<p>I'm in Dower and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me something about it. I've heard it's small- like 35 people, mostly freshmen, and far away from everything. Will I need a bike? Is it prettier than it looks in pictures?
Also-- is it a coincidence my name is Sarah & I'm in this hall? I heard they once put all the Sarahs in Dower :P</p>
<p>They did put all of the Sarahs in Dower, but that was long ago and rumored to be an upset employee's parting gift :) Your being there is probably a coincidence (unless you discover that one or more of your roommate's is also named Sarah).</p>
<p>Dower is very small; there were 28 residents when I lived there, but we also had some partially empty rooms. The surrounding area has some beautiful trees and bushes, but keep in mind that the building is a converted barn ... it's only going to be so pretty. The hallways are very wide and brightly lit, and the rooms are more spacious than most first-year rooms. The entire dorm is a combination of single-room triples and three-room quads (two small sleeping rooms, one mid-sized common room). There's a living room, a bathroom on each floor, a kitchen, and a laundry room. </p>
<p>The building isn't much farther away than the New Dorms, and the campus really isn't big enough to warrant a bicycle. Some students do have them, but, by the time you've gone to the bike rack, picked up your bike, ridden to the bike rack nearest your building, put the bike away, and walked to the door ... it's often just as quick to walk. The exception is if you're riding to the sports center--that's quicker on bike, but still only 15 minutes or so by leisurely foot.</p>
<p>By and large, Dower has a great sense of community, and it's a fun place to live. I liked it.</p>
<p>Heyyyy!!
I am going to be in dower too! but i am not sarah :)</p>
<p>I knew a lot of girls who lived in Dower last year, and they really seemed to have a great community. I do know one person who lived in it two years ago, and she was less than thrilled with the experience--since it is so small, I suspect it's the kind of place that can close in on you if you have problems with some of the people there. Another small downside: no dining hall in the building. But, overall, I'd be pretty happy to be in Dower if I were you. I think it seems like a neat living situation, and the possible downside of being in a small hall may not come into play, so I wouldn't worry about it.</p>
<p>"Heyyyy!!
I am going to be in dower too! but i am not sarah"</p>
<p>cool!! are you one of the girls i met on facebook? what room are you in? i'm excited to move in after reading all this :)</p>
<p>The people I know who have lived in Dower say they liked it because it's like living in a little house with your friends. On the other hand, if you hate all the people who live there and crave an environment with more people, you might have to go elsewhere. </p>
<p>It's also the farthest from the academic quad of any dorm, so I would get a bike if I were you. There are people who live in the Quint or the Tower Complex who have bikes, so it never hurts. If you don't have one yet, there's this guy named Wally who comes to campus and sells cheap refurbished bikes once and a while.</p>
<p>As far as name-games with housing, my name is Lauren and my first-year roommate's name is Laura. I also knew two Hannah's who were placed together.</p>