The AMRs are social. Wolman and McCoy are clean(er). And Buildings A and B have a beloved proximity to the dining hall. Every year, these are the places where all the fresh meat is housed -- but where do you live? In the fun, practically out-going AMRs? In the kick-ass handicap suites of Buildings A and B? Or are you one of those people across the quad in Wolman or McCoy, maybe even living with a sophomore?
A type of competitiveness occurs between each building, but a general sense is that students can't wait to get out of the dorms. Regardless of how much you can't wait to fly the coop and get your own place, the dorms are an experience you'll never forget, and one you should appreciate while you have it.
"I loved the AMRs last year," said sophomore Thomas Denning. "People were always hanging out and doors were always left open. The communal bathrooms weren't even that bad."
This seems to be the overall consensus towards both AMR I and AMR II, where students have taken over the quad with late-night chats and all-out Frisbee games. In these typical, small, poster-bearing college dorms, everyone leaves their doors open all day.
"Everyone thinks Buildings A and B aren't as social as the AMRs because of the suite setup," says freshman Shane Rosen-Gold. "But everyone is always friendly, and having your own bathroom compared to a communal one is always a good thing,"
Suites in Buildings A and B have private bathrooms and are climate-controlled, with food and socializing practically next door. With apartment-type amenities, plus a chance at a social life, plus nearby food that's already made for you, how can you go wrong? These suites and those in Wolman and McCoy provide ease, security and a lack of responsibility that you won't find in an apartment.
"It was nice to live in McCoy [freshman year] because both McCoy and Wolman are so much more comfortable with the living conditions being nicer," said sophomore Maria Cirincione. "It was hard sometimes, [...] but I was lucky enough to have a great roommate and two really fun suitemates,"
The rooms are set up around a main lounge, allowing students to watch TV and hang out on couches, compared to always having to stay in their rooms. Even though McCoy is primarily sophomore housing, freshmen still meet those across the street in Wolman and can even meet part of the sophomore class.
With the closing of freshman year, many students acquire a great desire to go home to their "real" room. Yes, the AMR's can be dirty sometimes and McCoy may be lonely, but when it comes down to it, all the negative qualities of a building are canceled out by their positive ones.
The current upper classmen and freshman most likely take or took their freshman year dorms for granted ... right? You still have the chance to make the most of your dorm experience, the rest of this year and next year. So the next time you want to bash that corner room in AMR II, don't. Most students end up satisfied with their first dorm room experience, even if they didn't like the dorms -- it provides countless friends and stories to remember and share for years to come.
