As an incoming freshman, making the choice between honors housing and regular housing can sometimes be a difficult one. I know as I was coming to Penn State, I was told living in East (the typical freshman dorms) really provides the “freshman experience” that you’ll find nowhere else on campus. However, having been recently accepted to the Schreyer Honors College, I wanted to know a bit more of what honors housing is all about. Here to discuss this topic are two freshman members of the Schreyer Honors College, Sumit Pareek and Lipika Gadila. Lipika is currently a chemical engineering major and Sumit is a chemical engineering major on a pre-med track. Both are residents of Simmons Hall, one of two honors dorms on campus (the other is Atherton Hall). Both honors dorms are great, and if you’re curious, watch this video where honors students debate over the merits of both Atherton and Simmons. They both had great insight on the impact living in honors housing had on their freshman experience, so let’s begin!
MV: What’s the best thing about honors housing?
LG: The rooms are pretty big, and people are really good at studying here, which is motivational for me. It makes me study harder, too. We’re really close to Redifer here, which means we’re really close to food.
SP: Yeah, we’re close to classes, downtown, and food. What more could you ask for? I also really like how you can become friends with more than just the people who live on your floor. I mean, I practically live in the Holy Room.
MV: What’s the Holy Room?
SP: It’s a study room in GLOBE that we always study in. It’s decorated with all these “Lands of the Bible” posters, which is why we call it the Holy Room. Also, it’s the only study lounge in GLOBE with a closed door. We can make as much noise as we want, and I think sometimes we pretend this room is soundproofed, but we all know it’s really not. It’s just a lot of fun to be here with all our friends.
MV: What’s your favorite memory of the Holy Room?
SP: Well, the first time I came here – no, it wasn’t the first time, but one of the first times – I didn’t expect everyone to be here, and they all just exclaimed, “Sumit!” as I came in. I stayed for four hours! Also, one time I had an exam the next day and stayed here for four hours and got nothing done. Sometimes you still get nothing done despite your best efforts, but at least it’s fun.
LG: My favorite memory would have to be when we all ate pokey stix after Schreyer formal this fall.
SP: Yeah, we were eating them at like 1 am and we got about 3 billion…
LG: We got three whole pizzas’ worth – it was so good!
MV: So when freshmen are making the decision to live here in honors housing or in East, what would you tell them?
LG: Well, the food is better, and people work together on their schoolwork. It’s a good balance of social life and studying.
SP: I know I’ve already said this, but it’s a better location. I can’t stress that enough. For example, when I have an 8 am in Thomas, I can leave my dorm at 7:55. If I lived in East, I would have to leave much earlier. Taking the Blue Loop is easier, and for scheduling, we’re situated more conveniently to almost everything. We can take stuff for maybe one class and then come back, but I’ve seen people who live in East pack a bag for the entire day because they can’t come back. It’s really fun living here. Plus, it’s not all honors kids here. There are a lot of non-honors students living here, too.
Both Lipika and Sumit had great reasons for living in honors housing, and many of them came down to one thing: location. So, if you’re an incoming freshman trying to choose between East and the honors housing in South, give South a chance!
lrg5172 says
I saw that Dean Brady actually shared this article on Twitter! It’s so awesome to see that he recognized this post because he saw that this blog was a good way to share what housing was like here at Penn State. That’s why I think your blog is so great, because people outside of Penn State can learn more about housing here and why living on campus is so great! I personally like South best 🙂
jla5458 says
This is an interesting topic to write about. I, too, had that decision to make. I came on a bunch of housing tours before actually getting to college (actually, I probably could have GAVE the housing tour by the time I got here) but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to live in honors housing or not. Ultimately, I decided that I didn’t think I could live in the typical style dorm because of the fact that I am an only child. But, I do have swipe access. Occasionally, I’ll go to the Atherton computer lab or GLOBE to study. I have to admit, it is a great atmosphere! I like being close to the honors dorms, and I’m sure they’re great places to live!