<p>hey so I know that someone is going to yell at me because this has probably been discussed 1000 times on here, but can someone give me the short version of housing options for freshmen at washu? I really just want the basics-I started reading and there are options as far as doubles and triples and modern vs traditional. Whats the deal? Personal recommendations?</p>
<p>Modern
-Generally built after the year 2000. Although the newest of the new dorms were built in the last four (estimate?) years.
-The set-up is pretty much a long narrow building, with one straight hallway down the middle and dorm rooms on either side. Usually 4 floors, about 50-60 people per floor.
-Thin drywall walls. Love the new dorms but sound insulation is awful.
-One common lounge per floor with a small kitchen. Could be in the middle of the hallway or the end of the hallway depending on the dorm.
-One or two study rooms on each floor
-Nearly exclusively double rooms. Maybe one triple here and there. I don’t think there are any singles, except the RA rooms.
-One bathroom is shared between two connecting double rooms.
-Lounge on the ground floor with a larger kitchen
-Most of the new dorms have one or more sound-proof music practice rooms in the basement with piano, along with the laundry rooms and a computer lab
-The Park dorm used to be upperclassmen but now it’s a freshman dorm… although it was built sometime around the 70’s/80’s, it is considered a new dorm (renovated recently) and generally has the same amenities of the newer dorms. It has a weird layout. </p>
<p>Traditional
-Generally built in the 60s, I think. Wash U has sort of renovated them but they still do feel rather old. There aren’t many left: Beaumont, Lee, and Rubelman (rumored to be replaced next year)
-They used to have tile floors but I think all (?) of them have carpet now.
-Cinderblock walls, which is great for sound insulation
-To me, the room sizes feel slightly bigger than the new dorms, but I don’t know if that’s actually true.
-About 50 people per floor but usually only 3 floors per building
-Set up like a square. In the middle of the building you have a couple communal bathrooms for boys/girls although not all people care if the gender distinction is kept. Around the perimeter of the square you have all the rooms.<br>
-One or two triples on each floor. I’ve only seen one and was huge
-One very large common lounge on the ground floor. I don’t think any of the traditional dorms have a common lounge on each floor, yet traditional dorms have the stereotype of being more social (open to debate)</p>
<p>I lived in a new dorm this year and loved it, but my friends in their traditional dorms loved theirs. You’ll enjoy where ever you are placed. Each dorm has their own chants and colors and annual events.</p>
<p>To add on to the above question, do current WashU students recommend getting a random roommate through WashU’s housing survey or using a site like ■■■■■■■■?</p>
<p>Random. Go for the true college experience. </p>
<p>The housing preference form does a generally good job of placing you with someone you’ll get along with. I had a great roommate this year and we’re living together next year.</p>
<p>flashmountain, I live in Park. It was built in 1989/1990 and in my opinion it has some of the biggest rooms at Wash U.</p>
<p>Thank you so much flashmountain. As you said, I intend to go for the true experience of random roommate assignment. Does anyone else have any thoughts on the supposed better social scene in the traditional dorms? I’m sure any of them work out fine, but…Also, do freshmen live on the south 40?</p>
<p>Yes, all freshmen live on the South 40.</p>
<p>Some people claim the traditional dorms are more social, but moderns are perfectly capable of being social, too. Plus, the living conditions in moderns are better.</p>
<p>“One very large common lounge on the ground floor. I don’t think any of the traditional dorms have a common lounge on each floor, yet traditional dorms have the stereotype of being more social (open to debate)”</p>
<p>Depends. Ours does. The floor above does not. It was different the year before.</p>
<p>Floors within a dorm differ in socialness and personality. It really depends more on the people on the floor than the floor itself. You’ll probably end up loving wherever you’re assigned, even if it is not your first choice.</p>