<p>Hey guys I am transferring into Cornell as a junior next fall. I will be attending ILR and I was wondering what the best housing for transfer students is? I've been reading a lot about West Campus Housing but I want to hear about other options. I don't want to live somewhere too quiet, I would like a social atmosphere. I would prefer a suite to meet new people but I would like to hear thoughts on both suite and corridor. I also don't want to be too far away from everything since I am a transfer student and want the full experience of the campus and its students. Any opinions and comments are welcome, I appreciate the help!</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I too have heard that west campus is great. I’ve visited their multiple times, and the dorms are good looking and new. The transfer community is strong their too. </p>
<p>It’s not too far from everything, although climbing the slope can be a pain. </p>
<p>Other than that, I think transfers have the option to live in a residence hall on north campus.</p>
<p>For transfers, I’d recommend not living on North, since that’s mostly freshmen. West Campus is pretty great, there’s a mix of old and new buildings, but I believe there’s enough transfer that there’s a community there. As for social atmosphere though, it can vary - there are some houses/floors/years where it can be really social, and others where it can be quite quiet. You might want to consider a collegetown dorm too- there may be less transfers, but you’d be in collegetown, which is busier and may have more things to do. At the same time, if you want the “on campus” experience, West might be a better place.</p>
<p>So would you say that West Campus is more on the campus scene than the Residence Halls? I heard Cascadilla is also a good option for transfers. I want to be part of what’s going on and get involved in my community.</p>
<p>So I’ve already decided on West Campus. Any suggestions on which Houses are the best?</p>
<p>Isn’t it all random? You can put preferences but other than that, we’re not guaranteed a specific place. You can put West Campus first, but you can’t select specific houses.</p>
<p>@jayablu14, Hi thanks for starting this thread! I’m also a junior fall transfer for CAS…I’ve done the housing, but didn’t know which of the West dorms were good or not, I think I just left the preferences blank…hopefully, I can go back and change it once I decide :)</p>
<p>Housing options all suck. I know I’m generalizing, but it’s mostly weird people who live on West or Casc. The majority of students find off-campus housing with friends or join Greek organizations after freshman year. The type of people who live on West, then, are usually antisocial or weird people.</p>
<p>Socially:
Cascadilla is better than West. It’s dorm style so you at least know a lot of people on your floor. And given that you are not going to be in a fraternity or sorority starting out, it’s closer to a lot of your social-scene options such as bars or collegetown parties. I see that you’re a junior - you’ll have a lot more fun bar hopping in collegetown.
West is really quiet and studious, with most of the residents seeming kind of nerdy. Suites are also really insular. People tend to be close with their suitemates but not know any of their hallmates. </p>
<p>Amenities:
Cascadilla is terrible. You are required to be on a meal plan and it’s as expensive as the West Campus meal plan except that your only options to eat are at Okenshields (terrible) or West Campus (quite a walk). You can’t beat the convenience of walking downstairs and eating in your dining hall.
You’re going to be wasting a lot of money eating at CTB if you live in Casc as you will be too lazy to walk to a dining hall (ie you waste your money and meal swipes). </p>
<p>Cost:
It’s actually unfair that people in Cascadilla pay the same amount for housing as people on West. Dorms in Cascadilla are all doubles and are rather cramped. If you live on west, you will most likely get a single and - at worst - get a double. </p>
<p>You may luck out and get a suite of really cool guys or an interesting and fun floor, but you are equally likely to get a group of awkward people and a stiflingly quiet floor. </p>
<p>I suggest you join a fraternity or participate in close-knit clubs/club sports in order to free yourself from the sexless, depressing hellhole that is non-Freshman undergraduate housing. As a junior, if you ever considered joining a frat, fall rush is probably a better idea than spring rush, as if you rush in the spring you’ll have only 1 year to be in the fraternity, as opposed to having 1.5 years (also a lot of fraternities frown upon taking junior spring pledges). </p>
<p>P.S. Don’t live on North. You’ll be like a black sheep. </p>
<p>Also shameless plug, you should do Outdoor Odyssey.</p>