<p>S is in the process of rating his 6 choices. He applied ED and we deposited on 12/1, so I assume he has a good chance of getting something towards the top of his list. His general preferences are co-ed, closer to academic buildings, traditional hall style. That puts Virginia and Sloan at the top of the list. Then, not sure where to go with #3, which he could very well end up with if the 1st two have limited availability due to learning communities. He could choose Smith, which meets all his criteria except co-ed, or HBB which is co-ed but suites. We have heard things about Smith (smelly!), and also about the other choices Colonnades (very nice but feels more like a hotel than a freshman dorm) and Daniely (fun but far), but have never really heard anybody say anything about experiences with HBB. Does anybody have anything to share about HBB? He's not scared off by "old", as that is part of a traditional freshman experience that he looks forward to; most importantly he wants to be in a place that generally tends to be a fun social atmosphere, where he can meet and bond with a bunch of kids. Any input about HBB, how to pick #3 on the preferred list, or anecdotal experience is welcome!</p>
<p>I don’t know about Sloan, but my D lived in Virginia first semester of freshman year (in a learning community) and they’re suites, not traditional hall style: double room/double room with bathroom between the two rooms, shared by the four suitemates.
Sorry I don’t know anything about HBB.
D lived in a single in Colonnades second semester of freshman year and all of sophomore year. She loved it. She then moved to the Oaks into a two person apartment for junior and senior year. Loved those too.</p>
<p>To the OP: if you do the numbers, approx 300 ED, and the number of beds in your choice #1 and choice #2, you probably won’t need a choice #3…we know kids who didn’t deposit for ED until after the deadline in January (oops, not us!) who were in their first choice dorm this past year…</p>
<p>Thanks Rodney, that’s a good way to look at it, although if there is one thing I’ve learned in this college process, it’s to never make assumptions! Also, I had heard/read somewhere (CC? FB? Campus Tour? - it’s all becoming a blur!) that VA/Sloan are tougher to get into, due to the learning communities. I know they’ve moved some over to Colonnades, but the res life webpage has not been updated so I’m not clear on how many open freshman beds there are in these 2 dorms. (Which leads to another question - is this a good place to be if you’re not in a learning community??)</p>
<p>One other important criteria for being in the East/West area is that S is a Jr. Firefighter, and hopes to be involved with the Elon Fire Dept - so the closer proximity to that is a huge factor for not putting Col or Daniely at the top of the list.</p>
<p>Would still appreciate any insights into res life at any of the East/West dorms, including Smith.</p>
<p>Hi - my son was also accepted ED and he put HBB as his second choice after Colonnades. Nice location - liked the balconies - there was a volleyball area and maybe basketball right outside the buildings. Smith - was at the bottom of his list - didn’t care for the all boys dorm - traditional hall style rooms seemed small after looking at suites in Colonnades and Daniely - seemed like a rowdier, smellier environment! We also deposited on 12/1 - so fingers crossed for Colonnades!</p>
<p>Embrace: we were also told that VA and Sloan were more difficult but, again, we know early deposit kids who are living in both this year…</p>
<p>I know res life has not updated where the construction/freshman dorms etc are going to be…where the beds will be…I imagine a simple phone call could get those answers…</p>
<p>Sounds like a bunch of ED kids will be in Colonnades though if that was their first choice…given the increase in beds there with the new construction completed just this past fall; the class of 2015 were given that option, but it was difficult to visualize ( or even to determine if there would be too few freshman in that area of campus last year)…</p>
<p>The thing about the housing form that was odd is that you had to pick 6 options - and I think there were only 7 options to choose from - Colonnades, HBB, Daniely flats, Daniely apartments, Sloan, Smith and Virginia. And - I don’t know how different the 2 Daniely options are really. So - it was more just to rank among the options.</p>
<p>Has everyone received their Elon email address? My S has not received his yet and I thought it was needed for dorm choice. Thanks.</p>
<p>Yes, my son received his on the mail about 1-2 weeks ago.</p>
<p>S’s Elon Account Information, including student id# and email address, came to him in a white mailer with perforated edges. It’s postmarked 4/17.</p>
<p>Good to know. Thank you.</p>
<p>I just spoke to the residence life office at Elon and they clarified something for me that I’d like to pass along. The freshmen members of the Arts & Letters Learning Community will be housed in the Virginia residence hall this year. This is unclear on the website.</p>
<p>College Fan, did ResLife happen to mention if the Service Learning Community will also be on 2nd Virginia? The housing information letter we got shows that it is, along with Arts & Letters (as does the ResLife website.) Also Fine Arts is on VA 1st. Doesn’t leave much space for regular freshman.</p>
<p>To clarify for those who are still sorting out the dorm choices and may be confused about which dorms are “traditional” vs. “suite” - I have found from digging deeper (ResLife Facebook page, Admissions page (“Cribs”) and youtube) that Sloan and Virginia are “traditional” in that all rooms open up into a single long hallway that runs the length of the dorm. They are “suite” only in that each room shares a Jack & Jill bathroom with a neighboring room. Other than that, they are typical traditional dorms. HBB is a bit different in that 4 rooms are grouped together and share a hall bath. This set up appears to be more clustered than the long hallways in the other 2. But in both cases, they aren’t what I would call typical suite living, where there are several rooms that open up into a common room, with 1 main door to an outside hallway. This distinction was important to my S, who for Freshman year prefers a more open hallway experience.</p>
<p>Embrace - Sorry - I didn’t get that information. They did say they are going to correct some website information and may even send out an email. Thanks for the additional dorm info. Very helpful. I guess most of the kids gravitate to Colonnades (I know that is where I would be), but I think my S is leaning towards Virginia. It is confusing because they call them suite style, but as you say they aren’t really.</p>
<p>My daughter is/will be a sophomore in just a few days having just completed her first year at Elon. I must say at first I was concerned with housing as she didn’t get any of her choices. She is in Staley (which will be torn down this summer) and has loved it! She has met so many friends and the old addage that it really doesn’t matter what building you are in, it’s the people in the building that make or break it for you.
Having said that, my daughter will be in Virginia next year as a sophomore and I believe the information previously given regarding the first two floors being designated for particular students is correct. That would only leave the third floor for others. I feel like there will be a good amount of freshmen on the third floor but my daughter really wanted a co-ed experience and so did her roommate as they were on an all girls hall this year. Best of luck to your children as they enter Elon next year. I don’t think they will regret it for one minute. If you have any general questions, I’m happy to try and answer them.</p>
<p>Soph, thanks much for the info! I sent you a PM with some questions, let me know if it doesn’t come thru (CC logged me out before I sent it.)</p>
<p>Got the message and just responded.</p>
<p>My son was in HHB this past year. Things he loved about it- close to most of his classes. He could roll out of bed and go to class. He liked the size of the room and the built in furniture and closets. There is only a hallway common to three other dorm rooms and the bathroom/shower. Although a common area would be nice (and the older buildings tend to lack) they still did just fine hanging out in one friends room or anotherl</p>
<p>What is the bathroom set up like in HBB? It says there are 4 double rooms and one bathroom. Is that 8 guys sharing one bathroom? Doesn’t sound good! Any information is appreciated.</p>
<p>HBB is set up in clusters of 4 rooms with one hall bath. The bath has 2 toilets, 2 sinks and 1 shower (shared by 8 people.) Compare that with VA and Sloan - 4 people share 1 toilet and 1 shower, and each room has its own sink. There is a link to floor plans for all the dorms on the Res Life web page if you want to get a feel for layouts.</p>