<p>My D will be a freshman in the Fall. She was just at Wesfest (really enjoyed it!) and was talking to people about housing for next year. The one bit of advice I gave her (based on my own experience and feedback from several other people over the years) was that it's really a good thing to be with other freshmen...it seems like some important bonding takes place in that first year of shared experience. She agrees, and after looking at all the options and talking to some current Wes students she knows from her HS, came home saying that Nicolson would be her first choice. I read somewhere that Nicolson will have a lot (?) of sophomores, too. Can someone tell me whether Nicolson will have a critical mass of freshmen? Any other feedback on it? I absolutely want her to make the decision, but was concerned that it may be a dorm in transition such that what she saw this year isn't what it will be next year. Thanks! (I know there are some great new freshman dorms, but she seems to like Foss Hill best)</p>
<p>one more stupid question abt housing: where do freshmen find out which dorm they'd be living in?</p>
<p>"Can someone tell me whether Nicolson will have a critical mass of freshmen?"</p>
<p>I think she'll be okay. There are over 700 freshman and the new dorms will only have room for a couple hundred at most. Nicolson is right smack in the middle of Foss Hill which is traditionally where they place as many freshmen as will fit. On a personal note, I liked Nicolson, too; it's the next complex over from WestCo (which has many more sophs) and is, in many ways, its calmer, saner sibling dorm.</p>
<p>i wanted to ask WHEN instead of WHERE sorry</p>
<p>Jurily - think, late July or August - you'll have read, "I Am Charlotte Simmons" (and patted yourself on the back that you're not going to Duke) way before then.</p>
<p>johnwesley, help! which dorms have two room doubles? which dorms are hi rise and which are lo rise and what are the differences? is clark really a jock dorm? do you think there will be less freshman insanity (lots of drinking and vomiting) in dorms other than fauver and clark? can freshman live in suites? is westco a good place for a freshman who doesn't want to inhale, but is into the avant-garde? do you have any sage advice? thank you.</p>
<p>Westco is probably the most alcohol and drug-using dorm on campus. I think Butterfield or Substance-Free would be your best bet. Butterfield is known for being quieter and less substance-heavy.</p>
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<p>Johnwesley, help! which dorms have two room doubles?< </p>
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<p>Most of Foss Hill, including Westco, consists of two room doubles. </p>
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<p>Hi-Rise/ Low-Rise are actually part of the the same complex, a cluster of dorms half-way down the hill towards downtown. I wouldn't recommend it for frosh simply because it is a tad further from campus. But, if you're still interested, Low Rise, as the name implies, is a series of two story buildings consisting of duplexes with kitchens. Perfect for sophomores who want a bit of independence but don't quite have the housing points for a real "wood frame". Hi-Rise is more like conventional dorm suites (no kitchens), and stacked higher up in the air. Great for river views and sense of surrounding country. </p>
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<p>is clark really a jock dorm?<</p>
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<p>Hard to put a label on it. Put it this way: Clark is not the place to find a quiet house party on a Friday night.</p>
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<p>It's possible, but, less likely now that Fauver is opening. Your best bet for suites would be to finagle something in Butts.</p>
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<p>is westco a good place for a freshman who doesn't want to inhale, but is into the avant-garde?<</p>
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<p>I think most people come to Wesleyan already having experimented and have no trouble saying, "No, thanks." (See Advice #11, below) The problem with Westco is that if the smell really bothers you--it's sort of everywhere.</p>
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<p>do you have any sage advice? thank you.<</p>
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<p>1) Don't do anything at 3:am that you wouldn't do at home;
2) do not watch t.v. for the first six months, and if you absolutely must--do it with a group;
3) study with your door open;
4) learn the names of the cleaning staff;<br>
4) try not to send more than one e-mail a day (well, try not to, anyway);
5) learn to love black and white movies;<br>
6) read, "I Am Charlotte Simmons"--you'll feel so lucky that you're going to Wesleyan.
7) don't be afraid to sit at the black table (chances are, it isn't the black table);
8) attend (at least) one Wesleyan sporting event;
9) pay cash whenever possible;
10) never connect more than one hotplate to the same circuit.
11) if you're not going to inhale, learn to pass it without crushing the moistened end--you're stoned friends will sort of think you're cool.</p>
<p>Correction: hi-rise apparently does have kitchens (never noticed them.)</p>
<p>Just to clarify, Hi and Lo Rise aren't options for freshmen (for obvious reasons). You live in Foss, Fauver, Clark, Butterfield, 200 Church, or Westco.</p>
<p>Good advice, thank you. To both xmatt and johnwelsey - if you had to do it all over again (and had a magic wand to get what you wanted) where would you go as a freshman? Where do you like living now? also, jw, #11 keeps me laughing!</p>
<p>where are the kitchens in hi-rise?</p>
<p>Some of these things may be part of Orientation, but, I would:</p>
<p>1) make friends with anyone who knows Kay Butterfield or Marjorie Rosenbaum; they're living campus treasures; both must be pushing 90 (so, what are you waiting for?)
2) take the riverfront tour (you'll see how close Middletown really is to nature.)
3) figure out where the Appalachian Trail is (supposedly, it's in hiking distance of campus.)
4) eat breakfast at O'Rourke's.
5) spend an afternoon walking around the North End, it's the closest thing Middletown has to a ghetto and has served in that capacity ever since the Irish potato famine.
6) visit the Portland quarries
7) go skinny-dipping at the Portland quarries (this may have to wait until sophomore year.)
8) find someone with access to the late William Manchester's house; he left it to Wesleyan and it must be <em>fascinating</em>.
9) visit New York City; you'll do it once and never have to do it again (unless you want to.)
10) visit Cross Street Baptist Church, a special church with a special connection to Wesleyan.</p>
<p>This is probably pretty obvious, but do most if not all wait-listed students get sorta shafted in terms of housing choices? where might they end up? (if accepted, I would love to stay in Clark Hall)</p>
<p>I don't think you'll get screwed. Not much happens before August anyway.</p>
<p>as an entering soph year transfer student, what are my chances of getting a single (or at least a 2 room double)? is there a residency requirement or can i live off campus if i don't get my own room? thanks!</p>
<p>I'd be very surprised if they would stick you in a single room double. Who would they find to room with you, another sophomore? Not likely.</p>
<p>Personally, I think it would be quite fun to help set Fauver's reputation :o)</p>
<p>I hope it isn't so anti-social to want a single! I like my privacy sometimes. haha</p>
<p>my post did seem kinda anti-social, i've just had a particularly bad room mate experience. anyway though, at most schools sophomore's don't get singles--i'd imagine transfer sophs just get put with frosh or other transfers. i guess i'm more wondering if wes has enough singles and 2 room doubles to accomodate all the non-frosh who want em.</p>