W&M Freshman Dorms

[Anonymous]

I would pick Chandler over Barret

[Anonymous]

My daughter is also an incoming Freshman. I've heard that dorms with a large number of suites can feel cliquey to those who aren't in suites. And they can make it harder for kids to get to know others on their hall. For this reason, my kid is favoring dorms with hall bathrooms and more doubles and singles. For that reason, she'd prefer Barrett to Lemon or Chandler. The newer dorms - Pine and Poplar, would be good too, but there's no guarantee she'll get one. I'm trying to encourage an open mind that no matter what happens, she'll have a great year, and she'll bond with her dormmates. I hope kids these days still leave their doors open like they did when we were in college. That's a pretty clear signal.

[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.

You don't need to defend yourself for helping your child. Senior year is overwhelming with Capstone, AP exams, finals, grad parties, prom logistics.. plus some kids work and have jobs on top of all that.

If you are lucky enough to have the time to help your kid navigate some of this... good for you. I have never seen on a forum with more judgmental/nasty people in my whole life, perhaps because all posts are anonymous?

Back to the William and Mary dorm subject- the clips are incredibly old, but there are some videos on YouTube with tours of the different dorms at William and Mary. With the tear downs and new dorms opening, it was definitely confusing to figure out which dorms are left for next year. All the "advice" videos my DC was finding on TikTok and YouTube list Yates, Randolph, and GVV, which are all gone, or will be. I think all the dorms at least have AC for next year, except for those in the Botecourt Complex. it is the main goal of my DC to avoid those five dorms. Best to 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.

You don't need to defend yourself for helping your child. Senior year is overwhelming with Capstone, AP exams, finals, grad parties, prom logistics.. plus some kids work and have jobs on top of all that.

If you are lucky enough to have the time to help your kid navigate some of this... good for you. I have never seen on a forum with more judgmental/nasty people in my whole life, perhaps because all posts are anonymous?

Back to the William and Mary dorm subject- the clips are incredibly old, but there are some videos on YouTube with tours of the different dorms at William and Mary. With the tear downs and new dorms opening, it was definitely confusing to figure out which dorms are left for next year. All the "advice" videos my DC was finding on TikTok and YouTube list Yates, Randolph, and GVV, which are all gone, or will be. I think all the dorms at least have AC for next year, except for those in the Botecourt Complex. it is the main goal of my DC to avoid those five dorms. Best to you!

Yep, all freshman dorms except for Botetourt will have AC next year. And even that complex has AC on the 3rd floor and in lounges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1 This is a factor for us too for health reasons.

[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.

You don't need to defend yourself for helping your child. Senior year is overwhelming with Capstone, AP exams, finals, grad parties, prom logistics.. plus some kids work and have jobs on top of all that.

If you are lucky enough to have the time to help your kid navigate some of this... good for you. I have never seen on a forum with more judgmental/nasty people in my whole life, perhaps because all posts are anonymous?

Back to the William and Mary dorm subject- the clips are incredibly old, but there are some videos on YouTube with tours of the different dorms at William and Mary. With the tear downs and new dorms opening, it was definitely confusing to figure out which dorms are left for next year. All the "advice" videos my DC was finding on TikTok and YouTube list Yates, Randolph, and GVV, which are all gone, or will be. I think all the dorms at least have AC for next year, except for those in the Botecourt Complex. it is the main goal of my DC to avoid those five dorms. Best to you!

Yep, all freshman dorms except for Botetourt will have AC next year. And even that complex has AC on the 3rd floor and in lounges.

Oh man, I was in a Boutetourt third upper floor without AC back in the day and that was brutal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You don't need to defend yourself for helping your child. Senior year is overwhelming with Capstone, AP exams, finals, grad parties, prom logistics.. plus some kids work and have jobs on top of all that.

If you are lucky enough to have the time to help your kid navigate some of this... good for you. I have never seen on a forum with more judgmental/nasty people in my whole life, perhaps because all posts are anonymous?

Back to the William and Mary dorm subject- the clips are incredibly old, but there are some videos on YouTube with tours of the different dorms at William and Mary. With the tear downs and new dorms opening, it was definitely confusing to figure out which dorms are left for next year. All the "advice" videos my DC was finding on TikTok and YouTube list Yates, Randolph, and GVV, which are all gone, or will be. I think all the dorms at least have AC for next year, except for those in the Botecourt Complex. it is the main goal of my DC to avoid those five dorms. Best to you!

Yep, all freshman dorms except for Botetourt will have AC next year. And even that complex has AC on the 3rd floor and in lounges.

Oh man, I was in a Boutetourt third upper floor without AC back in the day and that was brutal!

Yeah someone passed out on the 3rd floor of a dorm three years ago because it was too hot so that got fixed pretty quickly. I think they'd put window units in on the lower floors if they could too but a lot of the old buildings don't have the electrical capacity

[Anonymous]

I think we were all hot for a few weeks years ago. Although I was having so much fun, I don't think I cared too much. Only one dorm had AC when I was there.

If you are a few years out from applying, all of the non AC dorms should be gone by then. The new West Woods 2 should be completed. In the end of the building/renovation project, the average age of a dorm room will be under 10 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1 This is a factor for us too for health reasons.

My kid has asthma and allergies and we're hoping for AC!

[Anonymous]

You can apply for accommodations if they have a documented reason for AC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I was shocked as a parent to see how bad the previous dorms looked online. Please know- it looks like with the new plan, it will be completely different this year and in the few years ahead, even better. Once the Botecourt dorms are razed, all the dorms will have AC.

Here is a link to plan details: https://www.wm.edu/sites/housing-dining-plan/

I have also heard that the food is getting better every year. Next year the West 1 dining area will open and the Commons will close down.

[Anonymous]

Hunt Hall, best house ghost on campus.

[Anonymous]

My kid started off this year in Reeves. Very nice dorm, close to CW and all those places to eat and shop. That is good and bad. Lot's of traffic noise due to the odd traffic pattern along the road. Live music many nights at the seafood place across the street. The worst part about living in a nice dorm is when people hook up they end up going back to the nice dorm. Roommates end up sleeping on a friends floor quite often in Reeves. In the end. Your kid gets four walls, AC, and a shared bathroom. Watch some of the first year videos on YouTube. Livi has some really good ones.

[Anonymous]

My dd lived in Reves a few years ago. The rooms are big and it has ac, but it's an older dorm and looks it (this didn't bother my dc at all-- just don't be surprised by it.) she loved that it was across the street from CW and spent a lot of time at the boba shop that's right there; she also liked the little cafes and that it was an easy walk to the outdoor market on Second Sunday. The main downside was the distance to the dining halls, since the one next door doesn't take meal swipes and is only open for lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Lol there is not a kid on this planet who is going to ask their mother without provocation to post about dorms on DCUM. Get real. Land the helicopter

It sounds like you have a terrible relationship with your kid/s. I'm sorry they lie to you about random stuff like whether they're on social media. And I'm sorry they don't feel they can ask you for help because you're clearly unable or willing to provide it. My daughter asks me to post on here sometimes. So does my husband when he's looking for a caregiver for his mom. Or my neighbor who needs an estate attorney. They all hate this board because it's full of people like you. But I wade through the nastiness because of the helpful people who answer questions honestly without judgement in order to help the OP and others who may be interested in the discussion.

Fellow readers, please report this troll. I will.