Residential Colleges Pros/Cons

<p>There have been quite a few posts about college "personalities", but none that I could find about the actual pros/cons of each college. There was a thread on the Brown section that I can't now find, but it basically discussed living situation/bathroom size, amenities, etc. Can any current Yale students help out?</p>

<p>Also, I'm confused by this statement: "A student is assigned to a residential college in the freshman year. Only Timothy Dwight and Silliman house freshmen; the majority of on-campus freshman live on the "Old Campus," a massive quadrangle formed by older buildings."</p>

<p>Does that mean you're assigned a residential college freshman year, but you only start living there sophomore year?</p>

<p>Yes, that is precisely what it means. After their “random” assignment, most frosh (with the two noted exceptions) live on Old Campus and move into the main RC building as sophomores. You will, however, eat and have full privileges at the main building of your RC even as a freshman, and the walk between your freshman dorm and your RC building will not be far.</p>

<p>I put the word “random” in quotation marks because there appears to be deliberation behind room assignments to ensure a good mix rather than a simple draw from a hat. But you have almost no control over where you end up save for some legacies being able to accept or refuse assignment into their sibling’s or parent’s RC (you can transfer between RC’s later if you desire). Because of the inability to choose assignment, RC personalities tend to shift over the years and cannot be generalized.</p>

<p>Also, within Old Campus you will be housed with other students from your RC.</p>

<p>Yes, on the Old Campus you are grouped with students from your RC</p>

<p>Thanks for explaining! I’m happy that I’ll be able to meet a lot of other freshmen initially.</p>