<p>I was accepted a couple days ago and I'm already thinking about housing! Does anyone have any opinions on the best option for freshman dorms? I know there is no real best seeing as everyone wants different things, I just want to hear about what each one is like, what's the vibe etc.</p>
<p>Someone just asked me about this in a PM so here is what I said. Naturally current students can give you a more experiential description.</p>
<p>Monroe and Sharp: nearly identical in layout and character. Both considered the typical freshman dorm, with hall bath arrangement. Compared to other dorms these are loud, lots of parties, relatively speaking. Monroe is 12 stories, co-ed by wing. Sharp is 4 stories in one part, 6 in the other if I remember right. Not sure how they divide the sexes. Pretty much all freshmen.</p>
<p>Butler: the honors dorm but others can ask to be in it. The quietest for sure, but can still be quite social. Hall bath, co-ed by floor. Brick wall interior which some think is cool. All freshmen other than RAs.</p>
<p>Paterson: the “wellness” dorm, really not that different from other dorms in terms of rules or anything, they just have more programs regarding nutrition, yoga, whatever. Suite style, it also has sophomores living there. People have reported that the lounge is cool here. Not sure what makes it better, but have heard that a few times. Co-ed either by floor or every other suite, not sure which.</p>
<p>Wall: newest dorm that takes freshmen, this is the “residential college” dorm. A professor and their family live in the dorm, and everyone living there has to participate on at least one committee, maybe it is even two. Suite style, co-ed every other suite. Requires an application to be chosen to live here, with an essay or two as part of that app. Very popular, but does take a small commitment to live here. Tulane is planning on going completely residential college style with its dorms over a 10-15 year period.</p>
<p>That’s all the choices for men. Women also have the choice of Josephine Louise (JL) which is all female. I will say up front that I have talked to dozens of young women that were mortified they got put in JL (and many do get placed there even if they don’t have it as a choice because there are more women than men at Tulane), but end up being very glad they were there after they see that it can be a great experience. Quieter than Sharp or Monroe, it also gives young women a place to get away from the guys if they want. It isn’t like men aren’t allowed in or anything, but naturally it does create a very different vibe. The rooms are all just a little different, it is IMO a great building. Many of the rooms, probably most if I remember correctly, have their own sinks. My D was there sophomore year in a single, in an area affectionately known as “the Deep”. She liked it very much.</p>
<p>I PMed you.</p>
<p>What is exactly required of you if you live in Wall? And what does “residential college” really mean? I’m sorry, someone has probably explained this before, but I’m still quite fuzzy on the concept.</p>
<p>Residential College refers to a system the UK uses most prominently at Oxford and Cambridge wherein the University is divided up into separate colleges and all students in that college reside there. Meals, dorms, and most activities are self-contained within that college, and there were one or more professors that would live there as well. While the system here uses the same terminology, it does not have so dramatic a separation from the rest of the university. There is a professor and his family (if he has one) that lives in the dorm. There is also a more cohesive feeling among the residents, fostered by activities for the residents only, and the requirement that all residents participate in the operation of the dorm in some fashion. That means serving on at least one committee, or maybe it is two. I’m not sure. Probably one.</p>