<p>My D ended up on the fourth floor of South Hall. Is there an elevator? and several other threads have mentioned the necessity of a fan- will that be necessary do you think, in Sept? (we're trying to keep the packing light!)</p>
<p>Hey! I’m in the 4th floor of south too!</p>
<p>And you’re from SF? So’s my D. Hmmm you might know each other- she went to S.I.</p>
<p>South is actually one of the few dorms that does have an elevator. I think you need a key to use it, but it’s probably open for everyone on move-in day.</p>
<p>OH! I think I have an idea who she is. Cmc?</p>
<p>That’s her! did you go to LW?</p>
<p>Your D will need a fan in January! My D lived on the 4th floor in South last year and kept the window open and the fan going the entire year!! Seriously, it’s hot up there.</p>
<p>The elevator will be operational during move in day (s). And there are lots of great upperclass Jumbos/helpers who greet you and help you move things in. It was great. Of course, they are not there when you move out in May. LOL!!</p>
<p>Thanks CollegeMom08- May seems veeery far away but I suppose it will arrive soon enough…</p>
<p>Waaait. In January? As in the month after December?</p>
<p>Your D should have contacted reslife, as there was clearly a problem with the heating in her room. That’s not supposed to happen…
My room was getting a little warm so my roommate contacted them and they came and fixed the heater and then everything was fine.</p>
<p>I lived on the 4th floor of South and had the same experience, but I just wore shorts all winter when I was in the dorm. I’m not sure if it was a heating problem though, I think the 4th floor’s just naturally warmer from all the people and electronics in the building. </p>
<p>I really liked living in South, so I hope you all like it too!</p>
<p>Thanks for the positive thoughts abs294- what did you like about South in particular?</p>
<p>Never lived there, but people really do like it. The most commonly cited plus is the private, individual bathrooms. When pressed, most South students don’t really know why they like it, but as an architecture/urban planning student, I have my suspicions. Floors are laid out with a profusion of corners and angles, rather than one giant, long, intimidating hall. Couches and tables are scattered sporadically throughout the halls in corners and wide areas, rather than centralized in a lounge.</p>
<p>These features lend an air of community to each segment of floor - you can spontaneously gather around the convenient couches and tables with others from your “neighborhood”, which, due to the angular and cornered nature of the floor plan, is a relatively smaller, less intimidating area and thus lets new freshmen sort of dip a toe into the water of socializing, if you will. Since South is so large, you can gradually extend your social zone of comfort at your own pace, eventually finding the people who will become your best friends.
People in South end up becoming extremely social with each other, usually long before other halls bond and for longer periods of time as well. In my opinion, THAT’S why people like South, not the bathrooms.</p>
<p>Thanks Snarf my D will be glad to hear it. She’s very social, but I think she’ll will like the sound of "a relatively smaller, less intimidating area and thus lets new freshmen sort of dip a toe into the water of socializing, " as I’m sure most freshmen worry about at first.</p>
<p>I will second what abs294 said about South. My D loved it there last year. It’s newer, cleaner, the bathrooms ARE great and she liked the location cuz it’s nearest to Davis Square. She made great friends on her hallway and they are all together again next year, but a different dorm. Also, she thought Dewick was a much better dining hall than Carmichael and she’s in the “arts” so it was close to those buildings. It was also great because it wasn’t a dorm just for freshman-she got to meet sophomores and even a few juniors and seniors, too. I guess the downside might be that it was a LOT of walking uphill to class…</p>
<p>I agree with what snarf said - it was nice to have a smaller group of people in my area to socialize with. When I lived there sophomore year (4th floor freshman year, 3rd floor sophomore year), I had friends who lived in South as well but on different floors, so I made a lot of friends in their sections too. The private bathrooms were great too. I was heavily involved in theatre, so one of the main benefits for me was that when I left rehearsal at 1am, all I had to do was walk across the parking lot behind Aidekman, and there was my dorm.</p>
<p>Walking uphill wasn’t the most fun, but I never had to go to the gym because of it!</p>
<p>
Not to rain on your parade, but while walking uphill to class gives you some exercise it definitely isn’t enough if you don’t work out a few times a week or play an intramural or something. I guess at least you’re better off than if you didn’t go uphill at all, though.</p>
<p>abs294, I do theater as well - if you were “heavily” involved in the past three years, I can’t imagine we don’t know each other.</p>
<p>I saw this a little late but thought it might be helpful for you to know that you can order a fan (and a zillion other dorm things) at your local Bed Bath and Beyond…They then place an order for you at the BB&B nearest to Tufts…(which is about 3 miles away I believe!). Then you simply drive there when you get back east. When you arrive at the store they will have it all (your entire order) packed up for you. You can review and change your mind about things, and then you only pay for what you want and need. This saves the space, time and the hassle of carrying a bunch of stuff with you by plane. The Container Store does the same thing. My daughter and I did that and crossed a zillion things off her list! We only have to pack her clothes and the airline cost for extra baggage is way more reasonable that UPS!! We too are from California…Good luck!</p>
<p>But Bed Bath & Beyond is expensive. . . get that janx at Target. They bus freshmen to a local Target during Orientation.</p>