<p>First for those who know: Would you definitely apply to the learning community for Biomedical Engineering? And if you are chosen, do you have to live in Bates West (apparently that is the Engineering learning community dorm for next year). Is Bates West a decent dorm? </p>
<p>What are the dorms closest to the Engineering Bldg? Are there any dorms you would absolutely avoid?</p>
<p>Thanks for info!</p>
<p>You don’t definitely have to apply for it if you don’t want to. I’m in chemical engineering and I know maybe one person who lives in the Engineering community. The problem with Bates West is location. It’s apartment style, but it’s not really close to anything besides Swearingen and Blatt (the not-so-nice gym).</p>
<p>The closest to Swearingen are West and South Quad, Honors, and Bates West. The Quads are generally for upperclassmen, and Honors is pretty much completely Honors College students. Don’t feel like you need to live close though. You’ll have classes in different parts of campus (esp. if you’re taking English or History or something like that). It’s not imperative that you live near Swearingen, especially as a freshman. You’ll have like one engineering class a semester at this point.</p>
<p>Thanks. I’m assuming Swearingen is the Eng bldg? What dorms would you choose as your first 3 choices (coming in as a freshman)? We just don’t know enough about them at this point. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m sorry! I should’ve clarified myself. Swearingen and 300 Main and are the 2 engineering buildings. They’re right across the street from each other. Biomedical engineering classes are usually in 300 Main, if I’m not mistaken.</p>
<p>I’m in the Honors College, so that was my top choice. Beyond that, I would probably pick Columbia or Capstone if you want to live with other freshman. You don’t have to be in Capstone to live there (fair warning: those two are on the other side of campus from Swearingen/300 Main). If you’re a girl (sorry if you’re not, I can’t tell from your username) and you don’t mind living in an all-girl dorm, then I would definitely put Patterson on your list. It’s apparently like a hotel inside. I wish I could give you better info. I was pretty set on where I’m living now, so I didn’t really look into many other options.</p>
<p>Actually, my son is the one going - I’m doing my best to gather information for him as he just doesn’t take the time to do it himself. If it were left up to him, he’d be living in a van down by the river… heh. So we did his housing application together and he chose the HC dorm as his first 2 (single and double). We’re pretty sure he won’t get in there though, so we’re trying to decide which ones to put at the top of the list. He really wants a “single” bedroom - a dorm where there are 4 individual bedrooms and a common area. But he knows he will have to deal if he gets a double. We just need to know which places to avoid if there are any. Thanks again for your help.</p>
<p>Actually, in order to live in Capstone, you have to be a Capstone scholar. You MIGHT get lucky if you request to live with someone who is in the program; however, first picks go to program participants. Also, Capstone/Columbia are approximately a 25min walk to Swearingen. I would recommend Bates West, as it is closer and is located by the Bates dining hall (all you can eat, buffet style), or one of the Quads (but these are apartment style and are more expensive).
Though the Roost is closer to Swearingen, I would avoid it at all costs. It’s known for being run-down, and entirely out of the way of the rest of campus. It’s literally in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>My apologies, I thought it wasn’t too hard to live in Capstone if you weren’t a scholar. But you would know better than me. And I wouldn’t hold your breath on Honors either, there aren’t many spots for non-Honors students.</p>
<p>I would avoid the Roost and Bates House. Based on your son’s preferences, I would try one of the Quads. West (Green) and South are the closest to engineering but also not far from other parts of campus, like Bates West is. Woodrow is also apartment style, and it’s right across the street from Russell House. </p>
<p>Again, your son is not going to spend too much time in Swearingen his first year here, so if he doesn’t live right by there it’s not that big of a deal.</p>
<p>Awesome, we appreciate your input. Makes it a lot easier to make the “choose your top ten” decision!</p>
<p>I know what you mean! When I was filling out my application, I ran out of places I would consider living around choice 7.</p>