RochesterMom

Anyone know when the housing information is supposed to come? Any recommendations on which dorm/house is better for freshmen and why?

iceikle252

I am a rising senior--here's a bit of info on first-year housing options:

Page (Dorm)- A bit out of the way. Doubles and triples. All class years. Mixed gender. You will have a great time if you have amazing people living on your floors. It has one of the largest common rooms and is often the sight of parties and occasional concerts.

Parker (Dorm)- In the center of campus. Doubles and triples. All class years, although mostly freshmen. Mixed gender. A bit older than many of the other dorms. Many people love the central location of Parker and enjoy their time living there as freshmen.

Smith (Dorm)- Central location. Two-room forced quads. Male and female by floor. All freshmen. It is cramped and not the place I would recommend living. Some love it, some hate it, it does have the best location though, especially with the new dining hall.

New Residential Village (Dorm)- Beautiful although a bit out of the way. Low-chem (no major parties, except in the basement). Has study rooms, beautiful laundry rooms, high ceilings in the bedrooms, full kitchen, and a fireside lounge. Doubles. Mixed gender. All class years (many upper classmen live in singles on the top floor). People who live love it, although it is a lot more sterile than other buildings on campus. 2 plasmas on each floor.

Rand Hall (Dorm)- Low chem, right next to the new residential building so it is easy to use their study spaces. Doubles and triples. Mixed gender. All class years. Over all very nice building, although very quiet. Big screen TV in the common room.

Claeson (House)- Chem-free. Doubles. Mixed gender. Freshmen only. Those who choose a chem free lifestyle seem to appreciate this house. Students have very close relationships and do not branch out much.

Milliken (House)- Doubles. Mixed gender. Freshmen only. House as well. Everyone gets very close, often there is drama between house mates.

walkthewalk

Thanks so much for the lowdown on the dorms. Insight from a current student (and a rising senior to boot) is really valuable to incoming freshmen. I'm less worried about which dorm I'll be placed in and more concerned about being matched with a compatible roommate. I'm an only child and have never lived with someone else in such close quarters, except for camp (but that's only a few weeks, not an entire school year). Any info on how we're matched up? I'm sure there's a roommate survey, but what kind of questions does it include?

Batesie

Hi there,

Another current Batesie here [congrats!] No need to be concerned about roommate assignment, though I know I was too. Yep, there's a roommate survey that comes with the packet to submit housing preferences and stuff like that. It's been a while since I did the survey, but as I remember, it has some pretty practical stuff on it such as when you go to bed and if you tend to like the room hotter or colder than most people. Also has some interest-y things like music you listen to, sports/activities, partying/alcohol preferences, etc. Sorry, wish I could remember more specifics!

Housing really tries to match up roommates that they think will be functional and work overall -- it's not a quick, "Oh, you both like music X so that'll work." I know people who got lucky and became very close friends with roommates and others who had a conflict and are now civil when they see each other but wouldn't love hanging out together. Of course, those are the extremes, and I can think of all lot more people on the happier end of that spectrum than not. Once you're there, the best advice I can give you is that communicating with each other is the most important thing you can do to avoid conflict.

Best of luck! As always, let us know if we can answer any other questions.