<p>Can someone who is a current student describe the dorms for first year students? Which ones are more loud/social? Which ones are more quiet/comfortable? </p>
<p>Also, is it a good idea to live in a themed housing in 1st year? Does that put you in a clique? </p>
<p>Also, do you think a single or a double is better? I don't mind having a roommate, but I am independent and most of the time need my own space to think and concentrate. </p>
<p>Any advice would be appreciated!</p>
<p>I posted this is another thread, hope it helps:</p>
<p>Hey, I know orginally someone wanted just a recap of what's available to freshmen....I recently toured all the dorms with my prefrosh, so I guess I have some sense of what each one is like:</p>
<p>~Balch: Very nice singles: two closets, sharing a sink with another girl, spacious, Hall-style bathroom, easy access to Carol Tatkon Ctr. & Cafe, closest to bridge to central campus, ALL GIRLS, beware of some small singles in the attic, scattered small doubles/forced triples, basically not all rooms in there are palatial. Girls, you can choose to live here.</p>
<p>~Donlon: Strange curvy hallways, neat library type area on first floor, slow elevators (beware on upper floors), very public hall bathrooms, social "study" lounge in the middle of all the floors (I didn't notice a more quiet study area on each floor), decent sized dorm. Basically your typical dorm with lots of people. </p>
<p>~Dickson: Another HUGE dorm. Some singles are tiny, but some are better. Have "natural" triples (as in rooms designed to be triples, not "forced" triples which are rooms that were doubles and another person was put in there). very EXTREMELY Public Bathrooms. It's like a labyrinth trying to get through there. Only one elevator for the building. Some interesting smells coming from the guys "wing" of the hall. Narrow hallways. </p>
<p>~Mews/Court/Kay/Bauer: I live in Mews so I'm biased. Live in "open suites" Basically every group of 5 people live in a "suite" although all doors open onto a hall, the suite shares a bathroom. Socialness of hall-style dorms, but more private bathrooms. Study lounge on ends of halls and TV lounges in the middle of the halls(at least with Mews, not sure about CKB). Very nice facilities: lounges, laundry, TVs, etc. Brightly-colored walls...I love Mews, it's amazing, but yeah. </p>
<p>~High Rise 5/Jameson: Suite style: each suite is on it's like own "half-floor" I stayed there when I was hosted during Cornell Days. The rooms were pretty nicely sized if I remember correctly. The room I stayed in had brick walls on the inside... I didn't really see the lounges but I think each floor has a lounge (a few suites are on the floor). More private bathrooms. They also have a "sky-lounge" which is like a lounge on top of the buildings. </p>
<p>~Low Rises/HILC/JAM/etc. : Suite style like the highrises, but smaller. I don't think they are anything special from my friends in Low-Rises...</p>
<p>Townhouses: Never seen one, BUT I've heard they're pretty nice. Unfortunately they're pretty far from classes and if you are living with 3 other people and if you don't get along with them, it can be pretty bad (this is from someone I know's personal experience). They're not antisocial and you meet plenty of other people so don't worry about this.</p>
<p>Risley: Arts Program House. The people definately have a reputation...Close to the bridge like Balch. Looks like a Harry Potter castle. Has it's own dining hall. From a friends in Risley: You feel like an outsider if you dont enjoy all of the events/artsy things that happen there, also lots of upperclassmen who don't really care to meet a bunch of new freshmen. BUT some people really like Risley, so you know...</p>
<p>Hope that helped some. You cant choose your dorm, but at least when you get housing assignments you can kinda know where you're living.</p>
<p>thanks for the info! from the info, it feels like balch is one of the nicest dorms. ahh I don't really want a all-girl dorm though... : (
I guess I'll just have to wait and see... also, does anyone have a specific preference as to whether a single or a double is better?</p>
<p>Dickson and Donlon are the most social.</p>
<p>Mews/Court/Kay/Bauer are really nice and new though. However I don't believe they are as social.</p>
<p>The high rises and the low rises suck.</p>
<p>I wouldn't recommend Balch.</p>