<p>What are the best choices for freshman housing? I know you can express a preference but do you necessarily get your preference?</p>
<p>My D saw examples of a room in both "old" and "new" dorms and is leaning toward asking for a new dorm because it looks like the rooms are bigger. Is that true?</p>
<p>Wash U does make every effort to put you in the type of dorm that you request. My son opted for the older dorm (non-suite) as he felt that it would be more "social" and easier to meet people. In addition, the older dorms have concrete walls and are much quieter than the new dorms. The newer suite dorms are beautiful, without a doubt, but the students complain about the noise level and some students feel it's a bit harder to meet the other people on your floor. It's really boils down to a matter of preference.</p>
<p>but the thing about old dorm is that it has community bathroom! I can't imagine sharing toilet with a whole floor of people >_<</p>
<p>Well the noise issue is certainly worth thinking about--hadn't realized that.</p>
<p>I think you're right too about the suite set up being less social. My older son was in suite-style housing his freshman year at Cornell and felt that while he got to know his suitemates really well, it was much harder to socialize with the rest of the students in the dorm. On the other hand, my younger son was in a typical many-rooms-off-a-long-wide-hall dorm (Parrish) at Swarthmore, and all the freshmen became very good friends.</p>
<p>My D is very sociable though and has many many friends at her boarding school where initially she knew no one. If she goes with a new dorm a Wash U and makes an affirmative effort to reach out to people, do you think she can overcome the "less-social" problem? (Having a wide and diverse circle of friends is a strong priority for her.)</p>
<p>My older son was in a suite his first year at Chicago and his best friends (now apartment roommates) came from the same dorm, on a different floor. I think the social life is what you make of it...you can avoid seeing people in a traditional double too..</p>