At Hopkins, one of the foundational experiences for students is residential life. Students often form social circles with their hallmates since they see them most often, making where you live an essential part of finding your community. Identifying the right residence hall for you will depend on both your social and logistical preferences.
Buildings with communal spaces provide an opportunity for students to engage and socialize with each other. All first-year residence halls at Hopkins have such spaces, some shared by the entire building and others for just a single floor. These spaces include game rooms, kitchens, lounges, and in Wolman Hall—a movie theater! Whether a residence hall is divided into suites, double and single rooms, or apartments, can also affect how students interact. Ask yourself: Do you want to be surrounded by a smaller, close-knit group of people in your own suite? Or do you want to meet as many people as possible in a larger, communal area?
Another important consideration for your residential life is comfort in the physical space. Are you willing to clean your own bathroom? Do you prefer to cook your own meals? At Hopkins, the buildings with suite-style living include a private kitchenette and bathroom (that you and your suitemates are responsible for maintaining), while the buildings with single and double rooms have communal restrooms and common lounge spaces. Although our housing questionnaire ensures you’ll be compatible with your roommate, you should also consider how your preferences align with the amenities of each residence hall.
The location of a residence hall matters as well. Do you want to be right in the middle of campus where Hopkins resources are at your fingertips? Or do you want to be closer to the edge of campus for ease of exploring the city? Would you prefer to be closer to your classes or to the dining hall? Where you reside can make your daily activities more convenient and influence how you connect with the community.
While you won’t always have a chance to visit each residence hall in person, talking to current students about their experiences can give you insight about how a particular building may or may not meet your needs. Take advantage of resources like our virtual campus tour and Blue Jay Connection to see what our residence halls look like and to contact current students directly.
Ultimately, your residential life experience will be whatever you make of it! Every student has different living preferences, and there are options to accommodate them all. Don’t be afraid to talk to your family and other mentors to help you figure out what’s important to you.
