Dorm advice

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>Ok so I was starting to look at dorm descriptions on the 2009 North by Northwestern Dorm guide article. I want to live in a dorm that has air conditioning (because I live in the south suburbs of Chicago and I could not survive without one or sleep at night with that nasty humidity) and I want to live in a dorm that isn't boring. And I liked the north side of campus better when I visited because the beach is nicer, the view of the lake is gorgeous, and the gym is right there so I can work out. Some of the student quotes were... interesting and I wanted to hear some more form others about what they think of the dorms.</p>

<p>So any suggestions?</p>

<p>Also, when do we get submit housing choices?</p>

2

<p>Sounds like you want Elder. Best of luck.</p>

3

<p>i dont want a party palace like bobb but i want a social life with a nice-ish dorm… does this sound like Willard RC? or Ayers?</p>

4

<p>The North campus has nicer rooms, I won’t lie, but… I feel that the area’s isolated from everything else, except for maybe the gym and Tech. I think most of the science-related classes are in Tech, so it might be more “convenient”–walking for 3 minutes as opposed to 7-10 from the South–for you. If you’re looking for a dorm with nice rooms, Slivka or Ayers might be your thing. However, they don’t have dining halls, so that’ll be sort of a downer for you. North campus kids usually eat at Sargent, and it’s not exactly the best dining hall out there. </p>

<p>In regards to social life, it really varies year to year. My floor, which is normally the “quiet” one, is fairly social this year, while my friends’ floor (2nd) is not as much. If you want a “nice-ish” dorm, North side would be your pick probably. If you want to stay on South campus, probably Allison (I wouldn’t say that the rooms are “nice,” but they are quite spacious) or Willard. I like Hinman, but the rooms are fairly small, so you might not like it.</p>

<p>The deadline to submit your housing choices is early June, I think, so you get to pick in late Spring. </p>

<p>Pesonally, I like South campus better, even though the rooms aren’t as nice (don’t worry, we have the AC and heater). Hinman and Plex are my two faves. My roommate and I aren’t exactly close or friends, but I do like my floor people (with the exception of a few…). They’re all sweet and social kids. Hinman and Plex are my top two because:

  1. Both have dining halls
  2. There’s the C-store in both.
  3. Of its close proximity to the library
  4. In my POV, it’s not bad taking an extra few minutes to walk to Tech.<br>
  5. You share the bathrooms with a fewer number of people.</p>

<p>Bathrooms are one of the most important aspects of dorm life for me, which is why Allison’s not my top pick. If the whole social thing is what concerns you, then I don’t think you should worry. Really, one year, there may be a bunch of outgoing kids in one dorm and a throng of reserved kids in the next. You can always make friends from other dorms. It’s not a big problem. </p>

<p>:) Have fun researching and choosing! Congrats on your acceptances.</p>

5

<p>you NU students really go above and beyond to help us out… thanks a lot</p>

6

<p>Is Bobb as really as social as everyone makes it out to be? I want a really active social life, but at the end of the day if it prevents me from studying would Allison be a better choice?</p>

7

<p>mad-> Yes.</p>

<p>And in response to yummymango: I actually disagree- I think south campus has generally nicer dorms, because MOST of North campus is not very nice (Bobb, Sargeant, Elder (though Elder is better now I hear). Yes, Ayers and Slivka are pretty new, but most people don’t want to live in those dorms. ISRC and CRC are both fairly nice facilities whose upgrades are pending, Hinman is nice, Allison and Willard as two of the best, and Chapin is the biggest rooms on campus (though similar situation to Ayers and Slivka).</p>

<p>And personally, while I agree Plex is nice, its like a prison.</p>

8

<p>Elder was just remodeled and although the rooms are not the largest, it has all new carpeting,air conditiners, and all new furniture including loftable beds.</p>

9

<p>How’s ISRC, besides “fairly nice”?</p>

10

<p>ISRC is like this: [YouTube</a> - Love Today MIKA - ISRC](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02AgQMDiufw]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02AgQMDiufw)</p>

<p>:D</p>

<p>(I am not in the video, but my friends made it/ star in it. I was on the executive board when it was made.)</p>

<p>Also: <a href=“http://groups.northwestern.edu/isrc/[/url]”>http://groups.northwestern.edu/isrc/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>Thanks for that second link, it was really helpful!</p>

12

<p>I guess I’m stuck really wanting to live in a Res College…I ■■■■■■■ the North by Northwestern guide again and CRC and Willard appeal to me a lot, as do Shepherd and Jones. Having read all the housing guide information on them, do any current NU students have much to say about them? The NU alum from my school was in Willard and he LOVED it.</p>

13

<p>Okay which dorm is “plex”?</p>

14

<p>Plex= Foster Walker Complex</p>

15

<p>I just looked at undergraduate housing stuff on the NU website and I am completely LOST. Theres all this stuff about residence halls and randomly generated numbers… could someone explain the process to me? Thanks!</p>

16

<p>Ya Elder sounds like it might fit me… what are the pros and cons of living there?</p>

17

<p>Princess- thats not for you. All freshman have to do is pick five dorms they’d be willing to live in and fill out a form they’ll send you.</p>

18

<p>How “in demand” is willard?</p>

19

<p>I lived in Willard my freshman year, and all of the freshmen on my floor (including myself) put Willard as the top choice. Over the course of my time at NU, I also came to find quite a few–at least a dozen–people who put Willard first but were assigned elsewhere. So I would have to say Willard is popular and competitive, but at least you get to write a short essay to show more of your personality and increase your chances of being assigned there.</p>

<p>PS - I highly recommend Willard, even for engineering/science majors I was.</p>

20

<p>Can a current student give us some general idea of which dorms tend to get certain majors more than others (pre-med, engineering, theater, journalism)? at least some of the most popular dorms (Bobb, Elder, Allison, Willard, Sargent, Hinman)?
Thanks</p>