The Coolest Dorms in the Country

For students who have never had a taste of freedom, their first dorm room will be great no matter what condition it is in, or how many empty pizza boxes are stacked in the corner. Most colleges and universities provide an average housing experience that pushes many to move off-campus as soon as possible. However, some institutions are known for their diverse housing options. Here is where you can find the country’s coolest dorms.

* Live like a king. Have you ever dreamed of living in a castle? If you enroll at Brandeis University in Massachusetts you just might get the chance. The institution’s Usen Castle offers 120 sophomore students the chance to live in the oldest building on campus, which also offers views of the Boston skyline from its balcony, according to the school’s official website. In addition, no two rooms in the castle are alike. Usen is also the home of Cholmondeley’s, or Chum’s, a student-managed coffee shop. According to U.S. News & World Report, this spot was the model for Central Perk on the television show Friends.
* Room with a view. Cramming for exams is a part of most students’ college experience. So when you are stuck inside your tiny dorm room all weekend, wouldn’t it be nice to look at your window and see an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean? According to U.S. News, that is just what some students get to see from their dorms at Loyola Marymount University in California.
* An architect’s dream dorm. Over 300 Massachusetts Institute of Technology students live inside the shimmering Simmons Hall, which is also known as the Sponge. This architectural landmark is 10 stories high and glows with interior light after dark, according to the school’s official website. This dormitory is home to a computer cluster, fitness center, music rooms and street-level dining. If all this was not enough, students can let off some steam in what U.S. News refers to as a playground-style pit filled with tiny plastic balls.
* Camping anyone? So it is not really a dorm experience, but each fall, a few students from New York’s St. Lawrence University head to the Adirondacks where they study the environment, U.S. News reports. They also live in electronics-free yurts, which are portable, felt-covered structures that are a little homelier than tents. This arrangement is a part of the university’s outdoor program. Though it probably is not for everybody, it is definitely one of the more interesting college living experiences.
* Historical living. Students have the opportunity to be a part of history at the University of Virginia, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. The institution’s official website states that seniors can apply to live in a Lawn room at the heart of the former president’s original school. A total of 54 seniors can reside in this historic residence. Rooms come furnished with a bed, desk and a rocking chair. Some even have their own fireplace. Not many other schools offer students a chance to have fireside chats with their dormmates.
* Dorm of the future. Vassar College in New York is where students can live like it is the future. The curved Noyes House has been referred to as the Jetsons’ Lounge, according to the school’s official website. Though Vassar’s other residence halls are more Victorian and Edwardian in style, the futuristic Noyes House, which was built in 1958, stands out for its modernist exteriors and futuristic interiors.
* See for yourself. A cool college dorm should not be the main reason for applying to an institution. However, you will be spending a lot of time there, so it is important to like your residence. The best way to get a look at what could be your future home is to take a campus tour.