<p>I've read a little about the new house system that's being created on west campus, but I have heard few student opinions on it. </p>
<p>For those of you who attend Cornell or are very familiar with it, what do you know of how the house system is developing? Do students like it? Is the 'community' they keep hoping for really appearing? I'd love to hear any other things you know or have heard about it.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>For those who do not join greek houses or who do not want to live in collegetown sophomore or junior year the west campus housing system is great. It is a lot better than the old "Class of" buildings that were there previously. The great thing about all the new houses on west is that they are brand new and their facilities are top notch and clean. You also have your own dining hall in your house. You can just wake up and walk downstairs to eat and go right back to your room. Additionally, the houses offer a great deal of cultural programing, shows, and guest speakers.</p>
<p>i've never lived on west, but been to Bethes and can say the rooms are little bigger than the ones in CKB/Mews. I think some rooms have built in ceiling fans. And the dining halls on west are much more comfortable and less crowded.</p>
<p>I think the community ideal is slowly coming along, as it still in its infancy. It really takes a full "generation" of college students to go through a system before an institutional memory persists. Next year will be the first year that all five houses are opening and functioning. So once all houses have been around for 3-4 years, and no student on campus remembers anything else, then we'll be talking.</p>
<p>It's funny, my first year on campus was the first year that all campus were on North. So this year's graduating class was the first year that everybody on in the class never interacted with somebody who knew Cornell differently. And for the Class of 2001, it was a bit tough, as the student clubs didn't quite know how to recruit without having upperclasmen in the dorms around the freshmen. So there were some growing pains involved.</p>
<p>That said, everything I have observed indicates that students are much happier in the houses and feel that they have a "home" on campus, much like students in the fraternities, co-ops, and program houses. I think a problem that will be faced in the future is that there will be too much demand for the houses (only 1800 beds) and Cornell will have to develop some sort of application system, much like what exists for Risley now.</p>
<p>But even though there may be a lot of demand for beds on campus, I am a huge proponent of living off-campus, especially when you are a senior.</p>
<p>I'm sorry if this is unrelated to the thread, but could you please elaborate on the off-campus living experience in Ithaca, CayugaRed2005?</p>
<p>I lived in Bethe last year when it first opened. At that point, it wasn't officially part of the House system, but I did obviously experience the residential part by living there. I found the house to have absolutely no sense of community whatsoever. In fact, not one person from my hall ever introduced themselves to me. I also never once saw two people socializing in the hallway. If I had to wager a guess, I'd say there's a handful of people in the Houses that are active in the community aspect. But for most everyone else, it's simply a dorm with a dining hall.</p>
<p>This is also off-topic, but a quick question for CayugaRed2005. What exactly are you doing right now? Do you have a job, grad/med school? I'm asking because you seem to post here incredibly often and your posts are often very detailed.</p>
<p>I work for a Fortune 500 company as a quantitative analyst. I live with my parents as I have some health problems and can't live on my own. I work from home most days. I always liked counseling people, and I liked Cornell, so this works. I probably should be writing the next great American novel or something with all of my spare time.</p>
<p>I actually dated a girl from Bethe before it became part of the house system, and she agreed with dontno's assessment. But from what I gather, the houses are developing a sense of community for those who want it.</p>
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I'm sorry if this is unrelated to the thread, but could you please elaborate on the off-campus living experience in Ithaca
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<p>I can't speak for everybody, but most students get together with a group of friends and rent an apartment or a house in collegetown. The quality of the living situation ranges from passable to third world level, but everybody generally gets a single, and you have a lot of fun cooking together, throwing parties, pulling together impromptu barbecues, playing games, and generally just living the good life. I generally lived below Stewart Ave., which a lot of people wouldn't consider Collegetown (it's maybe a six minute walk from College Ave and Dryden), but we had tons of space and a beautiful porch.</p>
<p>The best part of living off-campus for students instead of dorming is that it creates a 'home away from home', much like joining a Greek organization, co-op, or program house. Previously, the class halls didn't really offer this. But the idea is that the residence halls will.</p>
<p>I know that most students who live off-campus are incredibly happy. I lived off-campus for three years and never looked back.</p>
<p>I lived off-campus my senior year and although I lived alone in a studio...it was a great experience. And...best part, living off campus can be much less expensive than living in Cornell housing.</p>
<p>Yeah. I always loved the kids who complained about off-campus living expenses. Maybe if you live right at the corner of College and Dryden.</p>
<p>But otherwise, if you can get a multi-bedroom place below Stewart, in the Belle-Sherman neighborhood, or off of North Campus, rents will probably be in the area of $400 a room. That's less than $5k for the entire year, and you get the added bonus of being able to spend the summer in Ithaca free of charge!</p>
<p>haha...I was one of the fools who lived near the corner of College and Dryden...still worth every penny though.</p>
<p>I have my apartment until august...I plan to use it as my weekend getaway :-)</p>
<p>College ave is alway going to be the most expensive because it is prime location. Dryden is always going to be expensive for the same reason. People usually find affordable housing on streets like Eddy, up Dryden (up from CTP), Catherine, Cook, Highland. I personally would never live below Eddy (on Stewart) because the walk is too much (even though the pricing is great).</p>
<p>Cornell recently posted a video on the west campus system: Far</a> Above... The Campaign for Cornell</p>
<p>i lived on west this past year.</p>
<p>cons:
-the gothics still exist. these are very old buildings with much crappier/nonexistant facilities than the new buildings - i had to walk to another building to do everything, even laundry!
-many people would call it antisocial. most people generally stuck with friends they knew before instead of meeting new people on west. except the transfers, who got placed in similar areas and were more willing to make new friends.
-constant construction, but this should be done soon. i was always breathing in dust and going deaf from all the construction
-fills up quick during housing lottery. so don't count on getting to live there with your friends unless you have a really good lottery number.</p>
<p>pros:
-new buildings are sweeet. everything a college student ever needs right where they live. a lot of special programs/events
-awesome location. super close to central campus esp. if you go to uris library a lot. its a 3 minute walk up the hill and you're on the arts quad.
-very relaxed about dorm rules, unlike north campus</p>
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the gothics still exist. these are very old buildings with much crappier/nonexistant facilities than the new buildings - i had to walk to another building to do everything, even laundry!
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<p>They are damn pretty from the outside.</p>
<p>The funny thing is that at UVa, seniors elected to an honor society or something get the privilege of living on the lawn in rooms that feature inadequate heating and the need to walk outside to go to the shower. But the kids kill themselves to get in.</p>
<p>Maybe Cornell should institute a similar policy.</p>
<p>The gothics are beautiful buildings..it's too bad the same can't be said for the inside.</p>
<p>Maybe that will be my alumna gift when I make my millions....either that, or a named scholarship :-)</p>