<p>The dorms aren’t air conditioned (unless you need it, for a medical condition). It’s often a bit unpleasant for the first few weeks, but if you bring a good fan it’s really okay. </p>
<p>-“Best dorm” is going to vary based on what’s important to you. Swarthmore students mostly rate their dorms based on location and niceness, with the former being more important for most. But it’s really a matter of preference–some people would rather live someplace quiet in a big room with semi-private bathroom and breakfast served in the dorm, but a 15-minute walk to campus (ML); others would rather be in Willets, which is rowdy and social (and sometimes smelly) but much more centrally located. But I suppose the top two dorms in terms of desirability are Parrish and Wharton, with the New Dorms not far behind. </p>
<p>-Unless you have a documented medical condition requiring it, you won’t have a single as a freshman or sophomore. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Having a roommate can be difficult, but often it works very well, and it’s just considered part of the Swarthmore experience. </p>
<p>-Yes, there are stalls for the showers! There are typically cubbies against the walls to store shampoo, toothpaste, etc. And people don’t share, generally. It’s really not bad.</p>