So, you've gotten to Hopkins only to realize that you are living in a so-called "sophomore" dorm. Feeling left out of the whole "freshmen" dorm experience of the AMRs and Buildings A and B? Well, have no worries! Life on the other side of Charles St. is equally fun, if not more. And though Wolman and McCoy traditionally housed sophomores, more and more freshmen are skipping the AMR way of life by residing in these buildings. Chances are, you will have freshmen as roommates, suitemates, or in the very least, floor mates. So get over that whole, missing out on "freshmen" bonding thing, because you can meet a ton of freshmen AND sophomores in Wolman and McCoy.
While the residents of the freshmen quad are fending off rats left and right,, Wolman and McCoy seem like palaces in comparison. Let's talk about basic amenities. These buildings have suite-style living, with a kitchenette, a bathroom and central air-conditioning. You can make your own meals for when cafeteria food gets repetitive. If those living on the freshmen quad try to cook in their rooms, the fire alarms will go off and their buildings have to be evacuated (this is based on a true story). And, you have a bathroom for just four people to share? Way better than a communal shower, sink, and toilet for a floor full of people, like in the AMRs. And behold the joys of A/C. While the people in the freshmen dorms are sticky from the sometimes hot, humid weather, you can chill out in a room that obeys your every temperature-related command.
Wolman and McCoy also offer a student lounge on each floor, complete with a TV, VCR and basic cable. There's also a pool table, exercise room, ATM (in Wolman) and various study rooms in the buildings, if you know where to look. The RA's of these buildings are usually more relaxed about enforcing rules, but be warned. They periodically patrol the floors for any suspicious behavior, especially on weekends and nights.
This brings me to another point. There is always a security guard on duty in the lobbies of Wolman and McCoy. And, you can only gain access to the elevators, rooms and floors if you have an electronic access card. There are times when you can access any floor and even use a Wolman card in McCoy and vice versa, but during most of the day, only the people who live on a floor can gain access into that floor. You are pretty darn secure.
Those living in Wolman have an additional perk of living in the same building as the dining hall. The dining services often get a bad rap, but from my observation, the catering company definitely does try to reform and get approval from the students. No matter how much you like to complain about cafeteria food, eventually you are going to eat there. And what's better than rolling out of your bed and waltzing into the cafeteria, without having to step outside? You may think that this is no big deal, but when the weather gets really cold, you may come to appreciate living in such close proximity to your food. Many people also agree that the Wolman Station food and selection is better than what Terrace Court offers. Besides Wolman Station, those living in these dorms can also meal-equiv (substitute a meal from the meal plan for money) at the Depot, where you can buy salads, bagels, Starbucks coffee, etc. Plus, these dorms are a short distance from University Minimart (Uni Mini, famous for their yummy subs) and Royal Farms (RoFo, famous for getting robbed all the time), two popular convenience stores. Not to mention, the residents here are closer to most of the frat houses, restaurants and pubs.
By now, perhaps you are thinking, what's the catch? As in anything, life in Wolman or McCoy has negative aspects, though I don't want to dwell upon them too much. The only big thing is probably the distance from these residence halls to the lecture halls. You probably need to plan extra time, maybe about 10 minutes, to get to class. If you are going to the Athletic Center (the AC), you've already done half of your workout just getting there. If you are going to Bloomberg, bring an inhaler and a water bottle. Walking up the path around the beach is annoying too, especially with all those ankle-killing cobblestones. Then again, this may be a blessing in disguise. With all that extra walking, you may be able to avoid that ugly phrase, "Freshman 15."
In a month from now, you will come to see what you like and dislike about living in Wolman and McCoy. The important thing is, no matter how bad it seems, the people living in the "freshmen" dorms have it worse. It's good to remember that.
