<p>Can someone who knows about the houses rank them just by which would be most ideal to live in?</p>
<p>They’re all pretty similar. It’s more about what room you get than what house you get, end even then, there isn’t THAT much of a difference. I think there are two houses that don’t have laundry so you have to go to a house next door, but other than that, just don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Ditto everything Pancaked said ^^<br>
There is no use trying to figure out which is “better” because the entire group of students moves out each year (unlike at some Ivies where some houses might have a certain feel since the residents stay in their house or college for more than 1 year) and you can’t request a particular house in the Commons in any case.</p>
<p>So all freshmen have more or less the same housing experience. By which I mean everything is shiny and new.</p>
<p>How would everyone rank upperclassmen housing? I appear to have been given whatever free space remains in Carmichael Towers East. I suppose I would have preferred Blakemore, Barnard or Vanderbilt, but the view overseeing all of campus might be a positive too…</p>
<p>Most people actually like Towers. Its where the majority of juniors/seniors live (or on the Highland quad which is also very nice but a little out of the way). Though if you have a double/single in Towers, I don’t know much about them. Assuming they’re decent. Only seen the suites which are pretty highly sought after. </p>
<p>Blakemore is new and supposedly nice but not conveniently located. Lots of sophomores who ended up there are trying to transfer out to be closer to Main. Surely a nice place if you don’t mind the location. Barnard tends to have smaller rooms and is less social. Tends to be people’s last choice for housing.</p>
<p>earning a bed in the Commons is a Ten. Rejoice if you have one. You have a fab freshmen only campus, a great dining hall in the Commons that draws faculty and others all four years, and you have a seat in a great university. There is no reason whatsoever to fret about your Commons location. Instead, focus on seeking out your academic home at Vanderbilt and focus on how you will craft your social place and housing as an upperclassman or woman.</p>
<p>You will have a great experience in any house on the Commons; however, crossing your fingers for Stambaugh should not be out of the question.</p>
<p>I was in East last year and I loved my time there. We didn’t have laundry, but we had an awesome faculty head of house (Dalhouse). If I were to live on the Commons for another year, I would want to live in East again. </p>
<p>As far as a generally accepted standing of the houses goes, my guess would be that Stambaugh is at the top and Gillette is at the bottom. Other “good” houses would be Hank and Crawford, and other “bad” houses would be North and West (although West has a ton of laundry machines). But really, what everyone else has said is pretty accurate; most people end up loving their houses, and they’re all pretty nice.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I think I have a single, as most of the rooms in Towers East (I and II) are singles. I believe most of the suites are in Towers West (III and IV), and they do sound awesome. Anyone who has lived in a Towers East single or double and is willing to comment on their quality has my gratitude.</p>
<p>Pretty sure Stambaugh, Crawford, Sutherland, and Murray and have nearly identical floor plans, not sure why you’re saying Stambaugh is at the top…</p>
<p>Again even with Gillette/North/West/whatever it’s totally dependent on what room you get. Gillette has some tiny rooms but its top floor also has some of the biggest rooms on the entire campus.</p>
<p>If Stambaugh is the best, it’s definitely not significantly better than the others. Most people just seem to think that Stambaugh is slightly preferable, probably because it has a patio and it’s kind of positioned as a centerpiece. </p>
<p>I also agree with you about North/West/Gillette; they’re all still nice houses and one can eke out a superior living arrangement in any of them. But other than those on its top floor, Gillette does have small rooms. With North/West, my guess is that their position right next to a noisy street is what turns people off. Again, these are by no means significant problems and I doubt that they really hamper the living experience for students, but they may serve as a means for students from other houses to jokingly claim superiority.</p>
<p>Is it true that some rooms in north have private bathrooms?</p>
<p>Yes, some of the rooms on the bottom two floors have private bathrooms. Guess just because it’s an old dorm and had a different design.</p>