More advice - housing?

OfEternity · 12-09-2005, 03:10 PM

I invite any current Columbia students to post what they know about the housing system and the halls. I'm so curious.

yoshi503 · 12-09-2005, 08:59 PM

As a first-year, you can choose from four residence halls. First, and most popular, is Carman, a suite-style dorm that never seems to go to sleep. It's on Broadway and Lerner Hall, the student center, is right next door. Second is John Jay, which is set up corridor-style and houses the dining hall and JJ's Place in its bottom levels. Those two dorms are reserved for first-years (John Jay has mostly singles and Carman has all doubles). Third is Hartley or Wallach, which comprise the Living and Learning Center. They house first years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the same suites, and have a few programs that focus on making lifelong friends (such as taking turns cooking for your suite). The last option is Furnald, the so-called "hotel dorm" that used to be senior turf, but now is reserved for freshmen and sophomores (sophomores usually get singles in Furnald, and freshmen get doubles).
You'll submit an online form with your choices in order of preference, and a lottery decides what you get from there. Over 75% get their first choice, though!

OfEternity · 12-09-2005, 09:09 PM

1- what's JJ's Place?

2- i hear people hate furnald

3- what is the Living and Learning Center?

4- i'm wondering if you can give pros and cons for each of the halls

thanks a bunch

yoshi503 · 12-09-2005, 09:41 PM

1. JJ's Place is a campus dining location that's open until 3 am. They sell all sorts of snacks, and sandwiches (the chicken parm sandwich is my fave), and pizza, and smoothies....

2. So far, everyone I know that lives in Furnald really like it. It's known for being less social than the other dorms, but each floor has lots of events to do together, like go down to 42nd St to see Harry Potter as a group (tickets are paid for). A lot of people say that they DON'T like Furnald because it's a bit competitive to get in.

3. Check out Columbia's description of the LLC at http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/resprograms/llc/

4.

Carman:
pros: you'll meet a lot of people your first year, it's air-conditioned, the elevators are fast, if you get a high floor (8+) you get beautiful views of manhattan or the campus, and it's 4 to each bathroom. it's also right next to lerner hall.
cons: it's not as nice-looking as the other dorms and you'll probably need to leave the dorm to study. Also, it's all doubles (but large ones!)

John Jay:
pros: you'll meet a reasonable amount of people your first year, it's mostly singles (and they're kinda small), and the health center and two dining locations are right downstairs. It has a nice lounge too, with a piano, and also has great views of the campus and of manhattan (and you'll have a better chance of getting a room with one than Carman).
cons: the elevator is insanely slow, and it doesn't go all the way up. also, there's no air conditioning, and since it's corridor-style, there's only one community bathroom per floor (for each gender)

Hartley-Wallach:
pros: you'll get to know upperclassmen right away and the suites have kitchens. most suites (of 11-16 people each) have two bathrooms, it's fully-carpeted, and suites are provided with cable tv at no extra charge
cons: the LLC isn't as big a deal as it sounds, and being a first-year in either one of these dorms guarantees you a double. the views aren't very nice either, and there's no air-conditioning

Furnald:
pros: it's pretty classy, and has a beautiful lounge. rooms have giant bulletin boards, so you can post whatever all over your wall. it's right next to lerner hall and right on broadway, as well.
cons: rooms are small, and there's one bathroom per floor for each gender. the views aren't nice, and are equal to hartley-wallach's. the elevator doesn't go to the top floor.

One thing I didn't mention before is that all of the first-year dorms are located on south campus to foster a sense of community right away. whichever dorm you're in, it's really nice to walk out and see almost nothing but first-years walking around.

OfEternity · 12-09-2005, 09:49 PM

wow thanks

phantom · 12-09-2005, 10:00 PM

I'd have to say many people have love or hate relationship with Furnald (reputedly "anti-social") and Carman (reputed "party-dorm"). For me, Carman was my last choice, but as someone else mentioned, its typically the most popular choice.

I wanted a single like no other, and my choices were 1. Furnald single, 2. JJ single, 3. LLC single, 4. Furnald double, 5. JJ double, 6. Carman double. I got into a Wallach single and I really do love the LLC. The upperclassmen are really nice and I enjoy the monthly activities our floor plans together (mandatory). I plan to reapply next year.

I may elaborate more at some pt, but am busy now...

bing121086 · 12-10-2005, 08:02 AM

I'm in a JJ single now--mine's about 128 sq feet. You can't do cart-wheels in here, but it's big enough for me, and I'm so glad I got a single. They say Carman is the social dorm, but that depends on your definition of social. If by social, you mean parties, then yes Carman, but if you live in JJ, you won't become a hermit in your single (you can if you want, but you don't have to). I have a great group of about ten or so friends, and all of them are from my floor.

soulofheaven8 · 12-10-2005, 11:30 AM

I lived in Furnald last year and am in Wallach now.

Furnald fit my lifestyle rather well. Unlike most people who go to the library when they have to study, I prefer to do that stuff in my room where I have easy access to books and my computer. Furnald, with thicker walls and the lounge closed-off to the corridor, was quiet enough for that purpose.

Wallach is also pretty quiet, but the first thing I noticed was that the walls are very permeable. I hear my neighbor's music all the time (as well as when she's talking on the phone with people, while in her room). That sometimes forces me to have to go to Butler to work. Another thing is that the common room in Wallach is open, and your individual rooms are right around the common room, so if there are people watching TV or doing stuff, you'll hear it.

As a freshman, you might want to consider the LLC. The LLC is your best (and more often that not, your ONLY) chance at getting a single your sophomore year. Having lived there your freshman year, your chances of being accepted as an upperclassman increases greatly. The LLC application is very competitive and most people who did not live there the year before weren't able to get in when they apply.

jzmagic · 12-10-2005, 12:22 PM

do people from carman typically study in their rooms or go to the library?

yoshi503 · 12-10-2005, 04:16 PM

The majority of people in Carman will either study as a group in the hallway or go to the library to study.

vgboy · 12-10-2005, 05:33 PM

what's the reason people go to the library instead of studying in their rooms, because their rooms are too loud?

soulofheaven8 · 12-10-2005, 05:42 PM

For some people it's a matter of habit (a psychological one at that). They see their dorms as places to chill, with a bed, a tv, a phone, a computer, a neighbor all within reach. Whereas in the library, they are surrounded by nothing but books, and wherever they look they see people working frantically. They have no escape, no distraction, and must focus solely on working. Of course, if one can maintain the library mindset while in his/her room, then it's probably wiser to stay in and save oneself the trouble of trekking back and forth.

computerspazette · 12-10-2005, 05:46 PM

So, if you're inclined to study in your room, you can do it in Carman?

vgboy · 12-10-2005, 05:46 PM

1. Are the dorms so old that the floor makes a noise?

2. Can you hear the music played in your neighbor?

3. How much does it cost to rent a room for a month in NYC?

Columbia2002 · 12-10-2005, 07:08 PM

Soulofheaven--You're missing part of it. People often go to the library to socialize. Unless it is finals time, there really isn't much studying going on in the library. Nobody is working "frantically" in October!

Vgboy-- Yes, the insulation is horrible. And the street noise is similarly bad. I suggest earplugs. You have to live on campus your freshman year, so renting in NYC isn't an option.

Computerspazette--I had a single every year and always studied in my room. I went to the library a total of 3 times in my time at Columbia. If you have a single and don't get distracted easily, then you'll be fine. Many people have a tendency to pick up the phone, IM their friends, take a nap, etc., if they study in their rooms.

Re: the LLC -- I was in the LLC during its first year of existence. I'm not sure if much has changed, but the "living and learning" stuff was a total joke. It was just another dorm. Supposedly everyone was supposed to plan 1-2 events or something, but nobody took the requirements seriously.