Boston University Residence Halls: A Comprehensive Guide
Choosing a residence hall is a significant part of the Boston University (BU) experience. With a large undergraduate population and guaranteed on-campus housing for all four years, BU offers a diverse range of housing options. This guide provides a detailed overview of the various residence halls, particularly focusing on those available to freshmen, to help you make an informed decision.
Introduction
Navigating the housing selection process as an incoming freshman can be overwhelming. Understanding the different dorm options, their locations, amenities, and social environments, is crucial for a positive first-year experience. This guide aims to provide clarity and insight into the unique characteristics of each residence hall, empowering you to rank your choices effectively.
Freshman Dorm Options
While BU offers numerous housing options, only a select few are typically available to freshmen. These options may vary from year to year, so it's essential to check the most up-to-date information during the housing application process.When filling out the housing application, freshmen have a few choices to make. Including: choosing a roommate, showing interest in having a single, and most importantly, ranking your choices of freshman dorm options.
Warren Towers
Warren Towers is a large, traditional-style residence hall and one of the most popular choices for freshmen, particularly on central/east campus. It primarily consists of doubles, quads, and some singles, with communal bathrooms.
Location and Accessibility: Warren Towers is centrally located on BU’s campus, across from the College of Arts and Sciences building and the Center for Computing and Data Sciences. It is within a five-minute walk of most colleges on central/east campus, the George Sherman Union (BU's student center), and the Mugar Memorial Library.
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Social Environment: Living in Warren provides ample opportunities to make friends, especially during the first few weeks of the school year. The high concentration of freshmen fosters a welcoming atmosphere with open doors and chances to connect with peers.
Pros:
- Prime location on central campus.
- Easy access to classes, libraries, and student center.
- Vibrant social environment with many freshmen.
Cons:
- Dorm quality and age may be a drawback.
- Communal bathrooms.
West Campus Dorms
The West Campus Dorms are as popular as Warren Towers among freshmen. The layout is similar, but there's more separation between the three dorm towers. It still includes all the same amenities, including a built-in dining hall, which is generally ranked in higher regard than Warren. These dorms were renovated in the early 2010s. West Campus is composed of Claflin Hall, Sleeper Hall, and Rich Hall.
Location: West campus is an approximately 15-minute walk from most of the classes on campus (minus those in the College of Fine Arts, College of General Studies, School of Hospitality Administration, and some language classes).
Pros:
- Newer buildings compared to Warren Towers.
- Built-in dining hall with highly-rated food.
Cons:
- Longer walk to central and east campus.
- Can feel separated from the main academic and social hubs.
The Towers
The Towers offer a similar living experience to Warren or West minus the social aspects and the built-in dining hall. It is known as the quiet dorm, which can be perceived as a positive or a negative aspect depending on your needs and wants. In addition to this, the lack of a dedicated in-building dining hall at The Towers might be a detracting factor.
Pros:
- Quieter environment for focused studying.
Cons:
- Lack of social interaction compared to other dorms.
- No in-building dining hall.
Kilachand Hall
Kilachand Hall, the honors college dorm, offers a unique living experience with a plethora of amenities not found in other freshman dorms. However, even with all of these amenities, Kilachand has had some issues with age.
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Pros:
- Enhanced amenities.
Cons:
- Potential issues related to the age of the building.
- Limited to students in the honors college.
Brownstones on Bay State Road
Getting a Bay State room as a freshman is rare. However, it comes with the benefit of sharing a bathroom with only 3-4 other students, not needing to sign guests in, and living in a very aesthetically pleasing building. Most freshmen living on Bay State will be placed in doubles or quads. Located on Bay State Road near CAS, Bay State road was quieter and emptier than Commonwealth Avenue. The windows were big and let a lot of light in.
Pros:
- Aesthetically pleasing buildings.
- More private bathroom arrangements.
- Quieter location.
Cons:
- Limited availability for freshmen.
Upperclassmen Housing Options
While the focus is often on freshman housing, BU offers a variety of options for upperclassmen as well. Here are a few examples:
HoJo (Howard Johnson)
Hojo used to be a motel and is located farther East, right next to Questrom. Students may live in a triple with 2 random students. The building itself was really nice: good location & amazing study lounges. A triple is pretty much the size of a double, and since there is little space for 3 people, the beds are lofted over the desks. Students might have a private bathroom which was a perk, but all in all, the room was pretty cramped.
Pros:
- Good location near Questrom School of Business.
- Amazing study lounges.
Cons:
- Cramped triple rooms with limited space.
- Small windows with limited natural light.
55 Buswell Street
The suite consisted of 2 single rooms and 1 double room. Roommates had a living room, bathroom, and a kitchen. This was a favorite dorm because it felt more like an apartment rather than student housing. The single in the suite was spacious, let a lot of light in, and had a good amount of closet space.
Pros:
- Apartment-style living with private rooms and kitchen.
- Spacious rooms with ample closet space.
Campus Areas
BU’s campus is divided into several distinct areas, each with its own unique characteristics:
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- Central Campus: Located at the heart of the Charles River Campus, easily accessible to all undergraduate schools including the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Communications, and the College of Engineering. Steps away from labs, libraries, offices, performance venues, and the George Sherman Union.
- East Campus: At the heart of BU’s Charles River Campus where you can find the Questrom School of Business, College of Arts and Sciences, Sargent College, labs, libraries, performances, and student amenities.
- Fenway Campus: Right in the heart of Boston’s Fenway neighborhood and close to South Campus. Dining and activities abound, as well as the Wheelock Family Theatre, Target, groceries, and supplies.
- South Campus: A tranquil, private neighborhood along St. Mary’s and surrounding streets in the Charles River Campus. A short walk across Beacon Street puts you in the Fenway area and the center of campus. Nearby, you’ll find groceries, restaurants, shops, and within walking distance to the College of Engineering and the College of Communications.
- West Campus: Includes FitRec and Agganis Arena, is a short stroll west while bustling Kenmore Square is minutes to the east.
Shared-Interest Communities
BU offers two types of shared-interest communities: Living-Learning and Specialty.
What to Bring and What to Leave Behind
When packing for your dorm, it's essential to be mindful of space and necessities. Here are a few tips:
- Don't overpack: Plenty of essentials are easy to share, borrow, or get from BU.
- Bring a lamp: If you prefer a softer glow to overhead fluorescents.
- Bring a fan: BU doesn’t permit air-conditioning units in dorms.
- Bring a power strip: To keep your devices charged.
- Rent a microfridge: Easily rent a microfridge from BU for all your dorm cooking needs.
- Don't bring a vacuum cleaner: Vacuum cleaners are generally available from your hall or area residence office.
- Don't bring a printer: all dorms and academic buildings have printers.
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