Don’t you worry, Barnard women; we didn’t forget about housing selection for you! Continuing the tradition for the second year in a row, we bring you the reviews for Barnard dorms! Today, we’re taking a stroll down Claremont to get a peek inside Elliott.

Location: 49 Claremont Ave (corner of Claremont and 119th–right behind Altschul)

• Nearby dorms: Claremont, Barnard Quad, 600s.
• Stores and restaurants: Close to Broadway so the world is your oyster. Except Ollie’s…

Cost:

• $8,960 for a double (same for all Barnard housing)
• $10,400 for a single (same for all Barnard housing)

Amenities:

• Bathrooms: 2 shared bathrooms per floor, each with 2 toilets, 2 showers, and 3 sinks. The bathrooms are probably the most significant downside to living in Elliott. While the toilets/sinks are cleaned daily, the showers are not and do get pretty disgusting.
• AC/Heating: Every room has an AC/heating unit. Major plus.
• Kitchen/Lounge: 2 kitchens per floor, connected by lounge. Each kitchen has a stove, oven, sink, and table. One of the two kitchens will have a microwave. Dirty dishes are a constant source of drama in Elliott, but this is entirely dependent upon who lives on your floor and how much everyone cares. Passive aggressive notes tend to have no effect. Lounges are pretty spacious and are a popular place to study. Every lounge has a table with 4 chairs, a couch, 2 comfy chairs, a coffee table, and a TV. The 6th floor lounge even has a skylight.
• Laundry: 4 washers, 4 dryers. Located in the basement. It can be hard to get a washer on the weekends, but during the week it’s pretty easy. Downside: when a washer breaks it takes forever to get it repaired, so the remaining washers are in higher demand.
• Computers/Printers: Yes! A printer and 1 computer were installed in the Elliott lobby this Spring. Victory for all residents.
• Gym: Barnard Hall is really close. Only the dedicated make it to Dodge.
• Intra-transportation: 1 elevator. Sometimes takes a while, especially during “rush hour” (morning and mid-afternoon). There are also stairs.
• Wifi: Yes.
• Hardwood/Carpet: Linoleum in rooms and kitchens, carpet in hallways and lounges.

Room Variety:

• 20 singles and 2 doubles per floor (4 floors total)
• Singles are pretty tiny (ranging from 7’8″ x 9’6″ to 8′ x 11′)
• Doubles are also pretty small–you and your roommate will probably have to rearrange the furniture a few times to find the perfect configuration. One of you may lose access to some drawers in the process.
• Overall there’s a lot of variation to room sizes. Check out the floor plans before choosing your future abode.

Numbers:

• Mostly sophomores and juniors, with a few seniors. A large portion of rooms are reserved for transfer/visiting students.
• It’s possible to pick into 1/2 a double, but be careful–this often results in room changes by the time 2nd semester rolls around.

Bwog Recommendation:

• Elliott is a good choice for people who want a single but don’t want the Quads Upperclass meal plan. If you have a bad number as a sophomore there might not be any singles left, but if you’re unhappy in a double it’s pretty easy to get a single 2nd semester (there’s a lot of turnover with people studying abroad).
• Elliott can feel isolating at times, but if you make an effort to leave your room and go study in the lounges then you can easily make some friends. A lot of residents cook regularly as well, so you can use this as an opportunity to chat and get to know your neighbors.

Resident opinions:

• “It’s unloved, but deserving of love.”
• “More than meets the eye!”
• “Elliott is a nice home. Beautiful people. And amazing RAs.”
• “Close and convenient.”
• “I don’t even live here, but this is the only place I can concentrate. I’ve also slept here.”

Pictures: 

Note: Room pics are of a 7’8″ x 9’6″ single.