Dorming from a North Sider

<p>I was reading the “dorming” thread and I think it could use another explanation from someone who actually lived on the North side of campus. I am a rising sophomore at American and spent my first year in McDowell for the University College program, and by no means do I feel like my social life was compromised. In fact, 5 out of the 16 girls in my pledge class in my sorority were on South Side, and we are by no means introverts…</p>

<p>Some pros about N. Side (Beware: Leonard is a different story)-

  1. There are no fire alarms at 4am.
  2. I can study in my own room without being distracted.
  3. The floors are cleaner and you don’t get charged like S. Siders do for damages to your floor at the end of the year.
  4. You become closer to the people on your floor.</p>

<p>By no means, and I repeat NO MEANS, did living on North Side limit me to only hanging out with people from North Side. Doublelayer explained that you can only get into S. Side dorms if someone claims you. This is true, sort of. I got in plenty of times without having anyone to claim me since security is sort of lax (another pro for N. Side). The chances of you not knowing someone to come claim you is pretty slim, 75% of my friends this year lived on South Side. I always got in, and I was never left out of anything.</p>

<p>Also, I can walk to Southside in about five minutes…</p>

<p>I’m also willing to answer any questions incoming students might have. Although, word to the wise, please don’t go by the “what are my chances?” responses. I played this game before getting all my letters and it made the experience so much more unpleasant. No student can tell you if you will or will not be accepted. Acceptances can have the strangest outcomes, I can prove it.</p>

<p>Hey Britty!
Its so nice to meet another AU student posting here! A different perspective on things is always a good thing and i do appreciate other people's opinions. </p>

<p>Britty has some good pts as well such as fire alarms. Yes there were quite a few... but a lot of times (so i've heard... of course i didn't engage in such activities) of people not going out or sleeping through them. I mean its not like RAs knock on every door to make sure that each and every person comes out (when i have gone out i see about 200 people outside of the south sides of the dorms... if each floor has about 100 rooms, and lets say there are 2 people in each room... and minus people who aren't on campus or on the south side of campus... well you do the math...) </p>

<p>Another thing is floor damages... the floor damages on Letts hall came out to $1.75 a person for the entire year. Nothing to cry over</p>

<p>I never had trouble studying in my room</p>

<p>A lot of people on Letts 2 (not me... because i guess i wasn't cool enough) but a lot of people on Letts 2 became very close w/ each other.</p>

<p>With the issue of getting into the building... it is against school policy to access a particular dorm if you don't live there. If you read the manual, you can go to JAMS (disciplinary conference) and can get as much as suspension and/ or permanent baring from the dorms if you repeatedly try to access a dorm if you don't live there. If you want to take the risk, that’s fine, but once you get to a point where you are visiting the south side of campus so often... that doesn't it just make sense to live there?</p>

<p>Ok so I am an incoming freshman and wanted letts as my first choice. However, I got McDOwell, my third choice. At first I was a little disapointed but then i realized in the end it probably wont matter too much plus I can always try to move to Letts Soph year if it really is that bad (as ive talked to so many students that have switched either way). Idk but i guess from the talking to a bunch of students on campus ive seen that the stereotypes are overrated and its really what u make of it. Im looking forward to my dorm now and cant wait to get to AU.</p>