Written by Catherine Winters
Percentage-wise, not many Montclair State students live on campus, so you will be in the minority if you do. The dorms are all pretty clean (expect where students have to clean up after themselves, and that's a different story) and generally well-maintained, but they are not the nicest buildings on campus. Some have weird flaws. For example, the majority of rooms in Freeman don’t have ceiling lights, and the rooms in Blanton that face the dining area are flooded with noise and light. But, besides these poor instances of planning, there isn't much to complain about. Yes, they aren't the biggest rooms ever, but they are comfortable, and assuming you know how to put in a work order properly, things are fixed in a timely manner. Other than Hawk Crossings, Sinatra Hall, and The Village, all dorms are a short walk from the academic buildings. But students living in Hawk Crossings, Sinatra, and The Village trade a bit of convenience for a nicer living space.
A lot of people go home on the weekends, so the dorms can be a bit lonely at times, but Residential Education and Community Advisors (what MSU calls its RAs) try to run activities to entertain students who stay on campus. It's not too crazy in the dorms, but if you're looking for parties, you can find them. On the flip side, you can also easily find some quiet space. In the end, living on campus works out pretty well. The dorms are nice enough, and you can find activities or a place to be by yourself. Most importantly, though, residents don't need to bother with traffic or parking, which can get a bit hairy at MSU.