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"Celebrity Tour and Choosing a Dorm"

April 4, 2006

Well, I promised that I’d get up to speed on the R-Journals…and that I have. I want to give a quick recap on a fun weekend and then delve into the very interesting subject of dorm selection. I know that I had no idea which dorm was which and how to choose a “good” dorm and such.

Anyway, the past few days were what I might call “Two States and a District in 48 Hours.” Over the weekend (you might remember if you are a frequent R-Journal reader), I headed out to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. to assist with hosting several receptions for accepted and prospective students. Our trip was largely successful, and I was able to meet several of you R-Journal fans…thanks for reading!

I flew into Baltimore late Friday evening and went immediately to check in at our hotel in the heart of the city. While I was tired, it was a Friday night after all, so together with two of our amazing admissions counselors, Tyler and April, I walked the Baltimore Harbor area and went to the ESPN Zone for a few hours of fun and relaxation—---which would make up for a very long Saturday and Sunday. We were also very privileged to have Dr. Eileen Gregory around for the weekend—she’s the chair of the Biology department and a Rollins veteran—very awesome as a talking point with different parents and students.

Our Saturday started with a nice breakfast, followed by a morning informational session for some very bright Baltimore area sophomores and juniors. I’ve always found it very funny to compare the questions that sophomores and juniors have as compared to the questions that visiting seniors have regarding the College. The amount of information that is learned about the college process in just months is simply amazing. Following the younger group session, we had a “meet and mingle” session for several seniors of Baltimore area schools trying to either decide on Rollins or to meet other students attending Rollins this fall. Following this session, we made the drive from Baltimore to Washington D.C. for a nice dinner on Pennsylvania Avenue. We checked into our new hotel late that evening ready for some sleep.

The next morning, we repeated the activities on a bit of a larger scale at a local suburban Washington, D.C. restaurant and quickly caught our flight back to beautiful (and warm) Orlando that evening.

I’ve been asked a lot of questions regarding dorm selection from students planning to matriculate at Rollins next year. I wish I were able to give an objective, black-and-white answer as to which dorm is “the best,”, but it actually really depends upon what the individual student is looking to find. For first year students, there are two basic options. The first option is to live in a living learning community (LLC) and thus live in McKean Hall or in Rex Beach Hall. One makes the choice to live in a LLC through his or her RCC (Rollins Conference Course) class selection (see my first journal entry for more information on this class and on the LLC). A list of thirty-some RCC classes will be available for the perusal of accepted and deposited students sometime in May. About half of these classes will be LLCs. The other option is to take a non-LLC RCC class (confused yet?). In this case, the class selection does not influence the residence hall. In this case, students will be assigned Elizabeth, Ward, or Holt Residence Hall. While set up very similarly to McKean or Rex Beach, these dorms are not exclusive to first-year students or to students taking mutual RCC classes. Elizabeth and Ward Halls are very similar in terms of amenities and location. Holt is a bit off the beaten path, but still a nice dorm. Its rooms are suite-style, meaning that a “double” is actually two connecting singles. All of our dorms are very similar; just make sure to take a look at the Rollins campus map to determine the best location for you. Also remember that on the Residence Hall selection form that you can only list preferences—and first- year students aren’t exactly a top priority in the housing selection process. Regardless of which dorm you end up living in, you will have a great time. You’ll make friends regardless, and, inevitably, will be hanging out in many dorms.

Well, I’m out for now. I have a ton of errands to do…e-mail me with any questions. For students still making up their minds about Rollins—we’d love to have you here!

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