<p>I was accepted ED into the class of 2018. I was just wondering what housing is recommended.</p>
<p>What housing you choose will be based on what you’re looking for (although that may change soon: [The</a> Daily Pennsylvanian :: Big changes proposed for the college house system](<a href=“http://www.thedp.com/article/2013/10/penn-college-house-changes]The”>Big changes proposed for the college house system | The Daily Pennsylvanian)). I’m assuming that you’re talking about on campus housing, so I’ll keep this limited to that. If you have questions about off-campus, I’m moving off campus next year so I can also answer questions about that.
There are 12 college houses, which are detailed here: <a href=“http://www.collegehouses.upenn.edu/brochure/collegehouses_13-14.pdf[/url]”>http://www.collegehouses.upenn.edu/brochure/collegehouses_13-14.pdf</a>. This will get sent to you sometime in March, I think. Page 26 of that guide has a good map of relative locations.
You may also consider residential programs (I’m in one: The Study of Infectious Diseases; it’s pretty low-commitment, but we have some fun/interesting events that I actually want to attend most of the time), but I’d recommend them more as a means to an end to get the housing you want (choose something that’ll be interesting for you if go this route, though.) Here are the programs indexed by house: [Residential</a> Programs: A-Z](<a href=“http://www.collegehouses.upenn.edu/residentialprograms/indexhouse.asp]Residential”>http://www.collegehouses.upenn.edu/residentialprograms/indexhouse.asp)</p>
<p>I’ll go through what I know about each.</p>
<p>WEB DuBois
Traditionally African-American. Don’t know much about it. Has apartment-style living, with kitchens for a lot of rooms. Rooms aren’t air conditioned, but public spaces are. Bathrooms are shared per suite. Far away from middle of campus compared to some of the other college houses.</p>
<p>Gregory
Don’t know a lot about it. Suite-style rooms. No private kitchens, in-suite bathrooms. I know someone who lives here, and they’re pretty social but that’s a very small sample size.</p>
<p>Stouffer/Mayer
Don’t know a lot about them. Great location, right next to Wawa/the Quad. Air conditioned. Stouffer is mostly singles, Mayer is mostly suite-style with bathroom/kitchenettes.</p>
<p>Quad Houses: Fisher Hassenfeld, Riepe, and Ware
I currently live in Ware, so this is my area of experience. Prime location. There are singles, doubles, and triples (I’m in a triple). Most rooms have sinks. There are communal bathrooms (side note: don’t let communal bathrooms scare you. The bathroom I use is used by a grand total of 8 people with 2 showers, 2 toilets, a sink, and a higher-pressure water dispenser and I never have a problem with cleanliness or access. There are usually plenty of bathrooms on each hall). The difference here is that the Quad is mostly freshmen, and that leads to a much better atmosphere. You can find people who fit you and will become really good friends. You can be as social as you want, and there’s always someone who you’ll be able to hang out with. If you’re worried about alcohol/drugs, rest assured that even the most “party” halls (usually entirely randomly generated, just the luck of the draw, as with most of the housing process) have people you’ll be able to spend time with (this applies everywhere, by the way). Lots of funding here, too, so the houses all have great events and study breaks with delicious free food. Not to mention, the Quad is gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful. And it’s where a lot of Spring Fling happens, so that’s a plus. Great option for a freshman.</p>
<p>Hill
Also a lot of freshmen. Also dorm-style like the Quad, but with singles and doubles only. My only reservation in recommending this is that while you’ll get to meet a lot of people, the living conditions are suboptimal. It has a dining hall below it, but you will quickly tire of dining hall food and the dining halls are accessible everywhere else too. The rooms are small, and the lack of AC can get problematic. Very far away from the center of campus, unless you’re an engineer (in which case it’s a prime location. Otherwise, a good option for a freshman. Communal bathrooms.</p>
<p>Kings Court/English
Decent location by the bookstore, the Law School, and the 34th/Sansom restaurants. Rooms don’t have AC and communal bathrooms. Also a mostly freshman dorm. Also dorm-style, but with singles and doubles only. Otherwise, a good option for freshmen.</p>
<p>The High Rises: Harrison, Harnwell, and Rodin
Apartment-style living, mostly upperclassmen. Rodin is unavailable to freshmen. AC everywhere, bathrooms in-apartment, and lots of kitchens. I wouldn’t recommend it for freshmen, as you’re not able to really meet people a lot, although the living conditions are very nice. All are very close to 1920 Commons (dining hall with a mini grocery store, a Starbucks, and a small caf</p>
<p>Thank you so much, that was extremely helpful!</p>