A Comprehensive Review of Freshman Dorms at The College of New Jersey

Choosing a freshman dorm is a significant part of the college experience. At The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), the available housing options offer diverse environments, each with its unique advantages and disadvantages. This article provides an in-depth look at the various freshman dorms at TCNJ, helping incoming students make informed decisions about their living arrangements. The review incorporates insights from current and former students, along with information from TCNJ Housing, to offer a comprehensive overview of what each dorm has to offer.

The Significance of On-Campus Living

Living on campus is more than just having a place to sleep. It’s about integrating into the college community and enhancing the overall college experience. TCNJ recognizes the strong correlation between campus engagement and academic success. Students who actively participate in campus activities and events are more likely to:

Form personal relationships with faculty and staff.
Appreciate academic ideas within relevant social contexts.
Develop skills associated with both academic and social maturity.
Learn about social responsibility and what it means to live with others.
Be prepared for post-college careers.
Become engaged and thoughtful citizens.
Form lasting bonds with friends and fellow students.
Have a fun, meaningful, and memorable college experience.

TCNJ aims to help first-year students transition smoothly into college life, fostering a sense of belonging and laying a foundation for a safe, healthy, productive, and purposeful college experience.

General Dorm Room Features

Regardless of the specific dorm, TCNJ provides essential furnishings to ensure a comfortable living environment. Standard dorm rooms include:

A bed
A desk
A chair
A dresser
A closet/wardrobe
An overhead light
Two trash cans

It is anticipated that residents for fall 2025 will be able to sign up for a window of time between August 15th and 20th to move their belongings in advance of living on campus. Information regarding the drop and go move in processes will be shared with first year residential students after the housing application closes. First year students will also have the option of creating a roommate group with a preferred roommate. Students are able to submit an exemption request to residential education and housing.

Read also: TCNJ Rec Center Student Employment

Health Requirements for Campus Housing

All new students are required to complete pre-entrance health requirements as a condition for entry to campus housing. When you meet all TCNJ health requirements, Student Health Services will release your health hold. It is important that you get started on completing these requirements right away because you may need to get a missing vaccination or locate a record. It also takes time after you submit your records for Student Health Services to review them. Please note that students who are applying to live in campus housing are required to have a meningococcal meningitis ACYW vaccination within 5 years of July 14, 2025. If you had this vaccination more than 5 years ago, even by one day, a second vaccination is needed (NO EXCEPTIONS). Student Health Services also recommends that students between 16-23 years of age get vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis type B.

Ranking the Freshman Dorms

This ranking is based on both personal experiences and research, providing a balanced view of each option.

1. ABE (Allen, Brewster, and Ely)

Allen, Brewster, and Ely are interconnected buildings that form a single residential unit.

Plus: ABE is ideal for students who prefer a quieter environment with fewer residents per floor (approximately 10-20 people). Its location offers the closest walk to Eickhoff Hall (the main dining hall) and the library. Additional amenities include a piano and a pool table.
Negative: Pick-up and drop-off can be challenging due to its central campus location and limited parking (street parking only).

2. Towers (Travers and Wolfe)

Travers and Wolfe are central to the freshman experience, housing the majority of the incoming class. Living in the Towers is considered a rite of passage for many TCNJ freshmen.

Plus: The Towers are conveniently located above T-Dubbs, a late-night café, and the aerobics center. They are a hub for freshman events and off-campus party pick-ups and drop-offs. Each room includes a sink, which is a significant convenience. The Towers are known for their social atmosphere, making it easy to visit friends on different floors. There is definitely a great sense of community, lots of space, and its nice to have sinks inside the room! Compared to other freshman dorms, not bad at all.
Negative: The Towers lack air conditioning, which can make the upper floors uncomfortably hot, especially during the early months of the fall semester (August-October). Elevator service can be unreliable, particularly in Wolfe Hall. As one of the only freshman dorms on-campus at TCNJ, Wolfe was as good as it could realistically get. Rooms came with sinks, the windows worked, and though the room setups were fairly limited, they offered a decent amount of space for a two-roommate configuration. My one complaint? Invest in good, noise-blocking headphones. Concrete walls are not as soundproof as you'd like to think, and noise travels easily between the hallway and the dorm rooms.

Personal Experience in Wolfe Hall

One student shared their experience living in Wolfe Hall: "My experience living in Wolfe Hall during my freshman year at TCNJ was a very good experience overall. Things were kept relatively clean, the washers and dryers were always working, and everyone's privacy was respected. It was fine for a freshman dorm. It was not super clean, but you had the opportunity to make it feel homely. I personally enjoyed my experience in the towers, I also believe it really depends on who your roommate is and who your floormates are. After a few months your floormates will begin to feel like family." Wolfe Hall, one of the "towers", has 10 floors, so with that being said.. in the months of August-October expect it to be hot because not one room has air conditioning. A HUGE plus was that Wolfe was located right above a basement late-night cafe called T-Dubbs, and their chicken fingers were to die for.

3. Centennial Hall

Centennial Hall is primarily designated for students in the Honors Program.

Plus: Centennial Hall offers numerous spaces for studying and recreation, including arcade games and a flat-screen TV in the ground floor lounge. Its location between the library and Lake Sylvia provides beautiful views.
Negative: Each floor is single-sex with a shared bathroom, which may not appeal to all students.

4. Norsworthy Hall

Norsworthy Hall features a unique layout with communal bathrooms.

Plus: Norsworthy Hall was renovated in 2014/15, resulting in updated floors, walls, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and lounges. It also includes a game room and a communal kitchen, similar to Centennial Hall and ABE.
Negative: Freshmen are mixed with sophomores, which can create a different social dynamic.

5. Commuting

While not a dorm, commuting is an option for some students.

Plus: Commuting saves money on room and board, provides access to home-cooked meals, allows for having a car, and offers opportunities for off-campus jobs.
Negative: Commuters may find it more challenging to connect with campus friends and participate in late-night activities. It may be difficult to join clubs, make friends, and don’t mind being on campus super late.

Making the Most of Your Freshman Year

Ultimately, the dorm you live in will not determine your freshman experience. The most important thing is to make the most of your time at TCNJ, regardless of your living arrangements. As one sophomore advised: "Don’t be afraid to try new things and just be yourself. Step out of your comfort zone. Remember it’s okay to make mistakes. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from CA’s and any other upperclassmen you know."

Additional Housing Information

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) dorms are similar to most college housing options. Most on-campus residence halls include singles, double, and suites. Floor plans vary from residence hall to residence hall. CampusReel hosts dorm tours of The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), and every one is different. The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) dorms dimension depend on the residence hall. This information is usually contained in one of the dorm room tours of The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) on CampusReel.

Read also: GPA and Test Scores for TCNJ

Residential Education and Housing at TCNJ

TCNJ's Residential Education and Housing department leads and supports efforts to create safe and healthy residential learning communities that promote personal development and academic success. They can also provide support for students seeking exemptions to residential requirements.

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