Housing selection is almost upon us, but the information can definitely feel like overload at times. Even though there’s information on the Barnard website as well as The Shaft, I decided to save you the trouble of clicking around. Here are the pros and cons of each upperclass dorm in one article, so you know what you’re getting yourself into.
1. 110
Pros: 110 has private bathrooms and kitchens or kitchenettes. It’s close to Westside Market, so you have nearby access to everything you need. 110 also rents space to non-students, if you’re looking to feel like you live off-campus without actually being too far.
Cons: 110 doesn’t have AC and it isn’t the newest, so it can feel pretty old and, to borrow a word from The Shaft, “grimy.” It’s also far from campus, so if you don’t feel like walking back and forth all the time, keep that in mind. Sharing the space with non-students also definitely isn’t for everyone.
2. The 600s
Pros: The 600s are about as close as you can get to Barnard without living in the quad, so minimal walking is required. If you live in 600, you can get some nice common space that’s ideal for hosting gatherings (as for the others – see below). The suites also have a kitchen and private bathroom.
Cons: No AC, and 600 has no printing. 616 and 620 can feel a bit cramped, depending on the room, and neither has as much common space as 600.
3. Cathedral Gardens
Pros: CG is nice. It’s air-conditioned, has kitchens and private bathrooms, and is right by Central Park. CG is also pretty sizable, so you won’t feel cramped like you might in a dorm closer to campus. Plus, the distance is helped a bit by the fact that there’s a mailroom in CG itself, so you won’t have to drag your packages home all the way from Altschul.
Cons: It takes 20 minutes to get from CG to campus, which is not ideal. There’s also no Columbia-provided WiFi, and the printer can sometimes present problems, so unless you’re planning to stay on campus all day and get all your printing done there, it can be a bit of a hassle.
4. Elliott
Pros: Like the 600s, Elliott is about as close as you can get to the quad without living there. You get your own kitchen and bathroom, complete with AC. To top it all off, although its set up strangely (in “clusters” of 12 people), it works out so that you’re living in a half-way corridor-style dorm. The perfect balance!
Cons: The kitchens don’t come with a fridge, so you’ll have to pay for that on your own. Also, the singles can be pretty small, which is not ideal. Elliott fills up quickly with transfer students, so it might not be feasible for a rising sophomore or junior. It has been known to work out, though, so it’s really anyone’s guess.
5. Hewitt
Pros: You’re in the quad, which means you’re right by all the dining halls and classrooms. Being in the quad also means easy access to Primary Care, Furnald, and any other resources you may find yourself needing immediately. Hewitt is also mostly singles, so you get some privacy.
Cons: Hewitt has no kitchens, so you’re required to pay for the quad meal plan. You can use the kitchens in Sulz, but that means sharing with first-years (and we’ve all seen those passive-aggressive posts in the Facebook groups about cleaning up in the kitchens, so maybe it’s best to avoid that).
6. Plimpton
Pros: Plimpton is probably the most coveted sophomore option: it’s suite-style with a kitchen and private bathroom, plus spacious rooms for the most part. It’s also got AC, so maybe that makes up for the long walk.
Cons: It’s on 120th and Amsterdam, which isn’t nearly as far as CG, but isn’t as close as the 600s, either. The Shaft also mentions that the laundry room isn’t great, but honestly, what college laundry room is?
7. Sulzberger Tower
Pros: Sulzberger ‘Sulz’ Tower is life in the quad with a twist: you get incredible views and larger rooms without having to trek to campus every day. Sulz Tower’s amenities are a bit newer, meaning that you’re less likely to need a ton of work orders filled.
Cons: It’s reserved for seniors, and even then, super competitive. You’ll also have to share laundry rooms with the first years, and we all know that the quad laundry machines are terrible.
Good luck with the housing lottery!