When you’re just starting college, where you live will have an impact on your overall experience. Here is my ranking of Stevens’ primary residence halls, the pros and cons of each, and some commentary for incoming freshmen.
7. Humphreys Hall – D tier (doubles, communal bathrooms)
- Pros: Close to the dining hall. Volleyball court is right outside. Rooms are a decent size.
- Cons: Common areas are very old and can get very dirty.
- Comments: Humphreys is the lowest ranked dorm simply because of how often people complain about the common areas, so expect uncleanliness and maintenance issues. The hallways are a little stuffy and stinky, but if you have a good roommate, you should be fine! This hall is located in the Jonas-Humphrey-Palmer clump, so it’s close to the dining hall and library, and not too far from the academic buildings.
6. Castle Point Hall – C tier (doubles and triples, private bathroom)
- Pros: Certain rooms offer a great view of NYC. The surrounding area is quieter, and this dorm hall is close to the tennis courts.
- Cons: Farthest dorm from most of the academic buildings and other facilities. The oldest dorm building, so there are often maintenance issues. Very prone to roaches and rats.
- Comments: I actually did not know this residence hall existed since I rarely go past the volleyball court. From what I’ve heard, the private bathrooms are a really big advantage because this hall is quite congested, and the triple rooms come with a small, separate room for one of the beds. However, be prepared to spot roaches scurrying around.
5. Davis Hall – C tier (doubles, communal bathrooms)
- Pros: Closer to most academic buildings, athletic facilities, and the UCC. Upper-level odd-numbered rooms have nice views of NYC. The bathrooms are newly renovated.
- Cons: There are five floors but currently no elevators, and certain parts of the building are outdated.
- Comments: Easily the freshmen dorm with the best location— classes are all less than two minutes away, and Davis is located right next to the UCC. However, since there is no elevator, hauling laundry up and down the stairs might not be your favorite way to spend an afternoon, and neither will going to the fifth floor be. The communal bathrooms are newer than the ones at Humphrey’s, so that’s another plus. However, I’m unsure as to what the future for Davis is regarding demolition and rebuilding, so who knows if it will be an option.
4. Palmer Hall – B tier (singles, communal bathroom)
- Pros: Great location. Bathrooms and lounges are typically clean as they are newly renovated.
- Cons: Some people may find it difficult to socialize in single rooms. Walls are thin. Limited laundry machines. No view.
- Comments: Palmer is a really solid choice. The single rooms are great for privacy, and the bathrooms are always pretty clean. However, since the building is old, it only supports one process at a time, either heating or cooling, so the AC is shut off in the winter. The biggest issue, in my opinion, is the difference between the East wing lounge and the West wing lounge. Besides seating, the East wing lounge has a kitchen, vending machine, and working laundry machines, while the West wing lounge just has a microwave and broken laundry machines.
3. River Terrace Suites – A tier (doubles and singles)
- Pros: You get a suite. Super close to most academic buildings. Lots of parking spaces are directly available.
- Cons: More expensive than other dorm options. Slightly farther from the dining hall.
- Comments: River Terrace is a great space for large friend groups to hang out privately and comfortably. Since it’s a suite, you’ll have access to a kitchen, private bathroom, and basically anything an apartment would come with. Overall, a very solid option.
2. Jonas Hall – A tier (doubles, private bathroom)
- Pros: Good location. Has a lot of space for storage. Has elevators.
- Cons: Central AC system. Storage area right above bed, so you might hit your head.
- Comments: Jonas is the most populated first-year residential hall but also a very popular option because of the private bathrooms. The rooms also have a lot of space for storage and potential customization and decorations. However, I have heard a lot of issues with the central AC system acting up, causing residents to wake up in the middle of the night because it’s 88 degrees. Depending on your preference, Jonas’s carpeted floors can either be a pro or a con, and because of the extra storage area, there is less space to walk around.
1. UCC Towers – S tier
- Comments: Every resident freshman looks forward to when they get to live in the UCC towers as a sophomore. That should sum it up.
