<p>I am assigned a Thomas double in the McLaughlin cluster. Can someone describe to me how this dorm looks like, the students who live there etc.</p>
<p>Not sure which floor your on, so here's a link to the floor plans of Mclaughlin McLaughlin</a> Cluster
They seem to be very nice dorms, and are the newest on campus. I'm assuming you're a '13 so you'll be with all other freshman on your floor, so really the students who live there are just the ones to be assigned there by the all mighty ORL :P</p>
<p>My 2012 son was there last year and they are very very nice; lounge area with kitchen across the hall; bathrooms right outside your door shared by 2 or 3 suites; can be configured as double room or bedroom and living space.</p>
<p>You will have a very nice dorm. McLaughlin is the 5 Star Hotel of Dorms on campus. Rooms aren't huge or anything, but they are certainly a decent size. Like was mentioned, you and your roommate can do two bedrooms, in which case the inner room will be the slightly smaller one and have both closets, or you can put both beds in the inner room and make the outer room a lounge type area. The McLaughlin dorms are connected, so Thomas, Byrne II and Goldstein are like one building. Your entire floor in Thomas will be fellow freshmen, but the corresponding floor in Byrne II or Goldstein could be upperclassmen. Your floormates will be as assigned by ORL, so its hard to predict a type.</p>
<p>^^Can you tell me how sub free housing works? I saw an article from about 4 years ago that said there were requests from 40% of the incoming freshmen for sub free housing. Does that sound right? Also, is it in several dorms on a floor by floor basis or is one dorm completely sub free? Thanks.</p>
<p>Hey, good question. Sub-free housing is done on a floor by floor basis without any dorms being completely sub-free. However, it is important to note sub-free does not necessarily mean that students there never go drinking (plenty of freshman decide to change their mind after a short time). So be prepared for the reality that your "sub-free" floor won't be completely sub free. However, it is assumed that people on sub-free floors will, in general, be a bit more respectful of those people around them who don't wish to participate (though in practice things might not be perfect). I'm sure if you'll do some digging you'll be able to find the floors designated sub-free for 2010-2011on the ORL website soon. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.</p>
<p>-Spunaugle</p>
<p>what do u think about east wheelock?</p>
<p>I actually lived in the East Wheelock Cluster my freshman year and would definitely not change that. There was rumors there is a social stigma with the EW clusters, and I would say that is true only among those people who you probably don't want to be friends with in the first place (as fun as it is to "earn" friends by your perceived coolness). The rooms are very nice and spacious, and the semi-private bath set-up 3 out of the 4 buildings in EW have are quite nice. The programming by the cluster is also pretty cool if you want to take advantage of it. Also, the fact it has its own snackbar open until 2am is pretty much awesome. I can't say how many times some quick starbucks from the fridges there has saved me during studying. If you have any more specific questions about East Wheelock I'll certainly answer to the best of my ability.</p>
<p>-Spunaugle</p>
<p>I've heard that the East Wheelock freshmen experience is different from the typical freshmen dorm experience. Is that true? I know East Wheelock only accepts a small portion of the freshmen class, so I would assume that you would be limited in your interaction with other freshmen. Are there freshman only floors in East Wheelock? Also, are there generally more anti-social people at East Wheelock?</p>
<p>I would say it is only different if you make it to be, and all the ways it was different from the norm were positives. In the past it was true that East Wheelock required an application from freshman; however, this changed this year, and pretty much anyone who applies (and likely some who don't) will be admitted to East Wheelock. However, this does not limit your interaction with other freshman at all (at least no more than living any where else would). And there are absolutely freshman floors. All floors freshman live on are freshman only, so you will still have the opportunity for a floor bonding experience, like you might anywhere else. The anti-social thing is a tricky question. If by anti-social do you mean kids who are less likely to go to frats every weekend night? If so, the answer is yes (though there are certainly a good number of EW kids who still go to the frats and are even members). If you mean are there more kids likely to be involved in nothing except school? I would say absolutely not. In fact, it amazed me how involved EW students were in general. They may go out and rage slightly less, but they certainly make up for it with involvement in other organizations. And if you're really concerned about fratting being a major part of your freshman experience, you will certainly be able to find like minded people both in and out of EW. My major advice would be not to let the fear of being "labeled" keep you from going for EW. The rumors that spread about that are very overblown, and I was never once seriously labeled in any way simply for living in EW.</p>
<p>-Spunaugle</p>
<p>Ok thank you spunaugle. </p>
<p>I was also wondering, while you were living at East Wheelock, did you feel like that the freshemn floors and the people living there were very close knit?</p>