<p>Daughter and I attended athletics clinic in April 2010 (possible fresh fall 2011). The day included a very quick facilities tour. </p>
<p>We toured one dorm and ate lunch at the DC after a very quick campus tour. The clinic went well and daughter loved team and coach and all the admissions and faculty folks that helped make the day a warm introduction to Haverford. It is pretty hard not to feel part of a family when you are there.</p>
<p>However, daughter remarked that the food situation was wanting and the one dorm we saw was, well dingy. The entire team voiced their, in a very nice way, opinion that the worst thing about Haverford was the food. They go to Bryn Mawr to eat. But they did indicate that changes would be made by the fall of 2011, we were not sure what the changes may be.</p>
<p>I have looked at the first five pages in this forum and it seems that there are some food changes going on (Bryn Mawr?) but I note nothing about dorms either bad or good. I suspect we just hit room of boys after a saturday morning workout. </p>
<p>I guess this is a long way of asking about the quality of the dorms and the food services?
I get the sense that food is perhaps a bit below average, but changing?
And, dorms are no better, or worse than other liberal arts colleges of this vein?</p>
<p>My S is going to be a senior and I would say that only thing that he has found lacking at HC is the food. The good news is that you can really eat as often as you wish (as opposed to my D’s school in CA which limits you to 2 meals per day) The quality of the food is marginal, it is true, but one can (not sure about freshman) live in the student apts and cook for one’s self. My S is doing that this year. He has lived in the apts and in the North dorms and I honestly was more disturbed by the room than he was. The apts are being renovated which is great because they were pretty bad. His dorm room was ok, but they are old and worn as I think is pretty typical of colleges in the Northeast. I guess his overall experience at HC has been so positive that he has been willing to overlook this aspect.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that in addition to being able to go to BMC, on weekends and when your daughter has more time there are a bunch of places within walking distance of Haverford in Ardmore (Ardmore Station Cafe, Saxby’s, Starbucks, Milkboy, Corner Bakery, Ruby’s, Plate, this indian food place that’s pretty good, Chipotle, Kotatsu, Sangkee, etc…), Bryn Mawr (Cosi’s, Bertucci’s, Bryn Mawr Pizza…) and even Wynnewood (Elevation Burger!!!, Sam’s Grill, Delancy Street Bagels…). I know that doesn’t do much to remedy the HC food situation, and it wouldn’t necessarily be cheap to eat out often in the Main Line area, but should she need an escape every now and then she would definitely have options (and some of these places are really reasonably priced); I see college students walking to local coffeeshops (which serve food) and luncheons all the time.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say Haverford food is terrible…although, I have heard mentioned that it had gotten worse since I graduated. Yes, it’s not the greatest, but the staff there are generally pretty friendly, accommodating, and there are usually back up options (sandwich bar, pasta bar, good salad bar) if there isn’t anything you like. Compared to dining centers at other schools…the options are a little more “homey” (which can be good or bad) and more like high school cafeteria food than what you’d typically think of in college. However, I almost feel as though the meh food at Haverford is part of the charm and culture of living there. The DC is also a great place…social, fun, and awesome locale to spend your evenings and afternoons meeting up with friends. It functions just as much as a social venue as it does a hunger eliminator. </p>
<p>I am still always flabbergasted by the suggestion that Bryn Mawr has leagues and leagues better food than Haverford does. I’d definitely say it’s better, but BMC offers many of the same options as Haverford (save Haffner, which only has one menu which changes seasonly). I usually dined there once or twice a week during the year…mainly because my best friend very much enjoyed the fresh pizza at Haffner. Otherwise, while I did notice a difference, I didn’t think it was astronomical. It’s still cafeteria food, not a night at a nice restaurant.</p>
<p>As for housing, I generally think Haverford has way better options than almost any other school. After your first year as a student, you’re practically guaranteed your own single room at Haverford, which to me (as someone who likes privacy sometimes) is very important. I was always surprised when I heard of sophomore and junior friends at other schools who were still stuck sharing bedrooms with classmates. </p>
<p>Yes, HCA is old…but it has a certain charm that is very endearing and “college” like. I actually like it there a lot…and the apartments are large enough and customizable enough that you can make them quite nice with the right amount of effort. I only lived there during summers when I was doing various on-campus activities, but I thoroughly enjoyed living there. Haverford has never really been a flashy school and I think it’s a sort of character building experience to live in a place that doesn’t look like a five star hotel. Cushy isn’t always better.</p>
<p>Just to explain the reference to the hope that the food situatio will improve was a reference to the fact that that the HC and BMC Dining Services are combining. So, the hope is that BMC will help improve HC food.</p>
<p>For the record, the fresh-baked desserts at HC are awesome!</p>
<p>As for the dorms, remember that over the summer when they are empty and not decorated all dorms loo pretty dingy. During the school year, with decorations, posters, student personality on display they come to life. I think, in general, think the quality of student housing is actually quite good.</p>