<p>My D applied for Parkside but has been assigned to Trojan Hall. She is an incoming freshman who would like the dorm experience but also would like some quiet environment to study. Also, she does not smoke and cannot stand smoke. How is Trojan Hall?</p>
<p>Trojan generally has one of the so-so reputations but it depends on what your daughter makes of it during her time there. It is traditional style and she will get the dorm experience that she wants. It should generally be quiet at night and if anything, she can walk over to Leavey library which is open 24 hours a day for quiet study time.</p>
<p>As for smoking, I wouldn’t worry too much about that. People usually smoke in certain areas or away from most people.</p>
<p>I always struggle with these ‘dorms’ questions. The vast majority of residents in the dorms are freshman. As they move up the ladder more and more students move off campus. So a dorms’ reputation is built on the people who lived there for one or possibly two years. As the players change so does the experience. Except for amenities it seems hard to tell how a particular dorm is going to be to live in. Outside of Honors and Athletic dorms, how can anyone project a particular dorm experience’?</p>
<p>Vinceh has a point, especially with the large changes the admitted student body has gone under in the last 5 years. However, people still pick housing based on the stereotypes, which somewhat continue them.</p>
<p>Trojan Hall will probably be a good balance for what your D wants. She wouldn’t really get the dorm experience in Parkside due to suites, unless she was out going to achieve that. However, Trojan Hall is not a loud place compared to a number of other freshmen dorms. She’ll be able to study in peace. And smoking shouldn’t be an issue. If anyone is actually smoking inside, she can contact her RA or any authority figure to take care of it. Wherever she ends up, in the end, it will be what she makes of it.</p>