Freshmen Experience

<p>I know that everyone seems to want the Quad and as a Penn alum who lived in the Quad myself as a freshman, I was crushed when my son got into Hill. However, he LOVED it–despite the tiny rooms, lack of a/c, and noise from the construction now going on next door. He said he thinks people in Hill are happier than those in the Quad because of how close the halls get. I think the really big thing is that the way the halls are arranged with a central gathering place lends itself to more social options than the quad which has its rooms in a row with limited gathering places. Also, the dining commons in Hill is a big asset. Quad only has sort of a snack bar now (it used to have a dining hall at Stouffer). I did not have a good floor on the Quad and met most of my friends through the dining hall experience. I think it would be a lot harder to meet people now that there’s not that built in eating community. That being said the Quad is still the Quad and is so incredibly gorgeous compared to the somewhat prison-like feel of Hill. </p>

<p>I lived two years in the Quad, and also moved within the Quad one year. My freshman room was within a few dorms of the entrance, and it was VERY busy and social. Sophomore year, I was in the mini quad area, and the floor was quieter but it was actually much noisier because there were some hooligans (shooting off bottle rockets, it took them weeks and weeks to catch them). Then I lived in the sharp point towards the Bio building, and it was like a ghost town.</p>

<p>I think the thing is, they don’t put freshman in isolated dorms. Sophomore year, my best friend lived in the high rise with his freshman year roommate, and they basically had two singles with a shared bathroom and small living room. They hardly saw anyone on the floor.</p>

<p>I liked the Quad because of location and because you could find a party if you wanted to. Also, the rooms can be unique there, and the other housing options are rather spartan. We had a walled up fireplace in our room junior year, and it was the only room on the floor.</p>

<p>@queenbitch: please note the posting dates of the many threads you’ve replied to – many are long dormant conversations.</p>

I loved living on the quad. I think that you will be fine there!

I loved the Quad! I actually lived there for 3 years – one for my freshman year and the last two years as an RA at Fisher Hassenfeld! It’s absolutely beautiful and it’s very social. I met most of my best friends in the dorms.

I currently live in the quad as a freshman. I live in Fisher-Hassenfeld, in the tip of the nipple. It’s so quiet and like a sanctuary here. My friends who live in Ware and the likes certainly have more social and rowdy halls; they can never study in their room. But that’s not at all a problem for me, since I live in a more isolated region of the quad. At the same time, I get all the social benefits. The interior of the Quad, just being in it, is like being a part of this exclusive community. It’s a social hub, and all my friends who don’t live in the Quad have such FOMO for not living here. Plus, you’re never going to get the chance to live in this gorgeous historic place ever again. Definitely go for it. It’s like something you should put at the top of your bucket list, honestly.

Check out this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVuMN2_p8ts&t=5s
It shows penn life pretty well

This is one of the schools I’m trying to get in