<p>does it matter? would it make a significant impact on your comfort in college? is it a good idea to base a college on its dorm?</p>
<p>its an important thing, but i wouldnt make it the deciding factor of a college. but i guess its probably different for everybody.</p>
<p>Yes and no. </p>
<p>The ** overall ** quality of student housing at your prospective school should be highly considered. Seeing some very inadequate dormitories at Columbia U was a major reason that I dropped it from my college list. You may be at the best university in the world, but if your residential situation is such that you can't study and live in a reasonably comfortable way, your quality of life may be not what you expected, or just plain bad. However, I wouldn't stake things on individual dorms, residences, or residential colleges, since housing selection is usually random for freshmen. Of course, some people are naturally more particular than others, and some have specific health-related needs to address. If you are one of those people, then keep it a high priority, and ask a lot of questions.</p>
<p>Many college tours skip dormitories, so if you are bold, you can ask a student to show you inside a residence hall. I did so at Princeton and I was pleasantly surprised. The sophomore we asked even allowed my parents and I to peek inside his room (I ended up applying to Princeton early, and I'm currently a sophomore there.)</p>
<p>It is a tough thing to judge, but it would not be wise to dismiss it. I would also look at dining facilities, try the food, and research the meal plans.</p>
<p>This can be really important if your folks live far away, and it will be your only home.</p>
<p>No it does not matter. Kids tend to base their "happiness" factor not on the walls and furniture, but on the other kids/friends they are living with, their general academic satisfaction, their participation in extra curriculars, and food.</p>
<p>Of course it matters..just don't decide to go to a college only because you'll be living in a suite -_-</p>
<p>I guess it really does depend on a number of factors. If you will be going home every weekend - not important. If you arrive in mid-august, leave in mid-May, have no wheels, and can't leave campus - yeah, it's important. I think the importance of the dorms is evident in that no one builds the older style long-hallway-community-bathroom dorms anymore, though they don't necessarily tear down such buildings (except at California State U of PA, where they did just that).</p>
<p>Agree with all above. I'll just add one item. Some colleges now offer great housing for freshmen and particularly honors freshmen. Remember that sophomores are low man on the totem pole when choosing housing. If you chose the school solely on a great dorm, the second year will not be so great.
I would look at overall quality of dorms. Upkeep, maintenance, safety, space, etc. General campus standards not individual buildings.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Remember that sophomores are low man on the totem pole when choosing housing.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not true at all schools. Which brings me to the point that, while you're looking at the dorms, also look at how the school's housing assignment process works. There's a fair amount of variation between schools.</p>
<p>All I know is son #1 ended up in the "fanciest" freshman dorm (it was newly renovated) but REALLY wished he was living in the big, old, "fun" freshman dorm across the way. It was in that dorm that the freshmen really bonded.</p>
<p>Weenie, my S wound up in the old style dorm at his college and those young men stay friends their whole lives. The kids in the "nicer" dorms at his school do make friends, but they don't have the esprit de corps that the kids in S's dorm have.</p>
<p>I neglected that aspect of life.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>Kids tend to base their "happiness" factor not on the walls and furniture, but on the other kids/friends they are living with</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>I agree with weenie on this one... the group interaction is a much bigger element of enjoying dorm life than the physical facility. Carmen Hall at Columbia, for example, was (when I last saw it) a rather tired and institutional high-rise, but many freshman preferred it as a great place to get to know lots of classmates. Nobody particularly liked the building, but living there was fun.</p>
<p>Years ago, I spent my freshman year in the rather grim Donner hall at CMU (long hallways, cinderblock walls, gang bath facilities) and there was a lot of hallway interaction - doors were often open if nobody was sleeping or studying, and kids drifted back and forth between rooms. When I moved to a much nicer environment (two room suite with private bath), hallway life was nonexistent - people went to their room and closed the door. I don't know how much that has changed, but my advice in any dorm decision would be to look past the architecture and try to find out what the social environment is like.</p>
<p>You should also look at the location of the dorms. During freshman year my D was on a separate campus. Students had to take a bus to the main campus. This year she is on the main campus and the longest distance to a class is 10 minutes. She likes being in the middle of the main campus - close to the student center, main library and dining facilities.</p>
<p>Part of it is expectation - my D just wanted to be able to get up in the morning and walk to class and have a dorm that was easy to get back to inbetween classes. She found it highly inconvenient not being able to go back to her dorm room inbetween classes and having to get up earlier to catch the bus to the main campus.</p>
<p>The location issue is a very good point WestCoast. Being that far away from campus adds a lot of extra stress that shouldn't have to accompany the already stressful experience of starting out at college.</p>
<p>I found that a bad dorm was a blessing in disguise. Having a lackluster room ("you call this Ivy League?") made me more likely to spend time outside my dorm...doing more activities, meeting more people, walking around and getting more exercise...just getting more out of your college experience.</p>
<p>Dorms are definitly important and should be one part of whether or not you decide on a specific school, but they should not be the top deciding factor. Visit your "possible" schools and be brave enough to ask to either see the different housing options, or even to stay in the dorms. You will be spending 8 to 9 months of the year there, so it is imporatant. Also, realize that, like mentioned above, some of the "older" dorms are the most fun because those halls really have character. I go to school at Covenant College and live in the older dorm building and love my hall, just because of the hall traditions and atmosphere - the rooms aren't that awesome and maybe a bit small sometimes, but the tradition to be carried on by your hall are awesome!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.covenant.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.covenant.edu/</a></p>
<p>they're important, but not important. when i look at a college, it's one of the last things i consider. it's certainly not a deal breaker, but it would help when two colleges i'm considering are even in all other factors.</p>
<p>Again, it really depends on your personal priorities, which I think most people can determine themselves. Generally, I would say the overall conditions, availability, and choices of living arrangements are the most important. For example, I might want to join a dining co-op later in my college career. At some schools, this would require me to live off campus, but at Princeton, I don't have to do that. Big plus.</p>
<p>I think location is the most important issue. You want to be central to classes. The other issue is general state of repair--no matter how old the building. The only way to find out if there are always plumbing problems, mold, or other maintenance issues is to talk to a current resident or two.</p>
<p>One other item would bring up is that your college dorm is not a luxury hotel. Expect the quality of the place to be different from home. I think it's important for you to experience that "not-so-perfect, cramped" dorm room so you can appreciate the "not-so-perfect, cramped" apartments you can afford when you graduate.</p>
<p>yes, dorms are important, and yes, the level of importance has to do with the student in question. some schools offer choices(if you get your deposit in early) and others don't. upkeep and location are both very important. and the MIX of the dorm is important,ie, all male/female floors or mixed on the same floor. if the latter, the kids usually opt to all share the same bathrooms. CLEANLINESS of bathrooms is a MAJOR issue and i think it contributes significantly to freshman-dorm-illness. so, yeah, dorms matter, but should be put in perspective of the entire college as a choice.</p>