Housing, dining and student life FAQs, answered
Choosing a place to spend your next four years is a big decision. Academics come first, but life outside of class is another major part of what makes a residential liberal
arts college experience so exciting. And we encourage thorough exploration.
With that in mind, we brought current students together to answer a handful of questions
that 91精简版 Admissions recently received from prospective students and their families.
Honest and unfiltered, we hope their individual views are a helpful resource as you
continue to discover all that 91精简版 has to offer.
Don鈥檛 have time to watch? We鈥檝e also highlighted some of the topics covered below.
*Note: Recorded in spring 2021, this Q&A references how the College managed COVID-19. The students鈥� answers are accurate at the time of recording but may no longer apply.
Tell us about your on-campus living experiences.
Lindsey: 鈥淚 lived in Howe-Rounds my first year at 91精简版 and chose to live in a special-interest, substance-free community. I鈥檝e had a really positive experience so far in the dorms. There鈥檚 a nice community
on each floor no matter where you are. Residential Life put on a lot a great programs
that helped me get my bearings. I liked them so much I chose to apply to be an RA
for my sophomore year.鈥�
Shayna: 鈥淚 lived in a triple my first year at 91精简版 which, despite what you may think,
I found I had plenty of space! And, really, it was an interesting experience to live
with people I perhaps wouldn鈥檛 have ever had a chance to meet. Both my roommates were
STEM majors, which turned out to be so eye opening as I was headed into political
science and history. My sophomore year, I chose to live in a single, which was super
awesome. As someone who grew up sharing a room, I had a lovely time finally having
my own space.鈥�
How does finding a roommate work at 91精简版?
Shayna: 鈥淵our first year, a roommate will be assigned to you. That pairing will be made based
on a questionnaire you fill out.
鈥淎fter your first year, a lot of people choose to select roommates from among their
friends. I chose to try a year on my own in a single, but a lot of people I know roomed
with people of their choice. If you get stuck or just aren鈥檛 sure where to go, you
can also enter back into a random placement or find people through Facebook pages
or other student-run resources. For example, sometimes people will have a four-person
on-campus apartment, and they are looking for one more person to join. And they鈥檒l
use Facebook to find someone.
鈥淥ne of the really nice things about 91精简版鈥檚 Residential Life staff is that they鈥檙e really flexible ... Whereas, when I was off campus and ran into an issue, I was all on my own to find a sublet and somewhere to go next.鈥�
*For more on community living, visit Residential Life.
As a first-year student, did you do any cooking or have access to do so?
Richie: 鈥淩esidence halls have communal kitchenettes with a shared fridge and microwave. I
definitely recommend labeling anything you put in there. But, generally, other than
microwave cooking or grab-and-go stuff in a fridge, if you鈥檙e in a residence hall
you鈥檙e likely not preparing much of your own food.
鈥淥nce you move into on-campus apartments, you have a full kitchen 鈥� stove, oven, dishwasher,
kitchen sink, etc. 鈥� which is both exciting and intimidating. You will also need to
bring your own utensils, plates, pots and cookware. And when I don鈥檛 feel like cooking,
I can just walk up the hill and grab something delicious from D-Hall or The Spa.鈥�
Are first-year athletes typically paired together as roommates?
Austin: 鈥淚 play on the men鈥檚 hockey team and did live with another player my first year.
However, it鈥檚 really case by case. I know examples of students who have and students
who haven鈥檛, and it鈥檚 completely up to living style and how you answer the first-year
questionnaire. All to say: there鈥檚 no 鈥榯ypical鈥� set up when it comes to athletes living
together their first year.鈥�
What is permitted in the dorms?
For the latest information, please review Residential Life鈥檚 policies and procedures resources. The Residential Life Handbook will have all of the details on what can or cannot
be in your room.
Are the dorms noisy? Is it an adjustment to sleep in a shared building?
Shayna: 鈥淭here鈥檚 always going to be an exception, but generally speaking all res halls have
quiet hours that will be enforced to a good degree. It鈥檚 different on weekends, but
during the week it鈥檚 usually not a problem.
"That said, all but one of our res halls are suite-style. Meaning that rather than
a whole floor sharing a bathroom, it鈥檚 three to four rooms that each share a suite
and one bathroom, so the only noises you鈥檇 hear could come from your direct suitemates.
Managing that is all about communication and respect. If it鈥檚 a perpetual issue, then
that鈥檚 where your RA can be a great resource.鈥�
Is there gender inclusivity in housing? How do housing and gender intersect?
Shayna: 鈥淚n general, res halls rooms will be shared by people of the same sex and/or gender.
On-campus apartments are not split or defined in any way by gender.
鈥淭hat said, when it comes to res halls, we do have gender inclusive options and I know plenty of people of different genders or questioning genders who have
shared rooms. I also know a lot of queer people, and there is specific LGBTQ+ housing
if you鈥檇 feel comfortable there. Ultimately, it鈥檚 about having a conversation with
Residential Life. And, importantly, knowing that this is an accepting campus.鈥�
Do most students stay on campus for all four years?
Shayna: 鈥淵es, the majority of students live on campus all four years. During COVID-19, that
number changed a bit, but historically it鈥檚 90-95% of students on campus.鈥�
Can people come visit you on campus?
Richie: 鈥淎nyone can come into your residence hall that鈥檚 on campus, if you grant them access.
They cannot get into your building, if they are not also a resident of that building.
If a visitor is staying over, you have to inform Campus Safety, and it has to be short
term.鈥�
How does one do laundry in the dorms and is it free?
Lindsey: 鈥淟aundry is not free, but that鈥檚 realistic. You put money on your 91精简版 ID and
swipe it on the machine. They are standard high-efficiency machines, and many are
in the basement of each residence hall. You can also pay to send your laundry out
and have it done for you."
Any tips on setting up your dorm? How can you personalize it while still making it
a good learning and studying space?
Richie: 鈥淥ne of the most important things for me was to make a designated space in my dorm
to work. For me, that means getting up to work at my desk so my bed can remain a relaxation
space.鈥�
Lindsey: 鈥淎lmost everyone has a window seat, and they are the best thing ever. The windows
open and you can get fresh air there and likely have a beautiful view. I use my desk
for schoolwork, but my window seat is my hangout spot. I try to use my bed only for
sleeping, which really helps.鈥�
What kind of furniture is in a standard first-year room?
Shayna: 鈥淓veryone will have their own bed, of course. In a residence hall it will be a twin
XL bed. You get a desk, a chair, a bookshelf and your own closet space. In the apartments,
it鈥檚 similar, but you could have a full bed or a twin XL depending on the apartment,
and you could have an armoire instead of a built-in closet. Apartments also have a
common area with a couch, chairs and a dining table with chairs.鈥�
Visit Residential Life for furnishing details
How are allergies handled in the dining hall?
Richie: 鈥淎s someone who worked in the dining hall, I can say we are intensely trained on
dietary restriction, especially to prevent cross contamination. Depending on the severity
of your issue, you also have a flexible dining services staff that understands how
important it is that you can dine safely, so they take accommodations seriously.鈥�
Lindsey: 鈥淭he identifying ingredients. if something included is one of the major allergies.
So, before you even grab something you can know if it has dairy, gluten, soy, peanut
and more.鈥�
Learn more about the Murray-Aikins Dining Hall
What food options are on campus?
Austin: 鈥淪o yea we鈥檝e talked about the dining hall, but there鈥檚 also The Spa which is located
on the ground floor of Case Student Center. They serve sandwiches and have a daily
hot meal and a salad bar. They also have a variety of drinks and snacks.鈥�
Learn more about The Spa
鈥淭hen there鈥檚 Burgess Caf茅, which is like Starbucks for coffee and light food options
like muffins and yogurts. My favorite is definitely chicken fingers and fries from
Spa or Chicken Finger Friday in D-Hall.鈥�
Learn more about Burgess Caf茅
In terms of grocery stores, are there good options nearby? What about for vegans or
vegetarians?
Shayna: 鈥淚 live off campus now and can say there鈥檚 a grocery store for every need, including
Hannaford, Market 32, which is like a fancy Price Chopper, Wal-Mart and Target. One
of my roommates is vegan, and she goes to a local grocery store called Four Seasons
for specialty options or Healthy Living, another local store that鈥檚 nearby.鈥�
Austin: 鈥淔resh Market is also right down the street and is pretty comparable to Whole Foods.鈥�
What鈥檚 religious life like on campus?
Lindsey: 鈥淚鈥檓 the treasurer of one of the faith-based clubs on campus, and it鈥檚 been one of
the most meaningful experiences for me at 91精简版. I鈥檓 in Newman Club and Christian
Fellowship. We have clubs and gatherings for Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist students
as well. Students sometimes choose to join local churches or temples in Saratoga,
of which there are dozens of options for nearly all denominations.
鈥淲e also have a nondenominational chapel on campus that鈥檚 open for everyone to come
worship in any way they desire. It鈥檚 also a place where yoga and meditation classes
or gatherings are often held.鈥�
Visit the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
How often do students go into town? Do people spend most of their time on campus?
Shayna: 鈥淚t totally depends on what you want to do! Downtown is really accessible. It鈥檚 only
a 10- to 15-minute walk and there is free transportation as well. But we are a separate,
private campus so you can be more of an on-campus person, too. When I lived in a residence
hall and had an unlimited meal plan, I didn鈥檛 venture off as much as I do now.
鈥淪aratoga is a great college town when you really consider how many restaurants and
things to do there are. Even more so in comparison to peer schools of 91精简版鈥檚 that
don鈥檛 have a town like we do.鈥�
Richie: 鈥淚 fell in love with Saratoga. I remember my first time here someone invited me to
go paint pottery, which I never thought I would enjoy, but it鈥檚 just that kind of
place. I also love dining out in town; it鈥檚 one of my all-time favorite things to
do.鈥�
Austin: 鈥淚鈥檓 a big coffee drinker and have to have a breakfast sandwich with it. My tip,
though, is to shop multiple spots. Get your coffee at Saratoga Coffee Traders and
then walk down to Uncommon Grounds for a bagel.鈥�
Read more about why students love Saratoga
Can first-year students have cars on campus?
Austin: 鈥淵es, you can. I had one and it worked for me, but a lot of students don鈥檛 and they
aren鈥檛 at any disadvantage because of it. Some students even prefer to not have one
because it encourages them to utilize resources more and connect with people. If you
have a car, parking is really easy on campus.鈥�
Is there a place to get mail and packages on campus?
Lindsey: 鈥淢e and my Amazon addiction will happily answer this. Yes, there鈥檚 mail! You get
a personal lockbox that works a lot like a typical P.O. box in a standard U.S. post
office. When you get a package, you simply go up to the mail window, swipe your ID
and they go get it for you.鈥�
How long does it take to get to and from other places on campus? What鈥檚 the distance
between your dorm room and classroom?
Shayna: 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to of course depend on where you鈥檙e going and where you live, but I鈥檇
say the farthest possible walk would be from the apartments to any of the administrative
offices on North Broadway like Admissions, Advancement or Communications. You鈥檇 really
only be going there, if you鈥檙e a student worker for one of those offices. And even
that 鈥渓ong鈥� walk is only 15 minutes.
鈥淐ampus is a circle and that means you鈥檙e always cutting through the center, which
makes most walks less than 10 minutes. Your first-year room is going to be anywhere
from a 30-second to a three-minute walk to the dining hall. And classes are the same,
with maybe an extra minute or two to get to the athletics facilities, dance studio
or Zankel Music Center.鈥�
Campus map
What is the weather typically like and what suggestions would you have for someone
coming from somewhere other than the Northeast United States?
Richie: 鈥淵eah, you鈥檙e going to need a warm winter coat and boots. The 91精简版 Shop has some
nice options for gloves and hats and a few coats but no boots. But it鈥檚 wild 鈥� spring
and summer do get hot! You get a full range of temperatures between all of the seasons,
which, honestly, I love.鈥�
Shayna: 鈥淔or packing, keep in mind that the summer heat will only last the first two or three
weeks of the semester, and then it will be mild, cool or cold until the last few weeks
where you can likely just repeat your clothes. So, leave most of your summer clothes
at home.鈥�
Is there good hiking and skiing nearby?
Mariel: 鈥淕ore Mountain is a great ski resort that鈥檚 about 45 minutes away. There鈥檚 also a
smaller mountain, West Mountain about 20 minutes away. For big trips you could head
to Vermont or up to Lake Placid, too. Multiple options under three hours.鈥�
Read one student's guide to local parks and trails
Lindsey: 鈥淎s far as hiking, we have our own North Woods that a lot of students use as a nice
reprieve during their week. It鈥檚 not super strenuous, and you can make it as short
as half a mile or loop the trails so you walk for several miles.
鈥淲e鈥檙e also really close to the Adirondacks and a lot of students go there. Our Outing Club is super active and is the largest club on campus. They do lots of excursions, including
rock climbing and boating and swimming. On school breaks they also plan long-distance
trips.鈥�
Looking for more answers? Check out our application FAQs and take advantage of the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a student.