Today the housing selection opened for admitted students. I was wondering the advantages or disadvantages of the various Clemson freshman housing?
Sorry for the double post
Clemson housing has such a variety of options. It’s worth really exploring the website for the options, looking at the prices (the vary a lot!), the living learning communities, where they are on the campus map and amenities for each option. I know that sounds like basic advice, but the options truly are so different that it’s worth digging in and seeing what would best suit your student.
Think about things like, co-ed versus single gender floors or building, suite style versus traditional dorm. Suite style dorms tend to be less social since they are more like apartments. The university cleans the traditional hall bathrooms, but students are responsible for cleaning their own in the suites. After talking to lots of students, we got lots of different opinions about why they all liked their choice the best! There are pros and cons to each choice for sure.
Coming up with several options is a good idea too since they may not get their first choice.
@ny1517 asked “What are the disadvantages of living on the east side of campus”
I wouldn’t say that there any and disadvantages to living on either side of campus. It’s about a 10-15 min walk from Core Campus to the Eastside housing (The Bryan Mall area. also called the Horseshoe). Freshman generally have classes and activities and meetings all over campus so no matter where you live you’ll be right by some and a 15 min walk to others. There is a dining hall on each side of campus students like some food at one and other food at another. It’s a personal preference as to one students seem to like better. The Eastside housing is close to lots of academies buildings and the Hendrix Student Center, while Core Campus is closer to Death Valley and the fitness center. Douthit Hills is pretty much the same distance to both of those places. Parking for freshman is a pretty good walk from wherever you live.
I personally think the way to choose housing is to select the type of living experience you want and don’t worry about where it is on campus. Hope that helps!
@Baxter126 my daughter hasn’t committed yet so we can’t do anything just yet. She’s still waiting on one more response & we need to do a few more visits before she makes a final decision.
My son will be a freshman engineering major in the fall. There are lots of reasons to live in RISE-tutoring, select classes, social community, etc. One concern is being surrounded in classes and dorm with all STEM kids- it would be nice to meet kids of all majors. He is OOS and will not know anyone but seems to be excited about ‘starting over’. He is comfortable in social environments, wants to do the fraternity thing, but definitely needs his down time/alone time to decompress and recharge. He’s thinking if he doesn’t get into Honors that selecting Core A would be good for his personality. Any opinions of Core vs RISE. RISE might be a bit ‘too’ social-if that’s possible…open doors, open access, little privacy/down time…any thoughts on comparisons if anyone has knowledge of both dorms. TIA.
Where do you want to live if you are in the business school and you want to be by the gym to workout?
@goodjob my son will be entering the business school this fall too. If he is going to join CUBS there is a gym located in their new housing units at Douthit Hills on the east side. The housing website has a video of the gym and a floor plan of their dorms. If he is going for Calhoun Honors at Core Fike is right there on the west side to work out in.
@mweb136 Hi. 
When do they need to sign up for housing. Mine still deciding between a few schools, but don’t want to mess up any deadlines.
@TexasStudent2018 my son already did since he committed already. However, you have until May to decide. Obviously the earlier the better so he can pick a roomate, but there will still be plenty to come.
@TexasStudent2018 You can register for housing until May 14th I think and it won’t affect room or dorm selection at all to wait.
Engineering students are everywhere. Core c is where my daughter lives and it has a closed door policy.honors kids get their work done but do socialize and you do find kids with your personality/going out types. Honors kids tend to be in the same classes and study together in the core study rooms. If you can afford to live in core, core is the place to be especially if you are in honors.
If you are not in honors, live in Holmes or McCabe and you will be close to the gym and those dorms are good.
@gopher8858 What do you mean by “closed door policy” for Core C? It sounds like they aren’t allowed to keep their doors open to make it more social?
My daughter was accepted and is looking for a roommate. She wants to rush and live in the suite like dorms. Is Holmes and mc cabe the best choice for her?
@Kari D I am not an expert at all, but I think Holmes and McCabe will either by Living Learning Communities or upperclass next year. I could be wrong! If there are any Freshman, non LLC, dorms that are suites, will someone please let me know?
They cannot keep their doors on the hall. They must be closed. Supposedly for safety reasons. My daughter doesn’t like that but she still managed to find friends and social opportunities that were not connected to honors functions. It is a policy that is enforced.
@adtuck The doors have to be kept closed because they are fireproof. we were told per fire codes they must be kept closed. It’s a safety benefit of a brand new building but it does make the halls less social. However, there are lots of social events for Honors students downstairs and of course, plenty of social events with the various groups around campus.
This door thing is great info. A major pro or con depending on your lifestyle!!
Texasstudent2018- YES PLEASE SOMEONE ANSWER! We were told that was freshman next year and suite style… that’s what she wants… btw we are from Houston… where are you?
My D was accepted and also interested in suite style/Holmes. I believe Holmes is for Freshman next year.