for finals in the lounge with a few friends). You'll definitely become close with your hallmates there.</p>
<p>It's late/early... I forget what I was saying. Oh, you can live in the high rises too. It's definitely easier to meet people living in the Quad/Hill than it is in the high rises, but you're probably going to get involved in other social circles beyond your hallmates. A lot of my friends are my roller hockey teammates, classmates, and people from other circles. Not to say that I don't socialize with my hallmates (four of my best friends here are my neighbors), but you'll have other opportunities to make friends as well, so if you want to live in the high rise, don't worry about not being able to make friends.</p>
<p>I will say this though; getting stuck with terrible roommates sucks, and if you would rather have a single room than risk getting paired with some complete stranger, your best bet is the Quad (I'm not sure if Hill has singles, too lazy to research it, but if they do you can probably try there too). I have a single and it's definitely worth it. If you have someone you know you want to room with then fine, but a bad roommate can really ruin your year, as I've seen from some of my friends' experiences.</p>
<p>Alright that's all for now, it's time to continue my bi-monthly CC checkup/reminiscence/thank-God-I'm-done-applying-for-college visit. If you have any more questions, shoot me a PM.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, one more comment about drinking. A lot of it depends on your RA/the RA who catches you in the act. Some RAs are pretty cool about it, some are strict. I can only speak for the Quad in this case. If you're chilling with your friends in your room and having a few beers while watching TV or something, you won't get caught (as long as you're not doing anything to draw attention to yourself like making excessive noise). The Quad's not the place to throw a party though. If you want to party, go off-campus to a frat or a club or something. Basically, just be smart about it. Most RAs will turn the other cheek if they feel like something is going on but can't see it, but if you get caught, a lot of RAs feel like they have to report it (it's their job, after all).</p>
<p>If you sign up for a program you do increase your chances at your number one choice only if you have a convincing essay. If you aren't going to write anything remotely good for the quad, you're probably better off not applying for a program.</p>
<p>Also note that even if you do get caught it's like a slap on the wrist. I know someone who has been caught four times and he's still fine... you have to go to a meeting/maybe write an essay or make a poster the first time. The second time you have to see a counselor every week or so for a while. Not sure what happens after that but, for better or worse, not a huge deal.</p>
<p>Yeah it's not like you'll get thrown out or anything, but having to go to alcohol education meetings and counseling and stuff can be a drag to say the least. You have so much free time in college, but that would be a crappy way to spend it.</p>
<p>In terms of rent for the high rises, the types of apartments that are available for freshmen actually cost the same as a double in the Quad. </p>
<p>Harrison would be the only high rise I'd recommend for freshmen, since all the freshmen in Harrison are in the Freshmen Experience residential program, and the house puts in a good deal of money into funding events for us. My floor for instance is pretty tight-knit (e.g. my floor's gotten together to throw a surprise birthday party for a hall-mate), and we often leave our doors open so people can come in and out to visit. I've heard that in past years though, the floors have been less social, so I guess it all comes down to the type of people in a given year. </p>
<p>I have friends in Harnwell and Rodin, and they tell me that those buildings are much less social. Although they try to put all the freshmen on the same floor, my friends complain that they lack the community-feel found in Harrison.</p>
<p>Even in Harrison though, obviously the opportunity to meet lots of freshmen within your house can't compare to places like Hill or the Quad where nearly all the residents are first years. As NickBarr says in his post though, you can of course still meet people in clubs, sports teams, classes, etc. so it's not like you're going to be sequestered away from the other freshmen and friendless if you live in the high rises.</p>
<p>What?! You have to write an essay to get the Quad?! What program is this? I wana go to the Quad! What exactly do I do? I don't just tell them I want Quad?</p>
<p>^There are residential programs where you have themed living. Every building has 3 or 4 programs. To get into the program you have to write an essay. If you write a convincing essay, your chances of getting into a program are pretty good. It greatly increases your chances of getting housing in the building of your choice. Residential programs largely do nothing, so don't feel like you have to particpate in random activities that don't interest you. You do not have to apply for a residential program, and most Quad residents are not in any program. However, over 1/3 of them are in some sort of program.</p>
<p>Thanks! That's a relief then! I just want to go to the Quad for freshmen year. That's likely right?</p>
<p>If you don't end up with a single and you're paired with a roommate/roommates, is it typically random or will you get paired with someone from your college? (i.e. Wharton with Wharton, CAS with CAS, etc.)</p>
<p>^It's random.</p>
<p>someone asked a good ? earlier
are the showers/bathrooms clean in the Quad? are they coed?</p>
<p>oh great... random? so there's a good chance you'll get stuck with someone you don't quite mesh with?</p>
<p>that can happen anywhere</p>
<p>can someone rank them in order of biggest party rez to the quietest? (i'm at a different university and i could definately do that for the rezes here)</p>
<p>Dancer16,</p>
<p>I think they were referring to the program of study. While roommate selection is somewhat random, it does take into account things like sleep schedule, personal preferences, habits, etc. to make a better match. Keep in mind though that having a roommate you don't get along with can happen anyways.</p>