What are the best dorms for a freshman LSA student? I want a social scene as well as nice rooms.
The dorms on the Hill are considered pretty nice in amenities (except for Markley) and pretty social (especially Markley).
I’d say a majority would choose a Hill dorm if given a choice ( you’re not). A substantial number of others would ask for south or west. Only a tiny minority ( my guess well under 5 percent would ask for North.
East Quad has a reputation for being really cool. Most of the residents are from the Residential College (which has classrooms in East Quad), so it’s a neat mixture of residence and classroom. It was also recently renovated. If you are in the RC, you must live there your freshman year and will be automatically allocated.
If you are in the RC you must live there for two years.
@blprof You can request not to live in the RC for two years at the end of your first year. I have friends who just got approved to live off campus for financial reasons for their sophomore year.
Markley is really gross and the Hill is nice, just kinda far in the winter. Central campus dorms are the best, if you do RC, you get guaranteed East Quad which has the best location, good social scene and good food.
@collegestressin I agree. You can petition to be allowed to leave off-campus your second year if you are in the RC. That said, part of the RC’s charm is that it is a residential college. Few want to move out. East Quad is a great dorm and location.
North Quad is brand new and has the nicest rooms, and South Quad was just renovated and is supposed to have the best food (you can eat at any dorm) . The North Campus dorms are dated but convenient for the engineers, musicians and architects.
^ Fast forward at least a couple years. NQ was brand new a few years ago and SQ has been renovated a couple years ago. 