ALEX BUCKNAM
Managing Editor
If you attended a campus tour, Go Big Blue Day or Accepted Students Day, you were most likely shown both suite-style and corridor-style dorms. But which one is better?
I’ll compare both dorm styles in five categories: sense of community, room size, walkability, common spaces and bathrooms.
Sense of Community
The suites have a strong sense of community. Personally, I became friends with my suitemates before I got to campus.
When we received the housing assignment email, we all reached out to each other and built a friendship; this made the transition to college so much easier.
Even if you don’t connect right away, the shared bathroom and common room encourage you to interact.
Still, not everyone bonds with their suitemates. Some students finish the semester without speaking to the people they live with.
Corridor-style dorms also provide a sense of community, with shared lounge spaces and hallways that create opportunities to meet new people and find people you connect with.
These common areas tend to be out in the open compared to suites, which encourages more people to use these spaces.
I’m going to give this point to the suites.
Room Size
Both styles are equally priced (excluding kitchen suites), so one might expect similar room sizes.
But you would be wrong.
When I moved into my suite, I was shocked by how small the room was. The lamp was right in front of me when I opened the door, and I couldn’t find a better place to put it.
Thankfully, my roommate later moved to a single room which gave me more space.
After visiting a friend in a corridor-style dorm, I saw a big difference.
The rooms were more spacious, instantly I knew that this would be better suited for two people.
As a person who loves his stuff and wants to bring it to college and therefore needs more space, the corridors get this point.
Walkability
This one is straightforward. Suites are located behind Gregory Hall and right next to LoGrasso, which means they are farther from Starbucks and academic halls compared to the corridors.
Now I’m not saying this as a lazy person not wanting to walk a little bit further.
I’m saying this because we live 10 minutes away from Lake Erie.
Winter ice is no joke here, and the school, according to some students, is horrible at properly icing sidewalks by the suites.
Personally, I hated walking all the way to Thompson Hall in the winter from the suites, so I sometimes wished I lived in a corridor dorm because I wouldn’t have to walk as far.
For the reason of not wanting to fall on ice, I’m giving this point to the corridors.
Common Spaces
Both styles have shared common areas. Suites have a private common room shared by suitemates (usually 4 to 8 people), which can be personalized and decorated. This makes living arrangements feel more homelike.
Both styles have a shared lounge area, where you can expect to find a TV and a few game tables.
I don’t know if any other dorm has this, but the suite I lived in during my first year (Grissom Hall) had a piano.
As mentioned before, the corridor lounges are more out in the open, so they are used more. This gives people a good chance to meet people in their hall.
Still, the ability to decorate a private common space makes me give the point to the suites.
Bathrooms
For many, bathrooms are a big concern when choosing dorms.
Each suite shares one bathroom, which means you are sharing a bathroom with 3 to 7 other people.
This includes a shower, two stalls and two sinks. With fewer people sharing the space, it’s easier to establish boundaries and maintain cleanliness.
Corridor-style bathrooms are shared among more students, which can make cleanliness and privacy harder to manage.
I’ve also heard horror stories about the shared bathrooms and showers in the corridors, so I have to give it to the suites.
With a final tally of 3 points for the suites and 2 points for the corridors, the suites win.
While you likely won’t get to choose your dorm as a first-year student, keep these factors in mind when considering future housing options.
Both living styles have pros and cons. Ultimately, the choice is up to you and how each living arrangement fits your lifestyle, preferences and wants.
Note: This comparison excludes townhouses, kitchen suites and University Commons, as those are typically not assigned to first-year students unless there is medical accommodation.
