<p>I am a transfer coming to Vandy in the fall. Can anyone please tell me about the dorms? I have leard that Kissem is not attractive but what about the others?
In general, do most upperclassmen live in singles?
Any input would be appreciated.
thanks</p>
<p>i am not a current student, but as an incoming freshmen i can say that the new Commons program has just about all freshmen in doubles. after freshmen year, students can request what type of housing they want. i’m not sure about Most underclassmen living in singles though… but all the dorms i have seen are great, with non-window unit ac, cable, high ceilings, and lots of room. hope things work out for you!</p>
<p>Most upperclassmen will live in 6 person suites in towers (2 singles, 2 doubles in a suite), Morgan Lewis apartments, or Chaffins. I personally like a single, so I’m living in a Towers single next year. Kissam is pretty gross. I’d try to avoid it if possible.</p>
<p>Agreed, Kissam quad should have been torn down years ago. It is 1950s style housing that was gross in the 70s when my husband lived there. Unless there have been major renovations, I’m surprised it is still being used — think single rooms, community baths, and none of the appointments of the Commons. Yuk. </p>
<p>Lewis and Morgan are 1 and 2 BR high rise-apartments with kitchens. I lived in Lewis in the late 70s and it was infested with roaches…there are trash chutes that connect between the floors…you get the picture. Chaffin was new in the 70s, and was great then…like a real townhouse. Can’t speak to the condition now. Carmichael Towers are always popular and seem to have withstood the test of time. They are set up 6/suite with 2 singles and 2 doubles. Some have full kitchens, others don’t, some have community baths, some don’t. Branscomb has also endured. The dorms on Alumni lawn area are so old (late post WWII) that you get the historic feel and character, but these have been renovated --at least they all have A/C now! Most are singles. </p>
<p>Good luck…</p>
<p>Kissam was supposed to be temporary housing but is still being used. There may have been plans to tear it down and rebuild once the Commons was opened,but that is not going to happen in this economy.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info.
Roaches - YUK! I will freak out.</p>
<p>I lived in Kissam quad this year and I think people need to chilllllll out about it. Honestly, its not bad AT ALL. I lived in Branscomb (lupton) my freshmen year so I do have something to compare it to. </p>
<p>Not having to deal with a roommate was great, and I was still able to make close friends on my hall because there are 30 girls who are in single as well. Also, Kissam is not far away from anything. I think highland quad is not so great because you are very far from classroom buildings. </p>
<p>Also, I know transfers who were placed in towers, which some people like better. The housing director at Vandy is really nice and if you talk to him he might try to place you somewhere that you like better (towers). Also, people do room switches all the time. If you make friends with someone who lives in a suite/double who has one of their roommates goign abroad for spring semester, you could move in with them. Basically you have more options than you may think so don’t worry!!</p>
<p>thanks
I have read so many negative comments about kissem I was getting worried.
Whatever, I am just happy to be go to Vandy next year.</p>
<p>I lived in Kissam years ago and it’s seriously not as bad as advertised here. It’s very convenient to many buildings on campus (at more convenient than the Commons), through Branscomb and Tower are closer to engineering. Highland Quad is great if you are in Blair, but that’s it. It’s quite a walk to get to anywhere else. Plus, to go between Peabody and Highland Quad, you have to go through the Medical Center. That’s something I would not want to do at night.</p>
<p>most upperclassmen live in singles in branscomb, towers, mcgill, cole, or tolman</p>
<p>Highland Quad is almost or all doubles and probably about 1,000 live there. Branscomb is all doubles, probably somewhere around 800. The majority of people living in Towers are in suites or doubles, that’s also probably about 1,000. Then there is the off campus option. That’s all I can think of off the top of my head.</p>
<p>As a parent who has participated in several move in and move out experiences, how is it that a school with so many talented and gifted students can also nurture so many who are willing to live like pigs? I thought the filth was bad when I moved D out of Stapleton 3 years ago during S’s graduation days. I figured it was so filthy because so many had left campus, but I think D’s suite in Towers was even worse last week and I don’t ever want to smell the nasty aroma that was ever present outside Towers West as we hauled loads out again. Wherever you live, you may want to take some Lysol, Febreeze, etc. I know some are all about the social experience of roommates/suitemates, but if you are at all neat, a single may be an excellent option.</p>
<p>Hey I was wondering, is there a cable connection in the freshman dorms? And we have to buy our own fridge and microwave right? Also, is there a common kitchen within the dorms, if I ever feel like cooking for myself, or is the student center our only option?</p>
<p>So, Is there a list of items that you consider a MUST HAVE for life at Vandy, and in a Vandy dorm?</p>
<p>Thanks. =]</p>
<p>all the rooms have cable, but you have to bring your own wires to connect. You do have to buy a fridge and microwave (they don’t rent them). The little tiny ones they sell through the bookstore barely hold a few bottles of water. I just tossed out the one we bought because it wasn’t worth keeping. (for about the same price, you should be able to get a somewhat larger one at an appliance store)</p>
<p>YESS!! That would be extraordinarily helpful if there was a list of items that someone could give us for life at Vandy and for the Vandy dorms, please!!!</p>
<p>When my kids entered, there was a booklet with room layouts for Branscomb, Kissam Quad, and Vandy/Branscomb. It also answered some of the questions posed here. I don’t know if they have something similar online now or not. There may be too many permutations of layouts in the Commons to do that, but you can always call housing to ask. No matter how you plan, there will be things you don’t have when your move in and that is why you will see half of Vanderbilt at Target later in the day!</p>
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<p>It would not be all that different from any other college. There’s a master list stickied in the college life forum, I think.</p>
<p>Do all the dorms for all four years have communal bathrooms and are single sex by floor?</p>
<p>No, Highland Quad residence halls and Towers East (for upper-classmen) are apartment-style suites.</p>
<p>kissam is old and gross. next year, it will be filled by about 80% sophomores. most upperclassmen live in the suites of towers or the doubles of branscomb. as a transfer, you’ll probably be left to fill the open spots in kissam, vanderbilt, barnard, cole, tolman, or the very few singles in towers. if you have the option, choose anything but kissam. no one likes getting kisslammed :)</p>