EC aka the Promised Land. An EC high-rise suite is the cream of the crop for seniors who want to live with their friends with a nice view and don’t mind a little freshman vomit every now and then. 

Location: Technically 70 Morningside Drive. On upper campus, just past IAB and accessible through the stairs in Wien Courtyard.

  • Nearby dorms: Wien, Plimpton (ehh), Prezbo’s house
  • Stores and restaurants: Arts & Crafts, HamDel, Appletree

Cost: Upperclassmen rates are standardized at $9,872/year for 2019-20.
Amenities:

  • Bathrooms: Pretty basic. Every suite, whether it’s a full 6-person suite or just a double, has a private bathroom with two sinks, a toilet, and a shower.
  • AC/Heating: There is lovely lovely AC. This is EC, after all.
  • Kitchen: Suites and flats all have their own kitchen, which includes a DISHWASHER, oven, stove, and fridge. No microwaves though. By the 2019-20 school year, the dreaded renovations will be done – no more hotplates.  Counter space is a little scarce and kitchens may feel cramped.
  • Lounge: Each suite has a large, sunny lounge that are perfect for friendly brunches or big parties. There are also floor lounges on 2, 6, 12, 14, and 20, which have microwaves.
  • Laundry: Lots of washers and dryers in the basement.
  • Computers/Printing: Computer lounges on 10 and 18 and two PawPrint stations in the lobby.
  • Fire Escapes: Nada.
  • Gym: Fitness rooms equipped with treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals on floors 8 and 16.
  • Bike Storage: Under EC in Wien Courtyard.
  • Intra-transportation: Each suite contains two levels separated by stairs – you can technically get into each suite from two floors. There are two fast elevators that get extremely crowded on weekends. The staircases are not crowded, but do make for a serious hike to the higher floors.
  • Hardwood/carpet: Hallways have carpet, suites have hardwood.
  • Facilities: Bathrooms get cleaned once a week, kitchen and trash are on you. You’re an adult now.
  • Bonus: Higher floors have incredible views of NYC. Like, next-level penthouse views.

Room Variety: 

  • 7 six-person suites, all singles.
  • 7 five-person suites, all singles.
  • 56 five-person suites with three singles and one double. The double faces Morningside Park.
  • 35 two-person flats. One of the five of these on each floor is taken by the RA and a rider. Each flat consists of two big singles that share a bathroom and kitchen but no common area.
  • 8 doubles on the sixth floor, each 200 sq. ft. with a private bathroom.

Numbers:

  • Last year’s cutoff for six-person suites was 30/1459.
  • Last year’s cutoff for all-single five-person suites was 30/320.
  • Last year’s cutoff for the other five-person suites was 20/548. Damn, lucky juniors!
  • Last year’s cutoff for flats was 30/1910.
  • Last year’s cutoff for doubles was 10/1425. But sophomores, don’t be too excited – the year before the cutoff was 20/2642.
  • Take all of these cutoff values with a grain of salt. Because most of the renovations in EC will be finished, it’ll likely be more popular this year than last year.

Bwog Recommendation:

Living in East Campus, the center of Columbia social life, has its upsides and downsides. There’s hella stuff going on in EC: the Heyman Center, music practice rooms, study rooms, the courtyard, exercise rooms. Supposedly the ovens and stoves will be back next year, which will be an improvement from this year. The loud parties, frequent fire alarms, and crowded lobby on weekend nights balance out the relatively nice facilities and unparalleled views. Bwog recommends EC for seniors who are excited to party out their last year and are comfortable living with a larger group of people, instead of say, a two-bedroom in Woodbridge. And if you’re a sophomore or junior with a good lottery number who doesn’t mind living far away from your friends, consider one of the sixth floor doubles. Just make sure to stay on a meal plan, since they don’t have kitchens.

Resident Opinions: 

  • “Pros: Living in EC is hype AF. Cons: Everything is broken, there’s mold, it’s either too hot or too cold. But it’s worth it on balance.”
  • “EC is the best if you want to feel like you’re in the middle of things.”
  • “Cute family in residence that lives in the building.”

Images via Bwogstaff.