<p>Subfree floors vary as much as other floors in terms of the makeup. It can be nice that it’s quiet, while at the same time you’re not restricted to going to any other party. Some years subfree floors drink significantly more than nonsubfree floors…it really depends on the group makeup. </p>
<p>Awkward: As others have said, people don’t care if you’re gay, lesbian, black, white, or an alien. People may or may not approve, but there’s been extremely few cases of actual harrassment over the last five years (I can think of 2-3 cases). I’d agree that it’s a lot more to do with not caring, than actual acceptance, so take that for what it’s worth.</p>
<p>As for drugs and alcohol, I’d say theres a lot fewer people that do drugs than most schools. Wash U students tend to prioritize academics, and being high all the time doesn’t really work. Alcohol is more common, but by no means does everyone drink every week. People certainly aren’t outcasts if they stay away from drugs/alcohol.</p>
<p>Breaks most people definitely leave campus. There is a portion that stays at school during Thanksgiving (especially international students as it’s only a 5 day break). It’s a lot less common to stay during spring break, and rare to stay during winter break. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t really say there is a zero tolerance policy for weed or alcohol, perhaps for stronger drugs or selling of drugs. If you get caught with weed once, as someone mentioned, you’ll likely be placed on probation, and kicked out a second time…but again, that’s only if you’re caught, and it’s not like police patrol everywhere looking for drugs (although there were some busts in frats 5 or so years ago).</p>
<p>On a similar note, keep in mind the entire campus is tobacco free.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! Sub-free seems to vary from campus to campus, so I think I would do regular housing at WashU. I want to have a close floor :)</p>
<p>I know there have been lots of questions about housing, but I’m still wondering which is “better”, traditional or modern? I fear that traditional will be less comfortable but that modern only allows you to bond with suitemates and is therefore less social.</p>
<p>I’m a freshman living in a modern dorm this year, and honestly I don’t know where the stereotype of modern dorms being less social came from. If you want to meet someone who isn’t in your suite, go knock on their door and say hi. During orientation, you’ll have floor meetings every night and if you’re a social person, you won’t have a problem introducing yourself to people on your floor. Voila, new friends!</p>
<p>And the traditionals really aren’t that bad (still a lot better than most college housing you’ll find). I think the moderns seem too comfortable if you ask me, but take that with a grain of salt since I don’t live in one. How social a floor is varies from floor to floor. Eg. We try to keep our doors open as much as possible. Our dorm is also in a really good location, but that’s not really in your control. My only real complaint is that I’ll be sad when they tear down my dorm, presumably in the next few years.</p>
<p>wulfran:
Just personal opinion. I think they’re almost too nice. I’m sure people who live in the moderns don’t really notice, it’s just my opinion since I’m rarely in the modern dorms. Anyways…</p>
<p>FailSafe:
Since you don’t really have a choice, other than modern vs traditional, single vs double vs triple, it’s not really useful to rank them. Quality wise, all the dorms are nice, moderns nicer than traditionals. Floors differ socially within a dorm, and depends really on the people who live on your floor. Also, some dorms are in better locations than others, some being closer or farther from main campus and south 40 house (which includes bear’s den, the main dining area on the south 40). I suppose one could go through all the freshmen dorms and say a little about the pros and cons of each.</p>
<p>^^ just to add some perspective, here was how I ranked dorms applying:</p>
<p>1) modern triple
2) traditional double
3) modern double
4) traditional single
5) traditional triple
6) modern single</p>
<p>I got my fifth choice, and it’s worked out fine. If I were to re-order choices, I’d probably go</p>
<p>1) traditional double: good amount of space, only one door between you and floor
2) modern double: similar, though I don’t like the double-door setup
3) traditional single: very nice space, and you can still (easily) be sociable
4) modern triple: lots of space and a private bathroom, but 3 is an awkward number
5) traditional triple: a bit less space, no private bathroom, still the number 3
6) modern single: you won’t get this anyway, and why would you want it?</p>
<p>What I like about traditionals is that because they have a reputation for being social, RAs work really hard each year to make sure that stays the case–if you’re in your room, people expect your door to be open (unless you really want the immediate privacy).</p>
<p>What I don’t like about modern dorms is the double entry–you enter a door into a closet-like space, then you have to enter another door into the room; it’s a bit too secluded for what I think freshman year should be. Also, some modern-style housing is suites, which means you have two doors and a sealed hallway separating you from other people–if you like people in your suite that’s great, but it’s better to make that choice after freshman year.</p>
<p>But I wouldn’t worry too much about it, because as you can see with my case, you’re not always going to get what you want.</p>
<p>Thanks for volunteering! WUSTL is moving up on my son’s list of schools, and I do have some questions before we visit:
1.) How far to get to grocery stores / restaurants? Walkable distance? Neighborhood safe?
2.) How is public / campus transportation?
3.) Are there any “get away” busses at the beginning / end of term?
4.) Do you have personal knowlege of your Coop program? Anecdotal knowlege about how it is perceived? </p>
<p>Thanks again for taking the time to do this.</p>
<p>Just as a final word on the dorm situation, I have found it incredibly nice to not have to deal with common bathrooms. In the moderns you can leave all of your stuff (which is really nice if you are a girl with lots of makeup) in the bathroom, and don’t have to deal with silly little shower caddies. Again, its not like its a terrible thing to have to do, but when I’ve visited my friends at other schools that only have common bathrooms, I find it to be a huge pain to have to carry all my stuff with me to the bathroom. I don’t know of anyone who would say the opposite. </p>
<p>Really, the idea that walking through 5 extra feet of space is too much effort to get into someone else’s room is just ridiculous. No one on my floor closes their inside door, and a lot of times we just hang out literally in the hallway anyhow. Also, the only freshman dorm that has the secluded hallways nitwitoddment mentioned is Park; most of them just have 2 rooms connected by a bathroom. </p>
<p>From my personal experience, it is entirely the people on your floor that determine that amount of socializing that goes on, not the layout of it. </p>
<p>nugraddad-</p>
<ol>
<li><p>There is a Schnucks that is maybe a little over a mile away south down Big Bend and then east on Clayton. I’m pretty sure there’s a bus line from campus that takes you there, although since I have a car, I’ve never had to figure this out. There are also small stores on campus in the dining locations on the South 40 and in the village. As for restaurants, the two main places I have gone to this year are the loop or central west end. The loop is a short walk north of campus (maybe 20 minutes from the clocktower on the south 40). The central west end is on the other side of Forest Park, but the metro that runs right by campus will take you right there. The neighborhood is definitely safe, if you are being smart about what you are doing. St. Louis is a city, so there is crime, but it certainly is not as dangerous as some publications make it out to be if you stay away from the wrong areas.</p></li>
<li><p>The university supplies every student with a U-pass, which allows unlimited riding on St. Louis’ metro system. I use mine a few times a week because I ride the metrolink (light rail train) to the medical school campus for my job. Other than public transportation, you can sign up for the wecar, which allows students to rent a car (the rate is less than $10 an hour) to go places that it would be hard to go on a bus or train. This is a great option if your son is planning on making a lot of trips to the grocery store. </p></li>
<li><p>I’m not sure what you mean by a “get away” bus, sorry :o. </p></li>
<li><p>I’m a freshman, so I do not have personal knowledge, but it seems like it is a great opportunity to gain experience in the field in which you want to start a career in.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>To add onto NWrnnr5’s comment, The Schnucks grocery store is probably a 10-15 minute walk and is actually very doable especially if you’re going with a bunch of friends. There is also a Walgreens, a movie theater (The Esquire) and some other small stores.</p>
<p>As for public transportation, the Metrolink, while not as frequent as some other metro systems, is extremely reliable. Using google maps on my phone, the metrolink is always exactly on time, making trip planning to places like to the medical school for research much less of a hassle. </p>
<p>NWrnnr - “get away bus” - For example, Iowa State has a bus that leaves campus for the Chicago area at the end of every term - or at least they did back when my D was college searching. It makes it easier to get back and forth, especially for fresh / sophs.</p>
<p>Last night I found an old College Search book - yeah an actual, real, printed book - on WUSTL from back in 2004 - and they have great things to say about the area. I’m thinking that my son should move WUSTL up the possible ladder and visit rankings list.</p>
<p>Yeah no get away bus, but since it is a major city there are multiple ways to get to other parts of the country. As for chicago, I know that an amtrak ticket runs about 25 plus whatever tax they charge, busses are even cheaper with megabus tickets being about 10-20 dollars plus tax. On the St. Louis end, both stations are easily accessible via the metrolink, or if you have a lot of bags you can always call a cab. On the Chicago end, both come in at union station, so you can easily hop on your metra line from either union or ogilvie right next door.</p>
<p>nugraddad- I’m actually doing a co-op next semester. I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, and there are several companies that specifically recuit WashU co-ops.</p>
<p>(For those who don’t know, co-ops are only available to engineering students)</p>