<p>Having only seen a few dormitories during my visit to Reed, I wanted to know what your opinions and assessments were on the living conditions, amenities, convenience, and social culture of the different dormitories. Which dorms do you consider to be the best (of course the answer might be different for different students)? </p>
<p>About me: I'm a person who is fairly private, but would like to have a roommate. I would like a dorm that is close to centrally located and has a strong dorm culture (i.e. activities frequently take place there rather than elsewhere). I'm not into the drug scene, but I'm not terribly keen on the substance-free dorm either (partly because I'm of legal age). </p>
<p>Also, what are your opinions of the different board plans (A, B, and C)? If you like to eat off-campus occasionally (do people do this?) , but still use the dining commons, would you be terribly short of points if you use plans B or C? </p>
<p>ODB (Old Dorm Block) is centrally located, but the downside to this is that there are often loud late night events taking place nearby.</p>
<p>Anna Mann has very nice rooms and is close to the center of campus, but I don’t know anything about what kind of community it has.</p>
<p>Most dorms cultures vary enough year by year that they’re not really predictable. Except for theme dorms – I’ve lived in Mad Science the past couple years, and it’s always had a strong community. The actual building is kind of “meh”, though, since we’ve always been placed in one of the FSM (Foster/Scholz/MacNaughton) dorms.</p>
<p>The campus is small enough that even the remotest dorms are about a five minute walk from the center.</p>
<p>If you’re a transfer student, you probably won’t have a roommate; freshmen are usually the only ones not living in singles.</p>
<p>I’ve found plan B to be sufficient even without eating off campus much. But last time I did the math, it was actually cheaper to start with plan C and then buy extra board points.</p>
<p>My daughter was in Chittick freshman year sub free- great dorm- great people- loved it.( the closest to the Blue Bridge) She always was in a single except for the year she lived in Birchwoods.- you really don’t need a roommate to meet people- just leave your door open.</p>
<p>Sub free was moved to Steele- think nice retirement facility- ( ramps)
that lasted for two years- then she had a townhouse in Birchwoods- also fairly nice.
The dorms change depending on how many sign up- buildings all have strengths and weaknesses.</p>
<p>Generally had smallest meal plan- Trader Joes is close ( & Limbo next door)- all the dorms have kitchens I believe & with no sales tax- eating out is pretty cheap- especially if you like Vietnamese food.
( do they still call FSM* Asylum Block?* )</p>
<p>My son spent two years in ODB (he’s going to be in asylum block next year) and on the B meal plan. He frequently runs out in the last 2-3 weeks each semester, but he buys things for the scroungers. He loves ODB, but it can be noisy, yes. I wish I could get him the bigger meal plan, but his scholarships only cover the medium one. :-)</p>