<p>To current Bates students and those who’ve checked out the dorms:</p>
<p>I’ll be a freshman at Bates this fall and I’m trying to decide what dorm to choose. Here are my options:</p>
<p>Smith Hall - I like that it is close to Pettengill because a lot of my classes will be there (Politics major) and I’d like to have a short walk home after studying there at night. I also like that it’s only first-years because we would be a little freshman community. I DON’T like the tile floors or the fact that all rooms are quads. Also I wonder about the roudiness because its not low-chem - a bunch of people away from home for the first time (although I’m sure this is a problem in most dorms). </p>
<p>Rand Hall - I like that the rooms are all doubles and that its low-chem. However, it’s located across College Street and I wonder if it seems separated from the campus. </p>
<p>The New Dorm - It looks like it will be really nice and there’ll be bigger rooms. I like that first-yeras are in doubles and its low-chem, but again its across the street. </p>
<p>Page Hall - Page seems to be in a nice location next to Lake Andrews and near Olin Arts/Pettengill. First-years in triples and doubles. Tile floors. Not low-chem, all class years. </p>
<p>So, what do you think is the best option? Is there a freshman “hub” where most first-years congregate? In the end I’ll probably be fine anywhere but I’d like some more firsthand information about the dorms as I’m not able to visit before June 4. THANKS!</p>
<p>Smith- you DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN SMITH. It is all quads...very tight space. When one person gets sick, everyone gets sick. There is not much room for anything or anyone and it is very common for all 4 girls/boys to not get along.</p>
<p>Parker- great location, nice rooms.</p>
<p>Page- further away from campus, but it doesn't feel all that isolated. Newly redone. I lived in Page my freshman year and loved it.</p>
<p>New Student Residence- it will probably be difficult to be placed here seeing as it is brand new and under high demand. I would want to live here though if I had the option.</p>
<p>Rand- does not feel very isolated. Our campus is small, so no matter where you are you don't feel too isolated. Rand also has very nice doubles.</p>
<p>You also have the option of living in a house. Milliken is not low chem, while Clason house is Chem free. The students living in the freshmen houses often love them, but stick close to one another.</p>
<p>Hi Cinnamon. I just finished my first year at Bates and lived in one of the small houses. I recommend Page Hall- nice looking dorm, good potential views of the puddle. Parker has a lot of really chill people too. </p>
<p>It doesn't seem like you're thinking about living in a house - but in case that option does cross your mind, I'll share with you my insight. While I enjoyed much of my experience in my house, I do wish to point out that a lot of the people where I lived, including myself, spent much more time with housemates as opposed to friends outside the house. If you're interested in meeting a lot of people, you may have an easier time doing this if you live in a dorm. Since the houses are small, your experience can really depend on who is living in your house the particular year. I also want to point out that almost every pair of roommates on one of the floors in my house, excluding two pairs of roommates, ended up splitting up and moving to other rooms in the house during short-term. While most Batesies really do like another, in a small house, you're likely to frequently run into and even spend time with a few people you do not get along with. </p>
<p>A lot of people love the houses they lived in freshman years. However, if you do live in a house next year, I advise you to make sure to interact with lots of people outside of your house as well. By the end of this year, I wished I had done a bit more of that. Regardless of where you end up living, I think you'll find a lot of truly amazing people at this college which I like to think of as a hidden treasure... :) Good luck with your decision and I look forward to seeing you next year!</p>