<p>Congrats to all of the class of 2010 and those yet to be selected. Those already at Bowdoin: what is the word on freshman dorms? Which ones are considered desireable or otherwise? </p>
<p>Thanks much</p>
<p>Its a big question mark, since the college is currently renovating all their frosh dorms. The word on the street is that they will renovate Coleman/Moore over the summer and close Maine and Winthrop for a complete gutting next year. If this is true, then the only dorms available in their current state (since Appleton/Hyde are closed presently for a similar gutting) are the newly built East and West. East and West are nice, but have some new dorm quirks that should be mostly ironed out by next year. The common rooms are smaller than in the other dorms, but we get large hallways to make up for it. Appleton/Hyde should be really nice when they are done. According to the plans, they will be three room quads (as opposed to the current two room triples in all the other frosh dorms).</p>
<p>Maine and Winthrop are going to be open next fall, but if you get assigned a room there you'll be moved to Coleman or Moore over winter break because Maine and Winthrop are getting renovated starting then. Coleman and Moore's renovations start as soon as this school year ends I believe. Appleton and Hyde should be interesting, as they will be quads, not triples. Other than that, all of the freshmman dorms are, really, essentially the same. I mean, the new dorms (east and west) look nicer on the inside, but they're farther from the academic buildings, so there is a trade-off, in my eyes at least. I live in Maine Hall, and as far as the actual dorm goes, it's really no different than any others. It's super close to Druck and Sills and Searles so I can wake up at 9:15 and still get to my 9:30 classes on time. I live on an all girls floor, and I only have one roommate which is actually really really nice. You don't really have much say as to where you'll end up though (with the exception of chem free and single sex floors) so my advice is to just be honest on the roommate questionnaire, because really, your floormates and roommmates are going to be the people (at least initially) that you'll be spending a lot of time with.</p>
<p>What are the freshman chem-free dorms like? I'm thinking about living there next year and am curious if they are nice.</p>
<p>Not sure which the chem free dorms will be - either Hyde (the classic chem free dorm, currently under renovation) or East (the current, 1 year old dorm).</p>
<p>Because the new Hyde will be unlike any other freshman dorm, it's hard to say how that will be. All of the dorms are pretty even in terms of 'niceness' the chem free difference will be the noise level and the social atmosphere. (a different atmosphere, not passing jdugement on whether it is better or worse, you'll just find different things going on in chem free versus normal dorms on Saturday nights).</p>
<p>I have another question. I know that I will have 2 roommates, but will I have a 1, 2, or 3 roomed living arrangement?</p>
<p>In terms of the 'classic' bowdoin freshman dorms, you'd have 2 roommates in a room that has a bedroom and a common room.</p>
<p>The new, renovated dorms, are meant to be quads - four roommates in 3 rooms. A common room with two double bedrooms off of it.</p>
<p>The chem free dorm next year will be Hyde Hall, which will be 3 room quads--2 bedrooms, 1 common room, all shared among 4 people. Definitely pick chem free if you don't drink. If you dont, pretty much your entire floor will leave on the weekends to go out drinking, and you'll probably feel left out and end up being friends with people in the chem free dorm anyways if you don't drink, so it's just easier if you choose to live there. The social atmosphere is different, but as far as I know, the people who choose it like it. That being said, I wouldn't choose chem free if you do plan on drinking--I know some people think about it because they think it's quieter or cleaner, but, personally, I'm glad that I didn't. I think the social atmosphere really is different, and I'm glad that I live where I do.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>Our 2010 will look for a dorm that is "work hard, play hard." Thanks for the info on these topics. We have always encouraged "open and understanding" with regards to partying...along with being safe. College is a time to grow and be free.</p>