We all filled out our housing surveys back in June and waited earnestly for the dorm assignment in August. Now that it’s October and friend groups are settling in, first-year dorms are getting closer than ever. We’re past the stage of trying to impress each other with our life stories and now we’ve entered the phase of “I can’t remember how to pronounce your last name but we had a heart to heart last Saturday at 3 AM while you were in your boxers.” As we dissolve into these new dynamics, each building is finding its Hogwarts-like niche on campus. Welcome to the Sorting Hat of AmCo.
North
Caught somewhere between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, you’ll never having a boring conversation with a North kid. They have a Ron Weasley sense of humor but a Cedric Diggory kind of charm. (Who can resist that smile, right?) You could walk into North at any hour and someone would be awake pretending to read for their seminar, willing to chat about anything. If you ever need a good friend, North is the place to go.
South
South is Ravenclaw all the way. They’re close-knit and work harder than you probably could imagine. This athlete-packed dorm rarely takes their eyes off the ball, literally and figuratively. Sometimes they fall under the radar because they’re so focused, but never underestimate them. These are the silent but stealthy ones who will have islands named after them one day.
James
James is somehow a fusion of Slytherin and Hufflepuff. They can be manipulative, but never with ill intent. They just know what they want and you can bet they’re going to get it, no matter the cost. They’re cunning, charismatic, and welcoming. They love a good party and are always down for weeknight pregames, but they can still end the night with a quality one-on-one conversation.
Stearns
Stearns kids are 100% Gryffindor. They’re warm and fun but they stick together like glue. They are by far the bravest kids on campus. If you find yourself play “What are the Odds” with one of them, you can bet they’ll make the odds at most 1 in 5. They love a good challenge but sometimes their social ambitions get the best of them and they end up writing 5-page papers in one night.
Pratt
Pratt is definitely the most Slytherin-like dorm. They rarely study in Frost and join in on the procrastination squad of second floor. Instead they prefer their common rooms to socialize exclusively with each other, or they go to Merrill for some deadly silence when they really need to crank out their work. They still have a little bit of a party edge like in past years, but now they have more of a Draco Malfoy edge than you would guess.
Appleton
Hufflepuff is dominantly represented in Appleton. They’re soft-spoken and patient with everyone, but sometimes are forgotten in the corner of the quad (like Hufflepuff dorms in the basement of Hogwarts). They love to meet people from other dorms, especially because their own is so small. They’re cheery and make great study companions because they never complain and are always up for a Schwemm’s cookie after their work is done.
Williston
Williston kids are a little Gryffindor and a little Ravenclaw. The convenience of Frost has become conducive to productivity but socialization, too. They might come off as quirky or even confusing, but they know who they are. Their determination is unmatched, but they still seek out a social or two on the weekends. Don’t be fooled by their Luna loftiness; they have Granger-like aspirations.