I’m getting a general vibe of each dorm from previous threads, but a question for current students: which dorms would you say are generally the most community-driven and open (most people have open doors, possibly people regularly chatting and sitting in the hallways)? Are there any? The dorm I stayed in during my campus visit was dead silent with all the doors closed which helped me decide that that wasn’t what I wanted - ideally I want a more social/friendly atmosphere (but not one that’s in a regular state of trashed partying if that’s a problem anywhere, I don’t know that it is) so I was curious!
As for the “party dorms”, are the more social dorms too noisy for people who want to study in their rooms? Ideally I’d love if I could at least study in peace sometimes, but a sense of community would be a priority. Don’t care too much about room occupancies.
Dorm vibes have some flexibility in that they are determined by their inhabitants. However, there are lingering “types” that flock to certain dorms, thus upholding different environments. It sounds like you would really enjoy the Pems, possibly Rock. The Pems generally maintain a level of social openness and friendliness. Rock can also be that way, but there are certain corridors that are quieter than others. As a first-year, you’ll be bundled with your Customs Group, so that’ll help foster a social atmosphere. The quieter dorms are Erdman, Brecon, Merion, and Rhodes. Denbigh is on the quiet side, too, but they sometimes host Rugby socials which can be a little more social. The most social is Radnor, which hosts parties and encourages socializing on the outside stoop (great if you want to study in the library but feel relaxed at “home”). I don’t know what the vibe of the New Dorm is like, but I’m sure the amenities are great as it’s the newest building.
@englishivy quick hijack question (but somewhat related): we’re trying to figure out how long to stay in town after we drop of our daughter for move-in & Customs Week. Are there parents around for a couple days, or are the first years crazy busy starting the day after move-in? We’re flying in from So Cal, so we’ll be ordering lots of things on-line for delivery.
@arc918 Hi - the very helpful @Englishivy can give you the student perspective but I’ll chime in as a parent. We also are from Southern California. When I dropped off my daughter for move-in two years ago, checkin was on Wednesday. I stayed for the welcome event and left on Thursday morning. The students are very busy with orientation and Customs stuff starting right away and there would have been no point in me sticking around. Before checkin, it took us essentially all of Monday and Tuesday to go round up supplies at Target, Staples, BB&B, winter clothing stores etc.
@arc918 - Yes, Customs Week is PACKED with activities and after the drop-off day, you won’t have much time to visit with your daughter. I think my mom stayed one extra day for any last minute IKEA stuff to drop off, but that was it. My parents and I came a couple days before move-in to gather things (shower caddy, random dorm stuff not worth schlepping from home). Luckily, there is a Target and IKEA pretty close by. It is often quite warm during Customs Week and the older dorms, though beautiful, are not air conditioned. I highly recommend wearing shorts/tshirts/sneakers, but also buying a FAN and installing that first thing so the room gets some air circulating as you load in. Your Dorm Leadership Team (DLT) will be on standby to help load things in, and some dorms have dumbwaiters, but in general plan on a very good workout Good luck!
@arc918- we are also from Southern Cal & my DD1 just finished her first year at BMC. We left Sunday and spent Monday & Tuesday shopping at Costco, Target, Trader Joe’s, & picking up preordered items from Bed Bath & Beyond & drove around nearby cities. Wednesday morning I helped her move in and stayed for lunch & welcome speech. Around 3pm or 4pm, Customs week started & I flew out that evening. I cried so much on the way to the airport, I don’t know how I got there.
Good luck!