<p>The room sizes vary from apartment to apartment so you can't go by what my D had. The plusses for her were....location...near Union Square (great area), not too far from CAP in comparison to freshmen dorms in Washington Square....you get an apartment not just a room.....have a kitchen....has a dining hall in the dorm....very nice courtyard in nice weather. Her apartment had two bedrooms with two girls in each, and then a furnished common room with sofa, long shelf type unit, table and chairs, kitchen, private bathroom (which had a toilet/tub/shower that could be closed off from the double sink area so more could use the facilities at one time). However, in her particular apartment (not the case with ALL apartments in that building), the bedrooms were very very small. This was compensated by the fact that they had the common room, however, so can't really compare it to a small traditional dorm room. But the bedroom was a bit TOO small. The dresser drawers, also, were built ins under the bed (so forget about bringing under bed storage units and bed risers which we had to return). </p>
<p>This year, in Carlyle, her bedroom is a much more decent size. She also can use bed risers and storage tubs underneathe and has a regular dresser and ample closets. She has a nicer kitchen with a bar counter (but they don't allow stools!). The private bathroom is nice but you can't close off part of it and so it is basically one person at a time (though only four share it). While the bedrooms are bigger, there is no common room, just a small area for a small table/chairs for eating. There is a nice courtyard, not as nice as at Third North. But the location is better, RIGHT in Union Square, very close to CAP, right by the subway, Whole Foods, etc. etc. etc. So, as you can see, there are plusses and minusses in each dorm. Hers now doesn't have a dining hall but she is not on a meal plan this year anyway. Again, in Third North, the apartments vary. She had friends on other floors and in other towers of that same dorm who had bigger bedrooms and also their kitchens opened up to the common space and hers was more closed off. </p>
<p>I think you have to decide about location and also if he wants an apartment style dorm or a traditional room. Also, he may not get his first choice and so he has to list his choices in order of preference. For an apt. style dorm in Union Square, there is UHall. That is next to Palladium which has a dining hall and a gym! There is more stuff to do near Union Square in a way than in Washington Square and it is closer to CAP. But the dorms in Washington Square are closer to the academic classes. He just has to be prepared to walk no matter where he lives! That is NYC! </p>
<p>Next year, my D is living off campus and should be able to walk to academic classes I think, but would have to take a subway to Union Square and walk the remaining blocks to CAP21. </p>
<p>My D had had Third North as her first choice last year. She was pretty content. She lived, however, on the second floor and so the noise from the courtyard in nice weather was too noisy. But you can't pick your floor or unit in freshman year, just the building. Even then, you may not get your first choice of building. </p>
<p>Btw, her dorms last year and this year are air conditioned. I think there may be one or two freshmen dorms that are not. The NYU Housing website describes each dorm, with a map of location, and its amenities.</p>
<p>I hope that helps. While your son is at S in the S this weekend, he should ask around of current students, their opinions. Maybe someone is willing to even show him their room/dorm.</p>