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Occidental College - Campus Housing - Campus Housing - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.62

Campus Housing

A
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Comparable Schools' Campus Housing Grades:

Quick Stats

On-Campus Housing Available? Yes
Campus Housing Capacity 1,657
Average Housing Costs $6,460
Freshmen Required to Live on Campus? Yes
Undergrads Living On Campus 76%
Number of Dormitories 12
Best Dorms
  • Braun
  • Newcomb
Worst Dorms
  • Bell-Young
  • Stearns

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Living on campus at Occidental is definitely well worth it. The buildings are well-maintained, if not completely aesthetically pleasing, and people in every hall have a strong sense of community. Each dorm has its own personality, and even the “ugly” dorms such as Braun have people living there who wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. While some people do not like living on the upper part of campus, the small size of the campus makes it a moot point. Every dorm is an enjoyable place to live, and the high demand for on-campus housing every year is proof that living on campus is fun, enriching, and well worth the cost. The only problem is that with the increasing numbers of incoming freshmen, it’s incredibly difficult to get a room on campus.

Singles are the most coveted rooms on campus, especially by upperclassmen. Eight of Oxy’s dorms feature single rooms. Having a roommate can be a great experience because it teaches you a lot about yourself and others. Having a roommate can be difficult, but it is a great experience that deserves a fair chance and should be approached with an open mind. Most of what people enjoy about living on campus is the community, something that the school truly tries to foster with its Residence Life staff of students that live in the halls. Students that become active in their hall get the most enjoyment, and those that deal with roommate issues openly and maturely will have a better overall experience as well.

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Occidental Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Housing at Occidental College

connoryates

Biological Sciences '14

0.8
D-

Nice dorms, TERRIBLE staff

The dorms are spacious and nice enough, but the REHS life staff at Oxy is easily one of the worst in the country. Serious reform is needed in the next year. Students, parents, campus safety, and many of the deans have had serious problems with REHS life in the past few years. The staff is disrespectful, strict, and completely misguided when it comes to discipline in the dorms. That being said, the dorms at Oxy are very nice and the rooms are spacious. The most rundown freshman dorms are way nicer than most upperclassman dorms at bigger universities.

Jun 30, 2011

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Campus Housing at Occidental College

bjr

Environmental Sciences '14

4.6
A

Good Atmosphere

Students are required to live on campus for three years so there is a great social atmosphere. The dorms arent too bad as long as youre in one that has AC.

Dec 21, 2010

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Campus Housing at Occidental College

emedmund818

Physical Sciences '12

4.2
A-

Housing Is Pretty Good. There Are a Lot of Different Types of Dorms.

The majority of dorms are nice enough. Most of the dorms are pretty social. There really is no best or worst dorm, there are ups and down to every dorm. Everyone's preference depends on the kind of person they are. Some dorms are more conducive to studying, while others are a lot more social. Location is definitely an issue. Since the school is built on a hill a lot of people have a problem with the dorms located further up the hill and opt to live in dorms on lower campus instead. Once you go here you'll figure out which dorm you like best.

Apr 15, 2010

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Page 1 of 5
User rating for Occidental College - Campus Housing is 3.5 out of 5 based on 15 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus housing on the following subjects

Facts

Room Types
  • Doubles
  • Large singles
  • Small singles
  • Suites
  • Triples
Bed Types Twin extra-long
What You Get
  • Bed fame and mattress
  • Closet
  • Desk and chair
  • Dresser
  • Internet access
  • Laundry facilities
  • Wireless Internet access
Also Available Quads in Norris can apply to be substance-free

Cleaning Service

Yes, in public areas and bathrooms only

Did You Know?
  • All dorms have computer labs and wireless Internet access throughout. They are also smoke free, have their own laundry facilities, and provide lounges or meeting spaces.
  • Occidental is one of the few schools in the country that has a Women's Center that is devoted to dealing with women's issues in the dorms, on campus, and in the community.
  • All students that live on campus must buy one of the three meal plans, unless they live in 1601 or the Women's Center.
  • Only freshmen are guaranteed housing at Oxy. All other students must enter into a drawing for rooms with other upperclassmen.
  • Each dorm has satellite television and multiple game tables in their lobbies available for all students to use.

DormitoriesWhat's This?

Bell-Young Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 110
Bathrooms: 4
Coed: Yes but floors are single gendered
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Doubles
Special Features: Built in 1956, this residence hall is one of four that has air-conditioning. Bell-Young is adjacent to Rangeview Hall and has electronic key-card access. All residence halls are smoke free, have a computer lab, laundry, a meeting/gathering space and a lounge wired with DirecTV.

Berkus House (1601)
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 27
Bathrooms: 22
Coed: Women ony
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Single, double and quad rooms
Special Features: Large communal kitchen (meal plan is optional in this House) and dining room, large lounge, and is near Rush Gym.

Braun Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 116
Bathrooms: 4
Coed: Yes but floors are separated by gender
Residents: First-years only
Room Types: Doubles, three triples
Special Features: Triple rooms have their own balconies. This too is one of four halls with air-conditioning. It was built in 1962 with a partial renovation in 1990. It's near Sycamore Glen and Anderson Field.

Chilcott Hall
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 90
Bathrooms: 3
Coed: Yes but single0gendered floors.
Residents: Freshmen, mostly upperclassmen
Room Types: Doubles, triples
Special Features: Built in 1959, rooms all have their own sinks. Chilcott is close to Dining Hall and Liberal Arts building.

Erdman Hall
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 80
Bathrooms: 8
Coed: Yes. The first floor is single gendered and the second is entirely co-ed.
Residents: Freshmen, mostly upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: Built in memory of Professor Pardee Erdman's late wife, in 1927. Boasts unique architecture from its period. Some rooms have private bathrooms. Erdman is one of the most popular buildings on campus.

Haines Hall
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 135
Bathrooms: 6
Coed: Yes
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: Built in 1940 in honor of the Reverend Francis S. Haines and Mrs. Mary Orr Haines, his wife. An addition was added in 1954 and the building was renovated in 1992 to restore its original period architecture. Rooms have their own sinks. It is close to the Liberal Arts building and Campus Dining.

Newcomb Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 140
Bathrooms: 5
Coed: Yes, by wing
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Doubles, triples
Special Features: Has air-conditioning, is third largest residence on campus, great for students who want to live on lower campus, built in 1956 and was renovated in 2001. Has electronic key-card access, and is close to Booth Music Center and Dining Facilities.

Pauley Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 107
Bathrooms: 5
Coed: Yes, but also includes three single-gender floors
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles and triples, mostly doubles
Special Features: Is proud home of the Multicultural Hall, and residents must apply to live in Pauley. Built in 1959 and was renovated in 2003.

Rangeview Hall
Floors: 4
Number of Occupants: 274
Bathrooms: 274
Special Features: Newly built in the tile and stucco style, Rangeview is the largest residence hall on campus. It boasts a fitness center, classrooms and study halls, lounges, an underground parking lot, elevator access to all floors, and several courtyards.

Stearns Hall
Floors: 3
Number of Occupants: 120
Bathrooms: 6
Coed: Yes, by wing
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles
Special Features: Built in 1983 in honor of three brothers of the Stearns Family.

Stewart-Cleland Hall
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 142
Bathrooms: 5
Coed: Yes but floors are separated by gender
Residents: Freshmen, upperclassmen
Room Types: Single, doubles
Special Features: Built in 1953 and named for two generous benefactors of the College. It was renovated in 1999, and is known as “Stewie” to students.

Wylie Hall
Floors: 2
Number of Occupants: 61
Bathrooms: 4
Coed: Yes
Residents: Upperclassmen
Room Types: Singles, doubles, triples
Special Features: No freshmen are allowed to live in Wylie, which is why it is called the “Quiet Dorm,” built in 1940 and was renovated in 1994.

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