If there’s one experience all college students share, it’s dorm living. Whether it’s a good or bad experience, we all know what it’s like. Some of us share a dorm with 2 other people and use the same bathrooms as the rest of the floor. Some of us are lucky enough to have our own room and our own bathroom. At the end of the day, we all have to learn how to live with other people even if the space is small and gross.
However, some colleges have kicked it up a notch to give their students dorms that rivals the apartments of the rich and powerful. Here’s some of the best! Try not to get too jealous or send in your transfer application.
1. University of Michigan
Upperclassmen at this public Michigan school have the opportunity to live in this 450 dorm complex and enjoy amenities such as central air and award winning food selections. Residents are treated to cuisines such as salmon and pesto dishes and if it happens to be after hours, they can still relax in the dorm’s very own cafe/coffee shop. There’s even an art gallery within the complex! Psh, no big deal.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Also referred to as “The Sponge,” MIT’s Simmons Hall is the pinnacle of technological school housing and it really has it all: Lounges with PS3s and huge TVs, a movie theater, laundry on every floor, etc. The best part? While some colleges bring in puppies to relieve students’ stress, Simmons Hall has a huge ball pit! How crazy is that!
3. McGill University
McGill’s newest housing complex, New Rez, converted a four-star hotel into dorms and all the quality of hotel life still remains. Unlike the majority of college housing, students at New Rez get to sleep in double beds instead of twin XLs and each room has its own bathroom. Sign us up!
4. Eckerd College
Located in beautiful St. Petersburg, FL, Eckerd College sits right on Tampa Bay and students have access to beaches and marinas right in their backyard. Appropriately, many dorm buildings sit right on the water and have balconies that overlook the beautiful scenery. Sharing a suite with several other people might actually be worth it.
5. University of Cincinnati
If you’re an all-star athlete or just a fitness buff, you’ll love the dorms at U of Cincinnati. Their Campus Recreational Center Housing includes a fitness center with a rock climbing wall, hundreds of machines, a Olympic pool, and more. Just imagine stressing out over finals and just going for a quick climb to unwind.
6. Illinois Institute of Technology
Built like something out of the distant future, the State Street Village at IIT treats its residents like techno-Kings: Tight 24-hour security, lounges and laundry on each floor, huge surround sound HD TV’s in the lounges, and more. Makes you want to switch schools and majors as soon as possible!
7. Boston University
BU’s newest dorm complex, Student Village 2, has drawn widespread recognition for its height and the amazing views of Boston from its upper floors. While it may look like an office building, it actually houses about 400 students in some of the swankiest dorms out there.
8. Kennesaw State University
From their first day of college ever, students at KSU have the luxury of sleeping in their own private dorm room. Gone is the fear of sleeping next to a snoring monster or a promiscuous roommate. On top of that, all rooms have a fully equipped kitchen, a spacious living room, and a bathroom shared only with one other person.
9. Washington University in St. Louis
Students at Washington University live like a small community as their dorms all sit around a large courtyard that resembles a small town’s main street. Residents can meet in the courtyard’s many cafes and markets or simply go back to their rooms to rest on their TempurPedic mattresses.
10. Brandeis University
Built in 1928, Brandeis’ most famous complex, Usen Castle, is the oldest building on campus and it really does look like a castle. However, the inside has totally been renovated and now they even have their own coffee shop called “Chums.” Incidentally, some believe that Central Perk from Friends was inspired by Chums.
