Housing - Page 5

Denzera · 03-27-2007, 10:04 AM

yeah you're right Shraf, i'm just saying for someone who's never lived with anyone, Carman is a real growing experience. And it's not like you and your roommate can't have an "understanding", it's just not quite AS convenient.

pearfire · 03-31-2007, 10:04 AM

Alright folks, I need some advice. I'm an only-child who is really sociable and makes friends very quickly. However, I need my quite place where I can get some studying done, and I can't concentrate in libraries for some reason. I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna pick JJ, so would it be odd if I hung out at Carman a lot? I'm thinking about just going there when I don't have to study since it seems to be the social place for freshmen, but would I be welcomed there? Do lots of non-Carman ppl hang out there?

ConfucianNemisis · 03-31-2007, 10:14 AM

Go for JJ. Hanging out in other dorms isn't particularly common, but not because it's odd. People tend to hang out on their own floor because that's where they develop a social network by default- proximity, habit, laziness, etc. Sometimes people will have enough friends on another floor that they spend more time there than their own floor- we definitely had some "honorary" members of our floor freshmen year! So yeah, don't limit yourself, go for what's comfortable, and I think JJ sounds right for you. If you want to be social, just prop your door open!

pearfire · 03-31-2007, 10:42 AM

Oh so you're not a Penn student, ^^. From the way that you worded your post in that one thread, I assumed that you were, hehe. Thanks for your advice, I think I'll go for JJ then.

crazyformints · 03-31-2007, 10:54 AM

I'd like to know how close all these 1st year housings are to each other.

By that, I mean, if you end up making really good friends who live in another dorm, would it be just like, a 2 second walk or a 10 minute trek?

ConfucianNemisis · 03-31-2007, 12:33 PM

No two buildings on Columbia's campus are even 10 minutes apart. Well, maybe the two farthest buildings...

All first year housing is around the south lawn quadrangle. It took me about 7 minutes to get from Carman to Pupin in the mornings, and that's about twice the distance between JJ and Carman.

These should illustrate:
http://www.columbia.edu/about_columb...er_library.gif

http://www.wikicu.com/Map_of_residence_halls

Switch to satellite and zoom in to get an even better idea.

Denzera · 04-01-2007, 11:18 AM

you could run from furnald to john jay completely naked in the middle of a blizzard and not even catch a cold.

collegebound5 · 04-01-2007, 02:48 PM

People who get John Jay have found the freshman year to be very isolating. The doors are heavy and don't stay open. Since they are singles and most of the doors are closed, it is hard to meet people.

SueInTheCity · 04-01-2007, 04:03 PM

I lived in John Jay my first year, but I absolutely love the LLC. It's like living in a Manhattan flat: cable tv that you don't have to share with 30+ people on your floor, a full kitchen, and a community with helpful upper class students. Sure Carman has its parties, but I'm not sure I would want to live in the noise and rancor that often ensues. Besides, then you may have to deal with a trashed room, hall, bathroom, etc...the lovely aftermath of those notorious Carman parties. You can definitely attend Carman parties living in the LLC...and then return home to a much cleaner and tranquil space. I have seen some fantastic LLC suites, by the way...

Skraylor · 04-02-2007, 10:19 AM

Quote:

People who get John Jay have found the freshman year to be very isolating. The doors are heavy and don't stay open. Since they are singles and most of the doors are closed, it is hard to meet people.

what???????

this is just so flagrantly false i dont even know what to say.....wow.....how about i just say one thing to this, ready?

doorstop.

Shraf · 04-02-2007, 02:05 PM

i agree with skraylor....no idea where collegebound is getting this ....i really enjoyed my time in JJ

sourpunchsk · 04-02-2007, 04:05 PM

I also have no idea where collegebound is getting his info. I am currently a resident of the lovely John Jay Hall (JJ9 reppin), and have not once found it to be "isolating." In fact, I seriously have to drag myself away from friends when I really need to get some work done or finally go to bed. The thing about John Jay is, its actually quiite social (including partying and whatnot), I just like to think that it's more on the DL (that's down-low for anyone who isn't as street as I, lol) in terms of social life. Sure, there aren't as many actual parties going on in JJ (it's more about the pre-gaming), but personally, I wouldn't really want to be having a legit party in my bedroom, u know?

Carman is a fun time, and I have mucho friends there as well, but I seriously can't imagine not being able to play my music whenever I wanted, walk in PJs and flip flops to JJ's Place at 3 AM (in the winter!) to get some snackage, have a 2-min walk to Hamilton (where so many classes are) if I've overslept a bit, be able to do "anything" in my own room, the list goes on. Also, in regards to John Jay being dingy - the bathrooms may not be 4-star (ok, they seriously are not the most beautiful), but to me (as well as many others) the "decor" of Carman is not too inviting (the mortar bricks may provide some sound insulation, but they are not too easy on the eyes). Also, as to the roof situation, if u have a friend (or live) on John Jay 15 on the street side, you can def take advantage of the "16th floor" (as they say) to um... knit, and other stuff.. that's legal...lol.

Either way, it is my opinion that all-freshmen housing is the way to go (JJ or Carman). Every person I've actually met who lives in Furnald is in a group of friends outside of Furnald, but if you're a quiet person who likes your living environment the same - it's your best choice. As for the LLC, I've talked to many people who were less than thrilled with the people in their suite, including people that have moved out - the small community is nice, but face the fact that you basically get stuck with 15 random people you may very well not like (Carman and John Jay have like 50 people per floor).

Well, good luck deciding, and more importantly, congrats on being able to decide (getting in)!

pearfire · 04-02-2007, 04:15 PM

"Also, in regards to John Jay being dingy - the bathrooms may not be 4-star"
Could you elaborate on this? I don't mind simple bathrooms, but I hope they're clean right?

sourpunchsk · 04-02-2007, 04:29 PM

The bathrooms in John Jay are cleaned regularly, so it's really not about that, unless you have some dirty people on your floor. They're just... more focused on function than beauty. In general, no one really walks barefoot in the bathroom, just for caution. Also, this is coming from the perspective of a girl, and I have seen that the guys bathrooms aren't as nice.

pearfire · 04-02-2007, 04:34 PM

Oh great news, I wish I was a girl now, or wait not really, but you get what I mean,

. Are all the floors co-ed? Also, didn't one of the halls have co-ed bathrooms?