<p>In response to housing, there are certain stereotypes/self-fulfilling prophecies for each dorm. I’ll give you a quick run-down:</p>
<p>Max Palevsky and South Campus are the more “normal” dorms - normal as opposed to quirky and unique (UChicago-style). If you want the typical college experience, you’ll find it here. Both have reputations for being the “party” dorms and typically attract those who are more social and outgoing. Of course, this does NOT mean that EVERYONE is a crazy partier. There will be a mix of personalities in every dorm. But I really don’t know anyone who would disagree that Max and South are the dorms to be for those fond of partying. </p>
<p>Max in particular houses a lot of athletes/jocks because it’s right next to the gym (Ratner). South, on the other hand, is notorious for attracting Asians. Especially Koreans. The joke is that English is the second language there. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy more than anything else, but if you want to be surrounded by Asians, South is paradise. </p>
<p>Since I live in Max, I’ll describe the physical set-up in detail. The rooms in Max are all suites. A suite constitutes a foyer area (that is too small to be really considered anything other than an entrance way), two rooms (with two people in each room), and two half-bathrooms. So, four people share two rooms and two mini-bathrooms. One mini-bathroom constitutes a shower and sink, and the other a toilet and sink. It’s pretty convenient. The only downside is that YOU have to clean the bathrooms yourself. The cleaning crew does clean them at the end of each quarter, but trust me, you don’t want to wait that long.
[Side note: There ARE suites with only two people (one person to a room), but those are essentially reserved for upperclassmen, so don’t get your hopes up.] </p>
<p>South is gorgeous and looks like a hotel. There are no suites, just rooms (and a few apartments). Rooms are mostly doubles, but I do know first-years with single rooms. Bathrooms are communal but from my experience are pretty clean. Not groddy at all. </p>
<p>Pierce is the dingy, honey-combed building and has crappy rooms, but it has a GREAT community. This probably has to do with the size of the rooms (They’re small!); it forces everyone to hang out in the communal spaces. Nonetheless, I don’t know any dorm with as tight and friendly a community. I prospied there and even though the rooms, bathrooms, etc. were less than appealing, I put it as my third choice because the atmosphere is so warm and welcoming. I live in Max now, but I go to the Pierce dining hall frequently just to revel in that atmosphere again. </p>
<p>I don’t know terribly a lot about the other dorms, but I do know that Burton-Judson and Snell-Hitchcock are considered more “classic UChicago.” Then there’s Maclean, Stony Island and Broadview, which are the “really far-away” dorms. I don’t have much to say about them except that 1) You rarely meet people from those dorms (because they’re so far away) 2) Hardly anyone intentionally chooses to live there. Stony Island does have nice apartment-style rooms, however, and you can find apartment parties going on there pretty much every weekend. The dorm is also know as “Stoner Island” - hint hint wink wink for those of you into that. </p>
<p>That’s about it. Let me know if you have any other questions - Max in particular, seeing as I live there. :)</p>