<p>D and others found the advice of grade-integrated housing to be invaluable. In turn, she enjoyed being a senior turned to by first-years and sophs. I think it worked well and, after some of the stories I’ve heard about freshman dorms, I’d go for grade-integrated.</p>
<p>Back in the Stone Age, I lived in the Freshmen Dorm. There was an Upperclass Dorm, but the school was about 90% Fraternity-related and almost nobody lived in the Upperclass Dorm. I made friends with the upperclass fraternity members and am still friends with many of them today.</p>
<p>My son lived in a co-ed (by room) dorm for freshmen only. There were a number of relatively small freshmen dorms located close to where freshmen had most of their classes. But he made many friends who were upperclassmen through his ECs at the college. I suspect that most kids do the same and are not so restricted in their outside activities that they do not interact with older students. There was a slightly more paternalistic attitude toward the freshmen, but it apparently allows for a more individualistic attitude toward the upperclassmen who are also required to live on campus.</p>
<p>I originally entered school all rah rah all freshman community! I was slightly disappointed when my dorm was 4 class (mostly freshman and sophomores). </p>
<p>However, now I thank god that my dorm isn’t all freshmen. Biggest reason: Freshmen, especially if you’ve been away from home before so it isn’t new to you, can get really annoying REALLY quickly. It’s nice to not feel like you’re in this immature bubble all of the time and that you’re surrounded by some people who already have their stuff together and can help you. </p>
<p>Above all of those things, though, any kind of community housing where the hall is collectively involved in something trumps. All IMHO of course.</p>
<p>S is considering the Honors dorm which will have many freshmen, but of a more serious type, I would hope.</p>
<p>I remember my freshman year experience could have been better without a dorm full of freshies, many who dropped out after first or second quarter.</p>