<p>I am applying for housing at Penn, and I'm going crazy trying to figure out where I want to stay Freshman year. I am not a fan of communal bathrooms. Is is social suicide to not want to live in the Quad or in the Hill? I was thinking about the Freshman Experience residential program in Harrison, but I heard a recent change in management made the program suck. Is this true? Also, if anyone know information about Souffer Mayer dorms, that would be great. Would you suggest living in Stouffer or in Harrison freshman year? What are the pros and cons of each? Thanks!</p>
<p>Don’t know what you mean by a change in the management.
but maybe if you’re using phrases like “suck” you might have more to worry about</p>
<p>I think the communal bathrooms thing is a little overblown. In most places on campus, you’re sharing a bathroom with at most 4-5 other rooms, and that significantly lowers the usage pressure. The College Houses also clean the bathrooms every day, so they’re very sanitary. As a current freshman at Penn, I don’t know anyone who lives in Stouffer or Mayer. I also only know one person who lives in the high rises. I think the best choice I made in my freshman year was to apply to the Quad, as some of my deepest friendships came from my hall. From what I’ve heard, FreshEx does give you a smaller community that you get to know relatively well, but sort of prevents branching out as easily as living in one of the dorms does. Those are just my 2 cents, though. Good luck ok your choice.</p>