The Residential Life of an Oberlin Student

If you are reading this, maybe you are a prospective student knowing that for the next 3 years you are required to live on campus. Maybe you’re reading this as a current student wanting to know more about your options. Well, I have three varying experiences to share with you!

1. My Freshman Year: The Open Double

You will LOVE the open double if you want constant company. There are usually two ways people choose to go with their roommate: become best friends, or peacefully coexist. My freshman year roommate and I became very close and spent a lot of time in the room together, but lived our separate lives outside of the room. I really appreciated this dynamic, because it allowed us to go make our own friends, while also having a support system when we came home for the day.  As far as the actual physical space goes, I was definitely in one of the largest freshman open double dorms on campus, Price House. I would highly recommend this option as a first-year. As far as open doubles go for 2nd-5th- years, Talcott Hall has the biggest ones that I have seen! However, you do need to be prepared for the fact that you may be in a smaller space with another person. You need to get really good at setting boundaries and keeping your space clean if you choose this option!

2. My Sophomore Year: The Divided Double

I think the divided double is the best of both worlds. You have your own space, but still have a roommate who you can vent to or spend time with, so you aren’t lonely. My roommate and I had an agreement that for the first semester I would take the outside room and the second semester I would get the inside room. (The differentiation is that the inside roommate has to walk through the outside roommate’s room to leave the dorm.) I will say I much preferred the inside room. However, we came up with a solution for the outside roommate, and bought a curtain that we set up, so it created a barrier between the pathway the inside roommate needed to get out, and the outside roommate’s space. I would highly recommend this if you find yourself in this dorming situation!! Full disclosure, the individual rooms are pretty small, so make sure to pack light!

3. My Junior Year: The Woodland Apartment

Taadaa! The fancy brand-new dorm building, Woodland Hall, is where I have found myself this year. We are about a month into school and I am truly loving my housing situation. By this point in my Oberlin journey, I was very ready to have my own room. Not only do I get my own room, though, but I get 3 of my closest friends as roommates (who each have their own rooms as well), a small kitchen and dining area, a bathroom, and a shower (that I only have to share with 3 people!!!!). It’s been such a fun arrangement thus far, but I will say, if you want this housing option, I recommend throwing at least one senior into the mix with you. My apartment is two 3rd-years and two 4th-years, but many of my fellow 3rd-year friends who all tried to room together did not have an early enough lottery time and didn’t get it. (And if you’re a 2nd-year… good luck.) Even if your RA doesn’t require you to make a roommate agreement, still do. It has been a lifesaver for us, and now we are never guessing what each other’s boundaries will be. Also, having designated chores is so important to keep all of your common spaces clean. With good communication, this living arrangement is a dream!