Dorm Life: Junior Year Edition

Hi everyone!

Freshman year, I wrote Dorm Life, a blog post about living on campus. At the time, I was living in Cassat Hall, one of the newest (and nicest!) dorms on campus. Since then, I have spent a year at home due to the Pandemic Which Shan’t Be Named and relocated my campus residence to Burton Hall. As such, it seems we are due for Part II of Dorm Life!

A Bit About Burton

Burton, unlike Cassat, is one of Carleton’s oldest dorms. Over a century old, it is known for its charm and cozy atmosphere. It is most popular, however, for its convenience. Located in the Complex, Burton grants residents indoor access to both the dining hall and Sayles. Technically, a Burton student could go an entire day without stepping outside. (Not that I’ve ever done that. . .)

Living in Burton

My room

I live in a Burton triple that includes a common room, a double bedroom, and a single bedroom (my room). My desk is in the common room, so that is where I do most of my studying. We also use the common room for socializing, as we have a nice window ledge that friends can lounge on, as well as a TV.

The common room also leads to my bedroom, affectionately called the Hobbit’s Closet. I am fortunate enough to have a single bedroom this year, which works well for me. Because I am a really light sleeper, I had a hard time with my Cassat double—I would wake up whenever my roommate entered or left the room. Having a single helps me sleep uninterrupted and on my own schedule. I also really appreciate the privacy that a single affords, as I lean introverted and value alone time.

Pros and Cons

Pros of living in Burton? As I mentioned above, it is a particularly cozy dorm with a convenient location. Many of the rooms have a set of three windows large enough to let lots of light into the room. Also, some rooms (like mine) are triples, with a common room separate from the bedrooms. I really like this design, as it allows you to have a space to work and socialize that is separate from where you sleep. Finally, I have a nice community in Burton; I have friends, both old and new, who live on my floor, as well as a few who share a triple on the floor above me. (I even get to visit their cat, William!)

Now for the cons. Burton gives “cozy” a double meaning: in addition to the building’s charming atmosphere, some of the rooms (including mine) are small. Like, very (very) small. My single bedroom, for example, is 6’x10′. Hence the Hobbit’s Closet. Because my room is small, and because Burton does not have AC, it is almost always hot and I almost always keep the window open. Yes, even when it is in the negatives outside. Additionally, sometimes the room smells a bit like soup because we sharing a building with a dining hall. Alas, certain things cannot be avoided.

What about next year?

For my senior year(!), I’m hoping that I can live in another Burton single. In my opinion, Burton’s pros outweigh its cons, and it’s a really nice place to live. Although Burton doesn’t have all of the Cassat amenities—including heated floors, ceiling fans, and overall newer facilities—I love its location. Living in Burton makes me feel like I’m in a central part of campus, whereas in Cassat I always felt a bit more removed. It’s also a quick walk to most of the academic buildings, and downtown Northfield is easily accessible.

Fingers crossed for next year!

Andriana is a native of Richmond, VA, though her love of snow suggests she might be a northerner at heart. She is in her junior year at Carleton, where she is an English major and a Cross-Cultural Studies minor. When Andriana isn’t busy staying warm in the Minnesotan tundra, you can find her binge-reading, playing music, or watching a favorite movie or show for the umpteenth time. Meet the other bloggers!