Welcome to the Chatham sisterhood, future Cougar! Every week this summer, look for new advice from Chatham women who can’t wait to see you on campus.
Have a question you hope we’ll answer or a topic you’d like us to cover? Email Campus Correspondent Mara Flanagan (maraflanagan@hercampus.com)!
You might not see your dorm until move-in day, but we’re giving you a sneak peek at your home for the next year!
Photo Credit: Stephanie Welling (from February 22nd Photo Blog, “Fickes in Snow”)
Fickes
The Experts:
Amy Chau
Year: Sophomore
Area of Study: Biochemistry
Onastasia Youssef
Year: Junior
Areas of Study: Art History/English, Museum Studies
Benefits
“Living at Fickes is like living in a hotel,” says Onastasia. “After all, it was once an honest-to-goodness mansion.” It’s true: the building was actually someone’s home upon its completion in 1927. From the bookcases to the baby grand, you can tell. “The beautiful stained-glass windows with knights and castles near the stairs is a definite plus,” says Onastasia, “as is the library and quiet sunroom.”
Housing 116 ladies, “it is the largest residence hall in Chatham,” says Amy. Even with so many people sharing the space, Onastasia says that “all the rooms are clean and beautiful.” You’ll also be sure to have plenty of support within the dorm: “RAs are excellent, and always available to answer any questions.”
Even though there are upperclassmen in Fickes, Amy says that having “the majority of first years” in the dorm helped a lot with bonding: “I met a lot of people through Fickes.” Onastasia agrees that the people really make Fickes great: “Best of all is the amazing community. My very best friends are all in Fickes, and we had an incredible time this spring studying and hanging out together!”
Challenges
While our experts listed more pros than cons, Amy says thin walls are a downside. “I could hear my neighbors every night.”
Onastasia adds, “even the best of communities have their bad apples!” But when drama surfaces, she says, “your friends will always be there for you, and you can count on them for anything.”
What We Wish Someone Had Told Us
Onastasia mentions “that you cannot bring your own mattress”: something to keep in mind when you’re shopping for dorm supplies. Another advisory? Pack lightly. Amy wishes someone had warned her she “would have more stuff at the end of the year than beginning of the year.”
The Bottom Line
“Just have fun,” says Onastasia. “While everyone gets the jitters about moving to a new place, there is no better dorm to have your first experience in.” To make the transition easiest, “contact your roommates before move-in day,” says Amy. “You will feel more comfortable when you meet them.”
Ultimately, Onastasia says, “you will be glad you came!” Coming from a woman who told us living in Fickes was “the time of my life,” you can bet on it.
Dorm Photo Credits:
Fickes Dorm Room Door: Onastasia Youssef
Fickes Dorm Room: Onastasia Youssef
Go to page 2 for the scoop on Laughlin!
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Laughlin
The Expert:
Gretchen Geibel
Year: Sophomore
Major: Biology
The Benefits
Officially the Marjory Rea Laughlin House, this renovated mansion houses 32 students. There’s another reason to love this dorm besides the stunning décor: it’s home to the Intercultural Living Learning Community. Students from all over the world spend time together with the intention of sharing their cultures through food, language and even performance. “It was a fantastic cultural experience,” says Gretchen. “I had a roommate from both Korea and Japan…how many other times will you get to have that in your life?”
Challenges
The intercultural community is wonderfully enriching; Gretchen says the only difficult part was seeing her friends go home. “Because a lot of my hall mates were from foreign countries, I didn’t make as many ‘lasting friends’ since a lot of them left by or before the end of the year.”
The Bottom Line
“Be open to everything and attend every event you can,” says Gretchen. “You may never get the chance to experience some of these opportunities again.”
Photo Credit:
Group of Students at a Global Focus Year of Vietnam Event in Laughlin: Mara Flanagan
Go to page 3 for info on Rea!
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Rea
The Experts:
Emily Kocian
Year: Sophomore
Areas of Study: Psychology/OT
Kaitlyn
Year: Sophomore
Area of Study: Creative Writing
Shannon Ward
Year: Sophomore
Area of Study: Creative Writing
The Benefits
Our experts agree: the Julia and James Rea House, a 1912 mansion, is perfect if you’re looking for a home away from home. “I loved the homey and quaint atmosphere,” says Emily. “In our room we had a fireplace and wooden mantel where we placed pictures and holiday decorations!” Shannon agrees: “My favorite thing about the Rea house was how small and intimate it was.”
The 28 residents bond closely. “Since the building is not designed to house more than 30 individuals (or so), it feels more like a home than a large dorm does and certainly is a lot less hectic/noisy than some of the bigger residence halls,” says Shannon. Adds Kaitlyn, “The common/living/TV room was comfortable and fun to hang out in.” Of course, it helps that the women of Rea are tight. “Everyone knows everybody else on a pretty personal basis,” says Shannon.
In this close community, there’s still privacy to be found. “The rooms in Rea are typically quite spacious and have rather scenic views,” says Shannon. “In my opinion, they are among the nicer places to stay on campus.” Emily suggests that the interior beauty is matched by what’s outside: “It felt like I was in the country somewhere because every morning I heard birds singing as I got ready for class.”
Challenges
Having an oasis comes at a price. “Barring Anderson, Rea is not very close to any non-residential buildings on campus, especially the classrooms,” says Shannon. “For people who like to roll out of bed and go to class 5 minutes before it starts, Rea is not ideal because you have to traipse up Chapel Hill. In the snow or heat, it can be a very long walk.” Emily seconds that: “The distance from the classes was definitely a bummer. Walking up Chapel Hill was a minor annoyance to my day.”
Having a great experience in Rea also relies on serious teamwork. “Because Rea is such a small building, occupants occasionally have a hard time using certain facilities,” says Shannon. “There are only 4 bathrooms (excluding a room or two with private toilets), one kitchen, one television, and one washer/dryer to share among 30-some individuals.” Kaitlyn ran into the same trouble: “Try to bring as little clothes with you as humanly possible,” she advises, “because there is one set of washers/dryers and convenient time slots fill up quick. In order to maximize space, “pack in bulk,” suggests Emily. “Have as few boxes or large containers as possible.”
Concludes Shannon: “My personal experience was very positive, but a less cooperative group could make the situation quite difficult.”
What We Wish Someone Had Told Us
When you first get to campus, be prepared for the trials of hot weather. “Keep your window open and invest in a good fan when it’s hot,” says Kaitlyn. “Not only is the air circulation poor, but Rea has a tendency to smell strange when it heats up.” Even if the sun is blazing, check to make sure your heater works; Kaitlyn’s stopped working a long time before she got there. Her advice in that situation? “Make sure to apply for a heater before it gets cold.”
It’s also important to know who to go to when you need assistance. Emily says she wishes someone had told her “who to call if I had any questions about rooming and other things on campus. I and others thought that the Help Desk was who we needed to call if we had any questions.”
Bottom Line
“If I were to give advice to an incoming first year living in Rea, I would say to be friendly and keep an open door,” says Shannon. “The potential for a great, bonding community is there if only people are willing to reach out and take advantage of it. Learn everything that you can about what the LLC has to offer and enjoy the friends you will make living in a close-knit community.”
Photo Credits:
Dorm Room Photos: Emily Kocian
Exterior Shots and Group Picture: Shannon Ward (pictured above, far right)
Go to page 4 to get advice on living in Woodland!
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Woodland
The Experts:
Ashley Traynor
Area of Study: Exercise Science
Erin
Year: Sophomore
Area of Study: English
Jessica Sanfilippo
Year: Sophomore
Areas of Study: Women’s Studies/Business
Benefits
Woodland Hall’s 96 residents are totally connected. Café Rachel, the Help Center, a student lounge, Health Services and the Art Gallery are all in the same building. You’re also seconds away from the library, Eddy Theatre, and a cluster of classroom buildings. Bonus? “I liked the view of Chatham’s infamous sled riding hill and Fickes Hall from my windows,” says Jessica.
There are definitely perks to the building itself. When asked what she likes most about Woodland, Ashley says, “The elevator! You’ll love it on the days you just want to be lazy.” Jessica adds that “the huge closets were a plus so I could bring all of my clothes and not feel too stuffy.”
But what really makes Woodland awesome, says Erin, are “the people! My roommate is one of my best friends, and I had lots of teammates and great buds to hang out with after class.”
For ladies who are interested in connecting with classmates, the First Year Experience Living Learning Community (LLC) is right in Woodland! It’s also a great dorm for the spiritually-minded: the second floor is home to the All Faith LLC (a place for exploring different traditions and beliefs).
Challenges
Living in Chatham’s newest dorm has a few pitfalls. “The building lacked character,” says Erin. “Compared to Fickes, Rea, and Laughlin, Woodland is plain.” Once you’re settled in, there are a few other inconveniences you might discover along the way. “I despised the hard, white tiled floors that were freezing in the winter when I had to take a midnight bathroom trip,” says Jessica. Another bummer? “The blinds always left a crack of sunlight in on the weekends when I wanted to hibernate.”
Ashley also mentions that loudness could be a problem. “It’s really hard to adjust to living with other people.”
What We Wish Someone Had Told Us
Living in a small space can certainly be difficult. “Don’t bring an ironing board,” says Jessica. “It takes up too much space and everything gets wrinkled anyway.” Ashley knows how difficult it can be to deal with too little room: “I also wish someone would have told me (repeatedly!) to not over pack!”
Fortunately, small spaces mean you’ll have quick access to your RA: a convenience Erin definitely suggests taking advantage of. “Get your RA’s cell phone number. Chances are that she will become a really great friend, and she will help you out if you accidentally get locked out of your dorm.”
Even if the thought of an RA doesn’t totally calm your fears, Ashley wants you to know “that you’ll be okay. It’s really scary at first (and you don’t even know how much you’ll cry when your parents leave!), but I promise you will love dorm life.”
The Bottom Line
“Be open-minded,” says Kaitlyn. Connect with the people around you to get the most out of your experience. “Go door hopping,” suggests Erin. “Walk up and down the halls and meet everyone! Also attend as many dorm events as possible!”
Of course, being in a new environment doesn’t mean abandoning your past. “Bring that stuffed animal you’ve slept with for 18 years,” says Jessica. “You will miss small pieces of home and not realize it until you aren’t home anymore.”
But even if homesickness sets in, know that your experience on campus is going to rock. “Embrace every new challenge,” says Kaitlyn, “because when you look back, you’ll see it shaped you in to who you are today.”
Dorm Room Photo: Jessica Sanfilippo (pictured)
Thank you to all of our experts!
Other Sources:
Chatham University Undergraduate Housing
Chatham University Residence Life