Carman Hall Reviews
Columbia University
Reviews Summary
Carman Hall is frequently praised as one of Columbia University's best freshmen dorms, especially for students seeking a balance between social and personal spaces. Known as the "social dorm," Carman's vibrant atmosphere calms down after the initial weeks of the semester, making it manageable for residents who prefer quieter environments. One of its standout features is the suite-style arrangement, accommodating four people with two doubles sharing a private bathroom—a convenient alternative to communal restrooms. Each room boasts amenities like air conditioning, spacious rooms, and large windows providing varied views. Convenience is key at Carman, with its strategic location near dining options and campus hotspots. However, being slightly tucked away means a slightly longer walk to classes. Residents have access to a basement packed with facilities, including a laundry room, lounge, kitchen, and a small gym. Still, they should be prepared for occasional crowded conditions and elevator issues, particularly on weekends. Overall, Carman Hall excels in fostering connections among students, making it a top-tier choice for freshmen.
Social Dorm
Private Bathrooms
Air Conditioning
When students lived here
Freshman Year
5
Overall rating breakdown
Room
Building
Location
Bathroom
Browse 5 Student Reviews
Reviews with a Verified Student badge were written with a school email.
1 year ago
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 syste...
2 years ago
Carman Hall is arguably Columbia's best freshmen dorm. Carmen is known as one of the most social freshmen dorms which makes it perfect for students who are looking to meet as many people as they can during their freshmen year. The four-person style suite, 2 doubles, with a private bathroom is ideal for settling into the college lifestyle. To top it all off, Carman has air conditioning, which is perfect for those who can't sleep in the heat. The views out of your room can be hit or miss depending on your floor and the direction your room is facing. In the basement, there is a laundry room, a lounge, a kitchen, and a room with treadmills and bikes. The laundry room can get pretty busy during the weekends.
Verified Student
4 years ago
Probably one of the best dorms on campus. shared bathroom are fantastic and the new renovations are nice. most of my friends at columbia are people i met from my carman floor. 10/10
4 years ago
I was in non-suite double. My roommate and I had AC, a private (spacious) bathroom, and a great view. The elevators broke down a few times, but not more than the other dorms around campus. Carman is a pretty social dorm, but it isn't unbearable; things calmed down a few weeks into the semester. That being said, most pregames happen in Carman and it's super close to frat row and the bars so I would consider it the dorm that most easily allows a student to mingle.
4 years ago
PROS: Great bathrooms, air conditioning, (relatively) spacious rooms. Right by Lerner Hall and 114th st. Floor lounges. Practice rooms.
CONS: Tucked into its own little corner, so relatively longer walk to classes than other dorms. Elevators are occasionally out of service. Gym is small and quickly gets crowded. Difficult to do laundry on the weekends. Basement kitchen is a little musty.
