Suite or Traditional Style Dorm, I Must Decide

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>I would like to know what everyone's expereince was if they lived in a traditional dorm or a suite. My college gives the option of chosing between a suite style dorm where there are 3 or 4 rooms comprised of two people in each that share a bathroom and small living area. They also offer the tradional option where there are a bunch of rooms on the floor and one large male and seperate female bathroom. I have felt that I would like to live in the suite option because I would much rather have the private bathroom for only 6 or 8 people. My concern is that when I went on the tour, my guide said that she lived in a suite and then switched after a semester. She said that people are more secluded in the suite and in traditional, everyone hangs out with eachother. I would greatly appreciate it if someone thinks that this is true or if their experience states otherwise in order for me to hear others views and opinions. I have to decide in the next few weeks. Thanks.</p>

<p>What your guide said is generally true, at least in my experience. If you’re a freshman I would go for a traditional dorm just because it’s easier to meet a lot of different people that way.</p>

<p>Opt for the suite after your first year if you are still allowed the option. You do become a bit secluded.</p>

<p>Of course, there are other ways to meet people – like through clubs and classroom activities, but I think living in a traditional dorm your freshman year will be best.</p>

<p>My school offers both suite and traditional style dorms. I’ve lived in suite dorms for the last 2 years and I haven’t found any problems whatsoever with making friends within the dorms/on my floor. It was so nice not to have to drag all my stuff to a communal bathroom, plus just for the privacy aspect it is better. I think it depends on the person - if you are generally an outgoing person you will have no problems in the suite style dorms. Plus if you keep your doors open in the suite a lot of people are a lot more apt to pop in and say hello. You’ll be fine either way…but some people do need that extra push to be social - and would be better off in a traditional dorm with community bathrooms.</p>

<p>I lived in suite-style the first two years. I lived offcampus my junior year at college. Right now I am staying on another campus living in a community-style dorm and already hate it! It’s only been since Friday and I’m here until August 7. One thing I don’t like is they clean the bathrooms every morning— between 6:30 and 7:30AM. Well, if I have to be at work at 8AM, then I have to go find another floor that isn’t being cleaned. Today I had to go to the basement where there happens to be a semi-private bathroom and shower. Also, just the fact that I have to walk down the hall to get water, or do anything else really…</p>

<p>Would the dorm and the suite be first-year only dorms (disregard if you’re not a first-year)? If so, I don’t think it will make too much of a difference, as everyone will be looking to make friends anyway. If not, I would agree with the other posters that said go for the traditional dorm if you’re a first year and a suite if you’re not. </p>

<p>In my experience, upperclassmen tend to try to get entire suites for their group of friends, which is great if you have friends you want to live with. The downside is that these kinds of suites tend to be more insular. Traditional dorm layouts better facilitate the free flow of people IMO. In my freshman dorm, I always left my door open (except when I needed to buckle down) and everyone else did the same, so it was super easy to meet new people without feeling like I was crossing some sort of boundary.</p>

<p>I can’t tell you from experience, since I’m going to be an incoming freshman this fall, but I did choose the suite type. And I had no problem choosing that at all.</p>

<p>My sister lived in the residence hall style, and she said the bathroom was disgusting (but that may be because it was a coed floor and bathroom). But honestly, I hate public bathrooms in general, and it would seriously suck to have to come home to one.</p>

<p>If you’re not too picky about bathrooms, you may want to choose the residence hall style to meet more people.</p>

<p>I agree, go with the traditional style dorm first year and pick a suite the other years. I lived in an apartment first year and I felt like I didn’t meet as many people as I could’ve if I lived in a traditional style dorm.</p>