<p>Can anyone list the descriptions of housing available to freshmen? I mean not what you can get online or book, but like is one considered a party dorm or a more quiet dorm, etc? Do any have air conditiong??</p>
<p>Thanks to anyone who replies.</p>
<p>All freshmen basically live in North or Massell Quad, which each have 4 dorms. Unless they have changed the system, which I doubt, there is no way to pick a preference for either one on the housing form. That said, there really is no big difference between them. I don’t think either of them has air conditioning. The difference is really just location, one is closer to Sherman, which is all-you can-eat and has a kosher side, the other is closer to Usdan, which is buffet style.
Massell is closer to the Shapiro Campus Center and the commuter rail and a few shops around there and the Science classes, North is closer to the humanities and social science classes. One of the main differences within both dorms is their state of renovation or whether the floors are single-sex or not. I think in Massell all except one of the larger dorms are renovaed, in North at least 2 have been renovated. One of the buildings in North, I think it’s Sheffress, doesn’t have laundry rooms in the building, so you have to walk across to another building. The non-renovated dorms aren’t really that bad though. I lived in Usen in Massell before it was renovated and it was fine.
The other difference, which you can choose, is single-sex floors or mixed floors. That depends on your own preference. I picked single-sex my freshmen year and I think it was a good choice because I think it led to sort of a nice community for that first year, but I think the majority of people actually prefer mixed for whatever reason. I lived on a mixed floor sophomore year and it was fine too.
And then there are lofted triples which you don’t really have a choice either. Those are doubles that have been converted to triples because of the number of students, so they have one lofted bed usually and one regular one. I lived in a double so I can’t say what that’s like, although I know people who did and I think it really depends on each individual situation as to how it works out.
I wouldn’t worry about first-year housing too much though. Really most people I know were basically satisfied with their first-year living situation, aside from the unavoidable isssues you’re always going to have if you’re living with another person.
Oh…and the earlier you send in your deposit, the more likely you are to get your choice and not to be in a lofted triple.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for that detailed response. I will make sure my D gets her deposit in soon. BTW, if there is no air conditioning, does that mean after the first two weeks it’s not neede, I’m guessing kids still bring fans to school? Also, if you live on a coed floor, are the bathrooms still single sex?</p>
<p>Students definitely bring fans to school, but there aren’t usually that many bad days, it’s pretty average, I think (on the other hand, I grew up in Europe where there is no airconditioning generally, so I hay ave been more used to not having it).
It depends on how many bathrooms there are, but usually what happens is here is a hall-meeting with the Community Advisor of the hall with a discussion/vote over what to do about the bathrooms. I think it is often said that even if only one person objects to co-ed bathrooms, it’s not done or something to that effect. There was only one bathroom on my floor, but I think some of the larger dorms have two or more. Usually somewhere in the building there will be at least one single-sex bathroom, if not on your own, then the one above or below…</p>
<p>with respect to the characteristics of the dorms – my understanding is that because they are freshman dorms, the population changes over every year, so you can’t really say one is a party dorm versus another, because that will change with the students living there. (there may be a handful of sophmores - in the past i think they could choose singles in some of the freshman dorms.)</p>
<p>Try to avoid the “forced triple”. My s had one last year and was miserable. Knowing what I know now I would have signed him up for a single.</p>
<p>You generally can’t pick singles or triples on the form, sometimes freshmen will randomly end up in singles or will just get placed in triples. The only way to get a sure single would be to apply for it especially for medical reaons.</p>