Hi everyone!
I am attending Porter’s next year, and I was wondering if someone, current student, alum, or parent, could answer some questions I have about dorm life.
- What item(s) would you recommend bringing that is/are not on the dorm room packing list?
- How does one manage homesickness? How do the dorm parents come into play when it comes to homesickness?
- What are the dorms like (big, small, old-fashioned, modern, etc)?
- How are the girls there? I know it may sound like a stupid question, but I want honesty. Is Porter’s super cliquey? Are people genuinely nice, or nice in a way that’s fake?
I will probably have more questions later on, but for now, if anyone could answer these, that would be great!
Thank you!
BlueCA16
Congratulations on your acceptance! Can’t wait to see you on campus!
1.) I would say most of the things outlined in the packing list is all you need. DEFINITELY bring a fan (it can get extremely hot in the dorms, especially if you’re on the third floor). All dorms rooms are equipped with a desk, drawers for clothes, a closet, and a mirror so the basics are all provided.
2.) I personally have never felt homesick from Porter’s because the community there is very close-knit like a family, but if you ever do get homesick, each dorm has two three JAs (Junior Advisors) who are always open for anyone to talk to. If I ever had a problem, I could always go to a JA and talk to them and 100% of the time, I felt better! If you would rather talk to someone else, you can always approach your dorm mom (my dorm mom was amazing whenever I got stressed out) or your advisor (Literally will become your second mom to talk to!)
3.) I would say the dorms are slightly outdated (no AC) but there has been a renovation for the bathrooms, so they are SUPER clean. They may look a bit old from the outside (some of the houses are from 1843), but the inside is relatively new-ish. In terms of sizes, it depends which dorm you live in; I find New Place to be the largest and Keep to the the smallest.
4.) This is not a stupid question at all! It honestly depends how you decide to socialize; there are some (very few) cliquey girls, but every school will have cliquey people. There are also others who hangout with literally everyone in the school. I find Miss Porters to be a mix of different personalities, so some personalities may not click, but everyone is really nice, and for the most part, everyone is friends with one another, it’s just a matter of who’s a bit closer to you (at least for me).
If you have anymore questions please feel free to DM me!
LOL. There are relatively few dorms in the Northern US, either in HS or college, that have AC.
To the OP: I’m assuming you didn’t visit? Because Q. 3 and 4 would most likely have been answered on a visit.
Also, strikes me as a little late in the game to be asking 4…what if wintergirl898’s response had been “OMG, they are terrible…so mean!”…would you have changed your matriculation plans?
Were you a late applicant/admit? Did you get in off a waiting list?
@BlueCA16 whatever your circumstances, congratulations and best wishes!
@wintergirl898 Thank you so much! I really appreciate all the info!
@SevenDad I did visit, but in early fall so I don’t remember much. As for question 4, I was just curious, and whether the school is cliquey or not would not have changed my opinion on Porter’s. I was not a late applicant, and was never on the waiting list.
@AppleNotFar Thank you very much!
Hey!
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Like wintergirl said, definitely definitely definitely bring at least one fan. Somewhere on here this is a big master list for packing for boarding school in general and that is what I followed my freshman year. It turned out to be wayyy too much stuff and I never really used the majority of it. In the years following I have brought minimal items and then bought whatever else I needed. If i were you, I would follow the porter’s list and then order things when you get there if you see fit. Also bring snacks lol. It also depends on whether you will be a long distance boarder/int’l student or a local boarder? I can give you more specialized tips if you message me privately.
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I live close enough that I can go home for a weekend every month or so and that has really made all the distance. I think it truly depends on what kind of support you need in your life. I am a very social person so for the most part I find solace in hanging out with my friends and really just leaving my homesickness behind. It is easy to dwell on nostalgia and such if you sit alone in your dark dorm room, so I would say as long as you immerse yourself in the community it should not be a huge issue. Beyond that, there are always JA’s which I find to be the most useful resource, as well as dorm parents, advisors, and coaches.
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No AC!! Our rooms are pretty big though. Unless you get the rat hole in Main. Pray you don’t get the rat hole.
4)I’m not going to lie and say there are not cliques. For the first half of freshman year everyone is still getting used to Porter’s and there will be a lot of ups and downs with your social life. I guarantee that the people you hang out with during Orientation and stuff will not be the same people you are best friends with for the next four years. By sophomore year everyone has mellowed out and friend groups are mostly solidified. However, these friend groups are not synonymous with exclusivity. In my time at Porter’s I have never found myself in the dining hall with no idea where to sit. Everyone is really friends with everyone, except for those 3 or 4 people in every grade who put in the effort to distance themselves and actively try to be a clique. The only thing is, you have to be verrryyy careful with what you put on social media because there are an alarming number of snitches.
That being said, as cliché as it may sound, my favorite thing about Porter’s is the community and the support the girls show for each other. Do not be too worried, I am sure your experience will be incredible.
Message me with any more questions!!