Hi everyone, I’m an incoming first year trying to decide which dorm would be best for me. I’m fairly social and intend on going to the gym about 3 times a week (although I don’t intend on playing any organized sports). I also plan to be involved in a few RSOs.
In terms of dorms, I’m torn between South and Max P. From what I’ve heard, South’s doubles are larger and nicer. However, the idea of crossing the Midway is pretty daunting to me - I’m worried that being somewhat removed from the main area of campus might make me less inclined to participate in social events outside of my house, or go to the gym or library. On the other hand, I really like Max P’s suite-style rooms and proximity to the gym, library, classes, etc., but it seems that the doubles are quite small compared to South’s and the building is not as new.
I would greatly appreciate any input from people who have had experience with either of these two dorms - particularly, if anyone had any input regarding how South’s distance influences student life there, and also if Max P’s doubles are really as small as they seem.
My main opposition to North is actually its newness - I want to live somewhere with an pre-established house culture. Are you a current student? To be honest I’m not sure how big of a deal the lack of an established house culture/traditions would be, do you have any insight on that?
House culture varies dramatically year by year in literally every house, and no where more than in Max and South where a lot of first years move out every year. North will have traditions carried over from the satellite dorms, which all have strong house culture, so it will probably be a very similar situation in North and South and Max P.
Don’t let the “idea of crossing the Midway” be daunting. It is not that big of a deal. Honestly, my son is in BJ and he laughs when he hears people worrying about that.
Yeah to add on to what the above poster said, according to someone in the admitted student Facebook group, it’s only at most a 9-10 minute walk to the center of campus from South. That’s just not that bad in all honesty. That being said, however, you do sound to me to be more of a Max P person. Honestly, I think you could get over the size pretty quickly. With all that socializing, how much time are you actually going to spend in your dorm anyways?
Actually distance matters, especially in a cold winter evening.
My D occasionally complains she has to walk a long way in cold winter. The good news is that there are several bus routes covering everywhere in Hyde Park.
From South to the gym it is a 12 minute walk. That’s really not too bad. I’ve been in rooms in South and Max P and I personally like Max P better but I’m an adult. Having the bathroom shared among 4 is more appealing too, though that means it never gets cleaned and someone has to buy TP If he plans to stay on campus long term choosing a dorm with more different room types like South gives more options over time while getting to stay with his house.
South and Max P are both huge; with the exception of I-house (430) and presumably North, no dorm is anywhere close to their capacity. South can house 791 and Max P has space for 714 students. That said, Max P is quite popular, while South is less common as a first choice because some folks dread the walk across the Midway.
It’s hard to know how many freshman dorms will be available this year, but there’s a chance South won’t be full by the reply deadline (May 1st).
The dorms that are most likely to be open are the New Graduate Residence Hall and I-house.
As for crossing the Midway, I did it for two years as a resident of B-J, and then for another two years living in an apartment on Dorchester between 60th and 61st. That was fifty years ago. Yet that repeated meditative or hurried walk in all weathers and all moods at all stages of my college life somehow got into my brain cells and is nearly always the first thing I think of when I think of my own experience at the University. I have even frequently had dreams in which I am making my way across the Midway. The towers of Harper Library and Rockefeller Chapel rising above the trees in the distance have a wonderfully calming and distancing effect. As a student in the midst of the hurly-burly of actual studies I often felt a bit inadequate, but the distant view of the towers always inspired the thought that, little and ignorant as I am, I am still a member of this mighty community and am a part of its history. I also loved the distinctive earthy fragrance emitted by the Midway itself. I have never smelled just that fragrance anywhere else. That too was a very calming prelude to the battle.
Don’t let above posters fool you, nothing sucks more than crossing the midway on an icy, windy day. Especially if your parents didnt shell out 800 bucks for you to get a canada goose.
My son is in South, and he doesn’t think crossing is that big of a deal except for maybe 2 handful of brutal days. Otherwise, he really liked the separation from campus and the short walk. He also has had a bunch of classes, advising, career services, and Ida Noyes in the buildings right along the Midway which is really close to weigh against the slightly farther distance to Ratner and the Reg.
@toots13 Do the larger ones like South and Max P have some kind of weight room or mini gym in the dorm that folks can use or do they all have to go to Ratner?
@VeryLuckyParent there’s a small weight room in south and one in max as well as far as i know. They’re not a substitute for the actual gym though. Also there’s crown as well (arguably the better gym).
If he plans to stay on campus long term choosing a dorm with more different room types like South gives more options over time while getting to stay with his house.
Hm, I thought New Grad was being closed/repurposed - am I getting confused with another dorm?