Housing approacheth. And, unless you’re on top of it, it’s probably coming up sooner than you think. Bwog’s got you covered; we’ll be rolling out two housing reviews per day until no residence hall is left un-reviewed. Prepare to get (even more) excited: this year, we’re reviewing Barnard residence halls, too. Reviews for all! Today’s residence hall is… Plimpton!

Location: 1235 Amsterdam Avenue (at corner of 120th Street right near Appletree)

• Nearby dorms: Wien and EC
• Stores and Restaurants: Appletree (grocery store and 24/7 deli), Subsconscious, Toast, Flat Top, Subway, Kitchenette

Cost:

• Single: $9,800
• Multiple: $8,450

Amenities:

• Bathrooms: Each suite has its own bathroom. However, you have to clean it yourselves.
• AC/Heating: All of Plimpton has AC. However, it gets turned off in late September and doesn’t turn back on in the Spring. Heat varies from room to room. Can be too much or too little.
• Kitchen/Lounge: Each suite has a kitchen with a sink, gas stove/oven, and refrigerator/freezer. Shared hallway space connecting the rooms with a table and chairs.
• Laundry: 6 washers and driers (don’t work and take a long time)
• Computers/Printers: There’s a computer lab with two big printers on the first floor.
• Gym: No
• Intra-transportation: Two elevators that stop on all floors and stairs. However, anything that can’t use the stairs has to be brought in through the basement.
• Wi-Fi: Yes. However, Columbia students must use Barnard Guest.
• Hardwood/Carpet: Linoleum

Room Variety:

• 4 singles and 1 double in six person suites
• Singles are 117 sq ft and doubles are about 180 sq ft

Numbers

• Good amount of sophomores/juniors, not many seniors
• Can be a race to get to Plimpton as a sophomore
• Reasonable pick if you have a decent number as a sophomore and junior

Bwog recommendations:

• If you’re willing to make a walk to campus unlike the 600s on 116th, Plimpton is a good option for people looking to live in suites
• Plimpton gets you away from the quad life, which is probably greatly accepted by rising sophomores
• Many have said that sound travels easily in Plimpton, so maybe avoid living here if you’re looking for a quiet, low-key dorm

Resident opinions:

• “There was a leak in a 5th floor suite that took two days to fix and in those two days our kitchen flooded with nasty brown water and my suitemate’s room flooded and had water damage so bad that it had to be repainted. Plus we were supposed to get chairs for our hallway table, and that never happened. And the fire alarms are the loudest things ever.”
• “Great $5 burgers at Appletree. However, expensive for everything else.”
• “When you place requests, they will usually fill the request pretty easily. Eugene is great!”
• “Great water pressure in the sinks and showers. Very important.”
• *from 2nd floor* “At least in our suites, we don’t get cell phone service. Sometimes we can get it by the windows.”
• “Good for engineers since it is so close to those those buildings.”
• “It’s a 7 minute walk to the sundial. However, you can go through Mudd and take the elevator to the main level.”
• “Subway stations are pretty far away. Can be annoying for someone who works downtown/uses the subway a lot.”
• “You can hear EVERYTHING. Super thin walls”
• “TV Lounge has really comfy couches. And it has a piano!”
• “There is an RA on every other floor. Interpret as you will.”
• “Doubles will have enough room if they maneuver the furniture just right.”

Gallery: