Breaking down the best NYU residence halls for first-year students.
By Jessica Wang
The residence hall is your home away from home, where you meet some of your best friends, pull all-nighters during finals season and learn that movies over-hype dorm parties.
Incoming New York University freshmen must pick their favorite residence halls by the May 1 housing deadline.
There’s no science to ranking the six first-year residence halls on the Manhattan campus, but each one comes with unique characteristics that should be considered when choosing where you want to call home.
Read on to find out the best and worst features of each residence hall!
BEST for proximity to campus - Lipton Hall
Located less than a five-minute walk from any of the main academic buildings, Lipton Hall’s biggest perk is convenience.
Pros: The attached dining hall offers a large selection of vegetarian-fare and a cane-sugar soda dispenser. The downstairs commuter lounge is also one of the coolest study spaces on campus.
Con: Residents have a full view of Washington Square Park from their windows. It may be pretty, but it can get loud when the park fills up in warm weather.
“It’s really close to everything,” said Lipton Hall resident Paige Walker. “There's like three dining halls you can go to.”
BEST for musicians - Brittany Hall
Each first-year residence hall has its own living community. These application-only floors house residents with similar interests and host exclusive themed events.
The Featuring All Musical Endeavours community at Brittany allows students to experience music in the city through concerts, performance art and documentary screenings, in addition to open mic nights and songwriting seminars.
Pros: Brittany boasts some of the best amenities among the residence halls. Residents enjoy a lounge with a stage for performances, music and dance rooms and a penthouse for studying.
Con: Brittany does not have a dining hall and the closest ones are all five minutes away. Not the most convenient in the pouring rain!
“I love how it’s a quieter dorm but everyone is still very friendly,” said Brittany Hall resident Syna Mehra. “The rooms are also modern with air conditioning that we can control ourselves.”
BEST for living space - Founders Hall
Founders Hall has the largest rooms out of any of the first-year dorms. When golden hour hits just right through the huge windows, residents can pretend they’re living in a spacious apartment instead.
Pros: Residents can study in the private courtyard in warm weather. The building also has three study lounges for different noise levels.
Con: No dining halls, but the closest one at Third North is just across the street.
“The big rooms are worth the long walk to campus,” said Founders Hall resident Anabel Giacobbi.
BEST for meeting the most people - Third Avenue North
Third North houses over 950 students, the most of any first-year residence hall. The game rooms, TV lounge and computer lab make it easy to meet fellow residents.
Pros: Easy access to food - each suite has its own kitchen and Third North has an Asian-fusion inspired dining hall downstairs.
Con: Campus is fifteen minutes away, so beware if you have lots of morning classes!
“I love my entry space,” said Third North resident Lily Marvin. “I can hang out with my friends and watch things on the projector.”
BEST for convenience - University Hall
University Hall, referred to as UHall by students, is across the street from Union Square. Residents have easy access to the L, N, Q, R, 4, 5 and 6 subway lines and the holiday market in December. It’s also right beside the gym, pool and Sunday Brunch at Palladium Hall.
Pros: Residents can cook their own meals in kitchens at UHall or pick up food at the UHall commons downstairs and the Dunkin Donuts (which takes meal swipes!) next door.
Con: While centrally located to amenities, UHall is one of the most removed from other first-year residences in terms of location.
“I wanted to be able to cook and store food,” said UHall resident Hogan Bingel. “I also like that it’s not too big so there’s not usually lines for the elevator or crowding in the lobby.”
BEST for campus dining options - Weinstein Hall
Which residence hall has not one, not two, not three, but FOUR dining options? Weinstein, of course! Residents can eat at the traditional buffet-style Downstein, Grubhub ahead for vegetarian and fast-food options at Upstein, dine at the Kosher Eatery or purchase grab-and-go meals and groceries at Sidestein.
Pros: Weinstein comes in a close second place for proximity to campus, so residents can easily come home in between classes.
Con: The exposed-brick rooms are infamous for looking like a prison cell.
“It’s so close to class,” said Weinstein Resident Kate Aizin. “I can literally leave my dorm at 7:55 and get to my 8 a.m. on time.”
While you should rank residence halls with your priorities in mind, the NYU Housing Department does not always place students in their first choices. If you don’t land your dream dorm, don’t fret!
“I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first moved in,” said Mehra. “But I’ve ended up loving my community.”
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