Hi, I’m leaning towards getting a single at North. I heard that the house culture isn’t really that well-knit, and I’m rather quiet and introverted. I’m concerned that I will cloister myself if I choose and receive that option. How valid is that concern?
Valid. Nobody’s going to pull you out of your room if you want to hole up there and study alone. That said, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to study elsewhere – there are various lounges and the 15th floor study area in North (and don’t even have to go outside to get to any of them). Also a (pricy) coffee shop on the ground floor (you do step outside to enter that). Venture farther afield and there’s the Reg, Mansueto, and Harper (which comes with drop-in access to free tutors Sun-Th nights). Your House will have some organized activities/outings you can participate in. There are all sorts of clubs (aka RSOs) you can join. Basically, it’s up to you whether or not you spend most of your time alone. Not as true if you have a roommate.
Oh and North gives you convenient access to athletic facilities, which may or may not affect your social life.
The house system makes it easy to make friends. You will be seeing the same people in the lounge and at the house table. When you arrive for o-week you will be spending literally all your time with the other first years in your house (and without any upperclassmen around!) for a week. Your house will organize events and trips, and have meetings and study breaks together.
Still, the onus is on you to interact with all these opportunities. North, BJ, South - doesn’t matter - if you avoid the house table, avoid your lounge, don’t go on any house trips, don’t go to any house meetings, don’t go to any study breaks, and don’t talk to anyone, you aren’t going to make friends in your house. If you do - you will, no matter which dorm you’re in and whether you’re in a double, single, or suite.
@HydeSnark @belindakoboi I wouldn’t go so far to say that you’ll definitely make friends doing all those things. I do and despite that have no good friends in my house, only acquaintances. All of my really good friends have been made through classes and RSO’s. That said, it doesn’t mean that you won’t make friends in your house, but it’s not guaranteed. I personally bonded more with people over doing problem sets together and having common interests (not just academic) than just living in the same place. I got especially unlucky with a pretty clique-y house, but not all the houses in North are like this.
@aykt4245 Are you staying in housing? Houses can change drastically year from year, my house isn’t that similar from my house last year, even with half the same people.
But yeah, that does happen sometimes. Sorry it happened to you :\
@HydeSnark Yea I’m staying and I think more than half my house is moving off so we’re going to get a new influx of first years–hopefully it will be better next year. All but a few second years are staying and maybe more than half the first years are moving off. Also I guess it’s kinda expected with such big houses (close to 100 people) in contrast with other houses that are maybe 40-50 people.