When I was deciding on where to live for my freshman year, everyone I talked to suggested that I live in renovated East Halls. The dorms are home to only first-years on campus. Additionally, they have air-conditioning and private bathrooms. I thought it was the obvious choice, so that’s what I chose. But what else can you do when you’ve never actually lived a day as a Penn State student?
I remember the day that room assignments came out. The Facebook pages were absolute chaos. Parents complaining for their kids on the parent page and students were begging their fellow freshmen to swap rooms with them. People who were assigned to renovated East, and their respective roommates, were getting offered anywhere between $100-$5,000 just to give up these dorms for another student. I would be lying if I said I didn’t debate taking a cut of $5,000, but I realized I didn’t want to take someone else’s money for something as trivial as a room.
One mother I remember in particular talked about how her daughter was extremely upset with the fact that she was assigned to Pollock Halls. Some parents didn’t sympathize and responded with the “you get what you get and you don’t get upset” mindset.Â
The worst part about living in East Halls is all of the walking I have to do. Almost every day I hit 10,000 steps, which isn’t a bad thing, it just gets extremely tiring when you know you have to get up and do it again the next day. Maybe that’s why Sundays exist. I become unmotivated to attend events around campus because the walk is simply too far. I always have to remind myself of the time it takes to walk to different locations on campus. Typically, the walk can take upwards of 25 minutes.
The bus has become my best friend once I learned how to use it. The Blue Loop has been my go-to after my class downtown ends. All of the walking is very beneficial for getting in my daily exercise especially if I have a busy schedule that keeps me from the gym.
Making the most of the long walks is a task I’ve learned to get used to. I’ve adapted to this by creating the perfect power walk playlist or listening to new podcasts. The long walks have been a way to listen to new music, learn something new in a podcast, or just listen to the people around me because it is a great time to people watch. If you attend Penn State, there is no doubt that there will be a lot of long walks during your time here.
In renovated East and even in unrenovated East, the rooms are much smaller than dorm rooms in other halls. Each roommate each gets their own side of the room, but there isn’t much separation. I can’t count the number of times my roommate and I have tripped over each other’s shoes, even if they were on the other side. If you enjoy your personal space, it is hard to get some in any dorm, but it is especially hard in East dorms.
I’m not saying is that you should be afraid to pick East Halls because there are so many benefits of living here. First of all, only freshmen live in the East Halls, so it is a sure way to meet new friends in your graduating class, many of which are going through similar experiences as other freshmen. In renovated East, there is air conditioning, which is great for those hot months. There are also private bathrooms, so you don’t have to shower next to someone else.Â
Honestly, living anywhere on campus has its own pros and cons. If you end up in South or even Pollock, you are close to downtown with easy access to its many restaurants and a more convenient location. In West, the dining halls are known as the best and the dorms are located right near the library for easy access to study spaces. No matter where you end up, you are still a Penn State student, so make the most of it.