W&M Freshman Dorms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a parent. My kid doesn’t have a social media network and is just learning how to use Instagram. I’m on a couple FB parent groups but mostly lurk. Haven’t found much useful info on dorms yet.

Unless your child doesn't have a communication device, they have a social media presence. Just not telling you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a parent. My kid doesn’t have a social media network and is just learning how to use Instagram. I’m on a couple FB parent groups but mostly lurk. Haven’t found much useful info on dorms yet.

Unless your child doesn't have a communication device, they have a social media presence. Just not telling you.

NP. This is needlessly antagonistic, and also not necessarily true.

To the parent poster, or OP, or whomever, I found this clip from last year’s intro to the Tribe Guide helpful (the ~3 minutes after the linked start time). https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=3077&v=_vzf0QrMOcQ&feature=youtu.be" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=3077&v=_vzf0QrMOcQ&feature=youtu.be The tl;dr is that the FOMO of Instagram roommate finding is a little unnecessary, as there’s a form students can fill out when they fill their housing contract in, and they’ll eventually be able to use a tool to find roommate matches.

The W&M Families team just posted the 2025 version of that video yesterday, but I thought the 2024 clip was useful.

[Anonymous]

Well, the url got stupid on that, but the link still works. Sorry about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to get reviews of W&M dorms, including any intel on the new ones opening Fall 2025. Most of the Reddit and CC threads I’ve found have old reviews pre-construction and were unflattering to say the least. I’d love to hear from students or parents of students which dorms are best and worst, particularly Barrett, Lemon, Reeves. And any preview info on Pine, Cedar, or Poplar. TIA.

I hope to God you are a matriculating freshman and not a helicopter mommy. Because if you are the latter, you are being wildly inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you a parent or a student, OP?

OMG shut up. Does it matter? Seriously.

It matters a whole hell of a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you a parent or a student, OP?

OMG shut up. Does it matter? Seriously.

It matters a whole hell of a lot.

NP. DC is still a couple years out from the process but W&M is currently top of the list so learning about dorm situations is interesting to me, and I am neither a student nor a current parent. It can be really hard to get real info about what dorms are like. OP’s question is useful to many folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to get reviews of W&M dorms, including any intel on the new ones opening Fall 2025. Most of the Reddit and CC threads I’ve found have old reviews pre-construction and were unflattering to say the least. I’d love to hear from students or parents of students which dorms are best and worst, particularly Barrett, Lemon, Reeves. And any preview info on Pine, Cedar, or Poplar. TIA.

I hope to God you are a matriculating freshman and not a helicopter mommy. Because if you are the latter, you are being wildly inappropriate.

OP here. My kid asked me to post here because it’s a forum for PARENTS not students. She’s not on social media and asked for my help. So did her roommate. Neither felt comfortable posting on this board because they’ve seen how nasty some parents can be. And they’re in the middle of AP exams. But it’s still a valuable resource if you can ignore the unhelpful cowards who shame parents for using this board as it’s intended - to gather information and advice. Thanks to those who shared experiences. I’ve passed those on to my daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a parent. My kid doesn’t have a social media network and is just learning how to use Instagram. I’m on a couple FB parent groups but mostly lurk. Haven’t found much useful info on dorms yet.

Unless your child doesn't have a communication device, they have a social media presence. Just not telling you.

NP. This is needlessly antagonistic, and also not necessarily true.

To the parent poster, or OP, or whomever, I found this clip from last year’s intro to the Tribe Guide helpful (the ~3 minutes after the linked start time). https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=3077&v=_vzf0QrMOcQ&feature=youtu.be" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=3077&v=_vzf0QrMOcQ&feature=youtu.be The tl;dr is that the FOMO of Instagram roommate finding is a little unnecessary, as there’s a form students can fill out when they fill their housing contract in, and they’ll eventually be able to use a tool to find roommate matches.

The W&M Families team just posted the 2025 version of that video yesterday, but I thought the 2024 clip was useful.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I'm 7:42 (the one who posted the YouTube link). Just wanted to say to the OP that I 100% get it about not wanting to post here. The griefers here are way over the top. That's why I much much much prefer College Confidential to DCUM, as the active moderation keeps things helpful. The Facebook groups are also really good for more targeted W&M info.

Also, just to normalize your kid's experience, OP, I know one HS senior heading off to W&M in the fall who only juuust got Instagram, and another one who doesn't have an Instagram account. It's not the case that all high schoolers are on their phones all the time.

[Anonymous]

Mine just started using Instagram when he was a college freshman. He had no need for anything more than texting before that. It's not that unusual. And for OP, head over to College Confidential. Many of us can help there, and you won't have the antagonistic types who have nothing better to do than harass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine just started using Instagram when he was a college freshman. He had no need for anything more than texting before that. It's not that unusual. And for OP, head over to College Confidential. Many of us can help there, and you won't have the antagonistic types who have nothing better to do than harass.

Thanks. DD very reluctantly joined Instagram two weeks ago to find a roommate but then immediately felt out of her league. She’s posted once. But she’s following a few clubs she’d like to join at W&M. Some of her friends are active on SM, but not her closest ones, and they do just fine with texting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a parent. My kid doesn’t have a social media network and is just learning how to use Instagram. I’m on a couple FB parent groups but mostly lurk. Haven’t found much useful info on dorms yet.

Unless your child doesn't have a communication device, they have a social media presence. Just not telling you.

Some kids hate social media. Mine does. And many don’t feel the need to lie.

[Anonymous]

A partial answer to OPs question. If it were me, I’d go for Barrett. It’s right between old and new campus and I think the setup is conducive to kids getting to know each other and form tight groups. I’ve heard the same about Bryan complex dorms. While everyone seems to want Lemon and it’s well suited for stem kids who have all their classes on new campus, it lacks any charm and the set up isn’t as conducive for socializing. I imagin3 the new dorms will be very nice and they are close to the main Caf, which may be a plus. My kid gets tired of eating at Sadler, but complains that the Caf is too far. 😀

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A partial answer to OPs question. If it were me, I’d go for Barrett. It’s right between old and new campus and I think the setup is conducive to kids getting to know each other and form tight groups. I’ve heard the same about Bryan complex dorms. While everyone seems to want Lemon and it’s well suited for stem kids who have all their classes on new campus, it lacks any charm and the set up isn’t as conducive for socializing. I imagin3 the new dorms will be very nice and they are close to the main Caf, which may be a plus. My kid gets tired of eating at Sadler, but complains that the Caf is too far. 😀

In addition to being near the main Caf, there is a decent sized new cafeteria/ food court in the same complex with them.

[Anonymous]

The Caf will close when the new dining hall opens.