Columbia University Freshman Dorms Ranked

Number 4

"The start of the year is miserable because there is no AC and it was really hot. After the first few weeks and as the weather gets cooler, the rooms actually feel a lot more homey. Hartley is probably the dorm with the most sense of community because you have a suite. Lots of singles and a few doubles. Suites can get loud sometimes if your suite mates throw parties. The bathrooms are set up weirdly but water pressure is great. Housing does a really good job of keeping bathrooms clean, unless your suite mates regularly mess it up. " - 2 years ago

1 student reviewers said they lived in Hartley Hall during their freshman year

Number 3

"The quintessential Columbia freshman experience (don't let those people in Carman tell you anything different)! You're almost guaranteed a single (small, but still larger than some in Wallach/Hartley), except for the few poor souls who get put in walk through doubles like me. Honestly, the walk through double was great until my roommate got a boyfriend who basically moved in, but it was very spacious. Higher floors facing campus get killer views of Low that you'll miss when you're an upperclassman. Being right on campus is also so convenient, considering it takes two steps to get to Hamilton or Butler, and you have the beautiful quad right outside. Bathrooms are individual/single use at a time, which is really nice to get some privacy, etc, but they definitely do tend to get nasty, especially on the weekends when they aren't cleaned for a while. Elevators can be a nightmare at big rush hours, so definitely plan to leave a bit early, or get used to taking the stairs. There's no kitchen at all, only a microwave in the floor lounge, so if you want to cook make friends with someone in Furnald or the LLC right next door. But of course, John Jay offers the best access to the best dining halls, with John Jay and JJ's place right on the first floor/basement. Definitely super convenient and a massive plus. Some floors became closer than others, but the lounges and floor communities are generally pretty good, and people get to know their neighbors." - 4 years ago

3 student reviewers said they lived in John Jay Hall during their freshman year

Number 2

"Pros:
- clean and new facilities with big kitchen and lounge on every floor
- some of the biggest first-year singles you can get
- one of the most sought-after second year dorm
- incredibly nice people and community
- proximity to Starbucks, Morton Williams, and Lululemon just across the street (literally 2 min walk)
- close to the subway, MTA bus station, and Columbia intercampus shuttle bus station just one block away
- closest dining hall is Ferris, which has a great selection of food and free to-go utensils (other dining halls are more strict about take-out)
- large laundry room

Cons:
- expect to party somewhere else, but Carman isn't that far and you don't have to live with vomit in elevators and bathroom floors all the time" - 4 years ago

3 student reviewers said they lived in Furnald Hall during their freshman year

Number 1

"This is considered the most "social dorm," but the parties and how loud the dorm is quiets pretty much instantly after move in. I am not a very social person and still really enjoyed living in Carman. All of my friends love my dorm when they come visit, and always say they wish they had chosen this over their choice. The suite bathroom ratio of 4 to 1 is perfect. You have your own restroom which is very nice, and is really easy to clean so it should never be dirty, and you dont really have to worry about it being dirty like a communal restroom in John Jay or Wallach which get pretty disguisting. The space is really nice, and the views are really nice too. A really nice amenity is having a really big window that you can open, and a AC system that works. It is also conveniently placed between the dining halls, and broadway, so when you want to eat it is a very short walk. " - 10 months ago

5 student reviewers said they lived in Carman Hall during their freshman year