Dorms at ASU

One of the biggest aspects of the whole college experience is being able to live on the campus dorms. Many freshman choose to live on campus because it is the most logical and convenient choice. Some out of state students have no other choice but to live on campus because flying back and forth everyday for your classes is practically impossible. In addition to out of state students who live in the dorms, there are also many students who live in Arizona who could choose to live at home, but pick the other option in order to take advantage of everything that college has to offer. Each dorm complex has its good and bad traits and each person will react differently to each living environment. There are some people who love living or hanging out in the Hassayampa Academic Village dorms, and some dislike living there because they feel as if there is no privacy because all the rooms are in close proximity and sometimes people run around the halls in the late hours of the night. So while there are many living options for college students, on campus dorm life is ideal because it is convenient, the dorms are nice living areas, and you get the chance to make more friends when you live in the dorms. 

San Pablo is where people who are a part of the College Of Liberal Arts and Sciences live. Usually people who live here major in Biology. These dorms are relatively new and have a fairly simple exterior. The rooms are also very nice and have a very comfortable feel to them. Most people like living here because there is a sense of privacy and that is something that you usually cannot get in some other dorms. "Privacy is something that is hard to come by in dormitories and many find it very hard to sleep in them because people sometimes have conflicting schedules and engage in different activities at different times" (Cochrane 67). Fortunately, San Pablo takes care of that problem because most people keep their doors closed because of the fact that the dorms have an outdoor hallway.

            Hassayampa is called by many as the best dorms on campus. They are new, they are spacious, they are very modern-looking, and people just seem to love these dorms. Similarly to San Pablo, Hassayampa is a suite-style dorm where there are two roommates per room and four neighbors that share a bathroom located in the middle. "Some new dorms are boasting apartment-style living with semiprivate bathrooms and kitchens" (Cohen 2). Hassayampa is located on the southern most part of campus. It is also very close to the Student Recreation Center – which is convenient when you find the urge to work out. It also has its very own tutoring center, dining hall, and mini market. "People look for certain characteristics in dorm rooms and usually enjoy living in places that have a variety of amenities" (Cochrane 75). In addition to having many amenities, people claim that it is very easy to make friends at Hassayampa because everybody leaves their doors open and it gives everyone an opportunity to socialize. 

            In contrast to the new dorms, Mcklintock is the oldest dorms on campus. While it may not be the newest and hippest dorm complex on campus, some people still find Mcklintock a very nice place to live. The building is structured in the form of a square and in the middle of the dorm complex, is a huge grass courtyard where people like to play football or soccer. In addition to the grass courtyard, there is a sand volleyball pit. The rooms in McClintock are somewhat old and have plain boring walls that may turn some people off. However, if you are lucky you would get a room that is on the eastern part of the complex and those rooms have an attached living room space in addition to the actual bedrooms. It is not quite an apartment, but it gives two different rooms for sleeping and for hanging out. Like San Pablo and Hassayampa,  Mcklintock is a suite-style dorm. "While dorm rooms are usually not very spacious, they provide a space for a college student to thrive in. Students who live in dorms find study groups where group communication is applied and students also get the chance to socialize and make friends with those who live in the vicinity" (Shaw 2). 

            In comparison with the previous three mentioned dorms, Center complex is not a suite-style dorm site. Instead each room has two roommates and four people do not share a center bathroom. People who live in Center Complex actually have community style bathrooms which means that a whole floor of about 40-60 people share a single bathroom. While this is an absolute turn off for a few people, some people like the community bathrooms because people clean the bathrooms for the residents. In addition to not having to clean your own bathroom, Students who reside in Center Complex claim that there is an amazing sense of community among the residents within the complex. "While dorm rooms may still be smaller than the average bedroom that kids are used to, people find ways of making dorm life bearable, and one of those ways is making new friends and making the best of the space you are given" (Arrington 5).

            In conclusion, there are many living options on the Arizona State University campus and each has its own set of pros and cons. Some dorms are bigger than others and some are newer, but the dorms at the Arizona State University (Tempe) campus are very nice and offer students with a great place to live.