<p>I know this has been referenced lightly in the housing options thread, but can someone please explain this whole uphill downhill thing to me? Is it as a big of a deal as say Newton vs. Uphill at BC? How big of an impact does it have on life...is it hard to get back to your downhill dorm bewteen classes, do kids from each side socialize with each other, etc? Which one is (potentially) better and why?</p>
<p>It's really not that big of a division other than an extra 5 minutes of walking (which can do wonders with laziness). Typically people live where their friends will live, which breaks the common lore of "science" lives downhill and the humanities live uphill, which is true sometimes, but quite exaggerated.</p>
<p>My son is uphill (by luck of the draw this year and by choice next year) and is a Science 'n Music kid. Most of his friends are also science and/or music kids. Now, the science and music buildings are downhill. But, in the lottery for next year, most of his friends choose to stay uphill to be together, choosing Miller, Wren and Carmichael dorms. That should debunk that "science/downhill vs humanities/uphill" dichotomy. </p>
<p>He admits schlepping his sax downhill and going to early morning chem classes (they are scheduled crazy early in the morning!) can get to be a pain, especially in the winter, but there's always the Joey which stops downhill for really horrible weather days. </p>
<p>He says uphill's very friendly and he's made some great friends in Miller this year, his first at Tufts. He and his friends are looking forward to continuing hanging out in their uphill dorms together, especially getting together at meals in Carmichael. </p>
<p>And yes, he has made friends who live downhill too, but one tends to socialize a bit more frequently with the kids you live near.</p>
<p>Next year, one more uphill dorm, Hill Hall will be freshmen only, as is Houston, another uphill dorm. I think Tilton, which is downhill, is going to continue being all freshmen also. </p>
<p>BTW, the Tufts campus, though hilly, is relatively small. (I went to U of Michigan and it was impossible to get from point A to point B without getting onto a bus) At Tufts getting around by foot isn't a big deal, even for the buildings at the periphery of the campus, like the gym. My kid walks there each day and even though it's an extra 5 minutes to get to Davis from uphill vs downhill, he walks to Davis at least once a week. Like I said, in horrible weather, he takes the Joey. Getting around, whether one is uphill or downhill, is really no big deal.</p>
<p>Hope this is helpful.</p>
<p>Uphill no doubt! Superior location, 2/3 of the frosh class will be uphill, and carmichael stir fry! I've lived uphill for the last two years and I would do it again. I'm also a history major and all my classes are uphill, as a result, it was a much better location.</p>
<p>Vlad</p>
<p>Freshman have no choice so why even discuss pro's and con's of uphill vs. downhill? Except I guess if you select all freshman option your odds are greater to be uphill with the inclusion of Hill.</p>
<p>Downhill - Dewick has better food, and (at least in my day) Carmichael stir-fry was only on Tuesdays. I lived with my humanities friends, but was an engineer. Then again, no matter where you live, as an engineer, you walk a looong way to class.</p>
<p>I wish we could pick up or down hill!</p>