<p>hey guys,
I’m planning to transfer to Barnard for the fall and I have a few questions about housing. My family just bought a new place that is 5 mins from grand central, and I’m pretty excited about moving in and would totally not mind commuting from home to go to school. However, I’m concerned that it would be difficult to make friends, or just become involved in the social life as a commuter. Also, it might be easier to learn the ropes 1st semester if I was around my classmates. One question I have though is what is the housing like, are singles available? Any thoughts about housing and the pros/cons of commuting as a transfer would be awesome!</p>
<p>Haha. I'm in the exact same situation. I'm thinking of living with my great-aunt, who has this huge, gorgeous apartment on Riverside and 116th (114th?) and is totally chill. But I'm also worried I won't meet anyone. </p>
<p>I may just do it. I'd be a block away, and I wouldn't have to pay much rent at all, and my aunt is crazy-awesome. But...oh, I don't know.</p>
<p>I think during orientation week they schedule daily events for commuter and transfer students, so you could connect with people in your situation straight away. Also, you'll most likely meet others both in class and around the city, if you make the effort. It really depends on your financial situation, I think, and whether or not that "college dorm" experience is really worth it. Getting a single might not be much better than commuting, as far as making new friends.</p>
<p>Also, it says on the Res Life website that transfer students are eligible for singles, doubles, and triples.</p>
<p>cool thanks, marta are you definitely going to barnard then? i remember you were waiting for your acceptance. anyway let me know what you decide to do.</p>
<p>Marta, that apartment sounds wonderful, and the location is perfect -- I'd suggest that you live there and just make a point to join some clubs or activities at Barnard/Columbia -- you'll meet people that way. If your great-aunt is cool about visitors, I think that apartment sounds like it will be an attractive place for your friends to hang out --so you may find that you even have an easier time making new friends when you've got a homey place a block away. (If your great aunt likes to cook, then you've really got it made :) )</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm 99% sure. I'm really excited. Hope2transfer0, maybe we'll run into each other! </p>
<p>I may do it...the only possible difficulty is that my great aunt is very old (90!!!!) and not in the best of health. But she does occasionally house students (I think she has one living with her now) so why not her own niece? (We haven't talked it over yet, so I may be counting on something that won't work at all.)</p>
<p>As a transfer student you would most likely live in Elliott (or Brooks, if there's any room...) if you decided to go the on-campus route for housing. Elliott is sort of an older building and has this blend of corridor / suite style housing where there are 12 students each in two suites on each floor. Each side has a kitchen and both sides share a lounge space. I think Brooks is just a corridor with bathrooms at the end (don't know as much about it...). I have yet to meet transfers living anywhere else on campus, so I wouldn't know what the chances of that happening were.</p>
<p>What's good about Elliott is that, even though most of the rooms are singles, there's a great spirit of community that can't be beat. Because it's mostly a transfer dorm, people tend to come together around that common theme, so you'll find alot of support should you need it. There are common spaces on each floor of Elliott that also contribute greatly to that spirit. Also, if you ever have a question about something later at night or just need someone to talk to, an RA (or another student) is always around.</p>
<p>However, as a transfer student who lived in the dorms, I will tell you that I have also met some transfer students who live off campus and are just as active (if not more active) than I am here. I participated in the Civic Engagement program which really helped me along in making friends and also happened to be how I met some of my commuter friends. Living in the dorms sort of gives you a set of "built-in buddies", but living off campus does not mean you will be without friends. As long as you are friendly and willing to get out there and meet people, you'll be fine. </p>
<p>I say weigh your pros and cons and then go for whatever living situation makes you happiest.</p>
<p>Looks like living with my great aunt's out...she needs caretakers living with her, not college students. Elliot, then...I just hope I can get in!!!</p>
<p>quick question: has anyone been sent their housing info yet? i havent even recieved a questionnaire and whatnot..</p>
<p>the questionnaire is on the ebear website, you have to submit it online.</p>
<p>oh ok, i just completed the form yesterday. Out of curiousity, which of the suite buildings including Elliot are the nicest?</p>
<p>I'd like to know this, too...</p>
<p>Well, the nicest suite building "on campus" (actually, it's qute far away) if you ask me is Cathedral Gardens. Plimpton comes in a nice second pretty much because of its large rooms. I don't really like the 600's because I feel like they are kind of depressing and cell block-like, but they are great options for a close-knit group of people. </p>
<p>Elliott isn't bad (I would choose it before the 600's), but the problem I have is that the single rooms are the smallest on campus, especially if you live in the east suite. The bathrooms are old (and you can tell...), but the rooms are carpeted and there are windows everywhere, making sunny days extra nice. Elliott's greatest attraction is definitrly its great sense of community, not its amenities...</p>