For many college freshmen, living in a dorm is something they’ve never experienced before. With the exception of boarding schools and brief summer enrichment programs at various colleges, dorm life is unique to undergraduates. It has its ups and downs; living with your friends and acquaintances can be both exciting and exhausting. PC is also unique in that all freshman housing is single-sex. Having gone to an all-boys high school, I had an easy transition. For others, the adjustment takes a little longer.
Allow me to take the liberty of saying that PC’s freshman residence halls are less than stellar. They get the job done–you’ll have a bed, a desk, a dresser, and some kind of closet, along with electricity and internet access–but the rooms fall short of many competitor schools that have newly built/renovated residence halls. (The biggest drawback: no air conditioning.) Keep in mind that many of the upperclass halls (suites and apartments) border on being hotels, so you definitely have something to look forward to.
That being said, the Office of Residence Life tries its best to make your transition to college a smooth one. Every student fills out a housing application upon enrolling at PC, where you can list your building (click here for a list) and room-type (single, double, triple, quad) preference. You’ll also be asked questions like your typical bed time, study habits, and whether you are organized or not-so-organized. This application is also where you’ll have the opportunity to write down any comments that will help Res Life match you with the best roommate(s), such as hobbies or sports that you might want in common with your roommate(s).
I myself requested a double in McDermott Hall (the best dorm in terms of location), which I got. Tip: fill out your housing app ASAP because you’re more likely to get your first-choice housing. I also wanted a roommate who was very neat and organized (AKA borderline OCD, like me), which I also got.
This year, I decided to live in a single in Fennell Hall because I missed having my own space, even though I had no complaints about my year in McDermott. Here are some pictures from my dorm at the beginning of the year (rug not included…all floors are tile):
View from the threshold of my single room in Fennell Hall.
View of my bed, the window, and the (outdated/dangerous) radiator
View of my desk, TV, and fridge
Realistically, the vast majority of freshmen will have roommates, so here’s my double room from last year:
View of my (completely empty) double room in McDermott Hall on move-in day in freshman year. What you can’t see is two closets and my roommate’s dresser to my left, so this room is bigger than it looks.
As you can see, the accommodations prior to move-in are pretty minimal, so it’s up to you to make your room as cozy or as plain as you prefer (no extra furniture allowed, though). Every floor will also have an RA, who is a great resource for information about PC, roommate issues, or just advice in general.
I could go on for pages about the various aspects of living in a dorm, but I think I’ve covered the most relevant info relating to incoming freshmen. I’d love to hear some of your questions about housing at PC, so please ask away!
great post vince!