How well is University Housing working for you?

We asked a few Columbia and Barnard students to describe their experiences with University Housing.

Picture #1, Erica Drennan, CC ’11

“It [housing] was okay. I lived in Carman and then EC. Well, freshman year, I roomed with a friend of mine from high school. I liked her. In EC, at least, we had such a cramped, tiny room. There really wasn’t a common room [in Carman]. Visit campus before you decide if you want to [live somewhere]. When I did it online, we had no clue what we were doing. Talk to people you know who are here.”

Picture #2, Joanna Eichhorn, CC ’09

“McBain sucked. Overall, if you’re willing to work the system and get lucky, you’re fine. I wasn’t good friends with my roommate, but we got along. I think the survey is a bit absurd. Do your research and figure out your housing early. This year, I had somebody drop out at the last minute of my housing group. Prepare in advance.”

Picture #3, Calla Mapel, BC ’09

“I lived in Hewitt [freshman year]. I had a pretty good experience. It was good. I got along with my roommate. We didn’t become close friends ... It was a nice living situation. I lived in the 600s, then in 110th [Street] for other years. I much prefer them to the [quad] dorms. The dorms felt a little bit like summer camp at times.”

Picture #4, Olivier Sherman, CC ’11

“[The housing process is] really stressful, and housing ends up not being that great. I like the fact that McBain does not have cinder block walls. But McBain also has paper-thin walls. I don’t think the selection process itself should be changed. By lottery, I think, it’s the most fair. The whole concept of seniority is good. I got a random roommate freshman year and this year and it worked out both times.”

Picture #5, Lindsay Sohacheski, CC ’09

“It’s been really great ... I’m a sophomore living in Claremont. I had a single in John Jay [last year], so I didn’t have a roommate. It’s not so spacious ... and you get to know all the people on your floor, which is nice, coming in as a freshman. I would say, probably go with John Jay. You don’t have to worry about an unknown roommate and you get to know people.”