Founders Hall NYU: My First Year Experience

Guide to NYU Freshman Housing

Student Guide to NYU Dining

Brittany Hall, located in a prime spot between Washington Square and Union Square, has garnered a mix of reviews from students at NYU. The dorm is praised for its luxurious feel, featuring high ceilings, white walls, hardwood floors, and spacious rooms with modern furnishings. Many students appreciate the convenient location near multiple subway lines, dining options, and bustling city life. The dorm's common areas, recreation room, and study spaces are highlighted as great spots for socializing and relaxation. The dorm also boasts effective climate control, functional bathrooms, and soundproof windows. However, some students noted challenges such as noisy living arrangements, limited kitchen amenities, and issues with water pressure in the bathrooms. Despite these drawbacks, Brittany Hall remains a popular choice for freshmen, especially those attending TISCH, with its cozy atmosphere and opportunities to make lasting friendships.

Carlyle Court offers a vibrant and convenient living experience, situated right in the heart of Union Square. The dorm is comprised of three buildings with a shared entrance and features a lovely outdoor courtyard ideal for relaxation and social gatherings. A major highlight is its prime location, offering easy access to multiple subway lines, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and campus dining halls. Residents appreciate the spaciousness of the rooms, complete with a kitchen and private bathroom. However, the "open room" design in some suites can compromise privacy, and kitchens may require frequent maintenance. The buildings include amenities such as laundry rooms, study lounges, and practice rooms, though some students noted issues with outdated facilities and weak climate control systems. Maintenance is generally responsive to issues, though students should be prepared for occasional breaks. Despite some drawbacks, Carlyle Court is a lively and central option for students looking to immerse themselves in city life.

Clark Street is a college dorm with a blend of history and modern amenities, situated in a significantly convenient location. Formerly St. George Hotel, once the largest hotel in NYC, it offers a unique living experience with lounge areas reminiscent of its grand past. It's equipped with a communal kitchen featuring a large cafeteria-style dining room, an ample hangout space with couches, a pool table, and a TV. An entire floor in the basement is dedicated to laundry facilities, adding to its practical charm. Rooms come in various sizes, with all featuring bathrooms—leftovers of the building’s hotel days, enhancing privacy and convenience. However, beware of the notorious elevators, often out of service and a source of frustration. Dorm options vary, with the high-cost triples offering generous bathrooms compared to the more cramped low-cost triples. The building also provides free gym membership to a neighboring gym, adding a perk to its offerings. While the neighborhood is deemed safe and Clark Street station is right beneath the building, some find it a walk from the main campuses, and local dining options sparse. Overall, Clark Street offers a vivid community experience, but its aged facilities and variability in room comfort might sway your decision.

Founders Hall, located in vibrant Union Square, boasts an array of amenities that contribute to its overall 3.5 out of 5 stars rating. Known for its spacious rooms - said to be the largest among NYU freshman dorms - it offers plenty of natural light through large windows, adding to its welcoming and airy atmosphere. Each room comes equipped with a full-sized fridge and microwave, which can compensate for the lack of a dorm kitchen. Larger shared bathrooms get a mixed review; some find them outdated while others appreciate their size, though they do require sharing among suite-mates. Sound insulation room-to-room is reportedly good, so noise and privacy aren't typically an issue. A notable feature is the abundance of common areas, promoting study and social interactions. Some students find the distance to the Washington Square campus a downside with about a 10-minute walk, others enjoy the bustling community offerings such as nearby restaurants, stores, and convenient subway access. While some areas, like the corners of bathrooms are prone to mold, the overall cleanliness is generally praised, with the building being just ten years old.

Gramercy Green is frequently hailed as one of the best dorms at NYU, offering a luxurious and modern living experience. The dorm features spacious and well-appointed rooms with large windows that provide stunning views of New York City, especially from the corner suites. Kitchens are generously sized and equipped with appliances such as dishwashers, stovetops, and microwaves, while the modern private bathrooms add to the overall comfort. The amenities include small but adequate gyms and stylish common areas, although the limited number of elevators can cause delays. One notable downside is the dorm's distance from campus, but free NYU shuttles and nearby public transportation options help mitigate this inconvenience. Located near the Flatiron District, Gramercy Green provides access to a vibrant neighborhood with plenty of dining options. Despite some challenges with the distance and commute, the superior amenities and living conditions make it a highly desirable choice for students seeking a contemporary and comfortable residence.

Lipton Hall is the epitome of an ideal freshman dorm at NYU, standing out for its unbeatable location right by Washington Square Park. Students rave about the spacious rooms with impressive views, such as of the Empire State Building, making it a dream living experience. The convenience of having a dining hall on-site is a major plus, although some mention the absence of individual kitchens. The dorm boasts a well-maintained building with communal spaces like lounges, a meditation room, and even resident Corgis for added charm. Its proximity to classes and various amenities, including study rooms and a dance room, enhances the overall appeal of Lipton Hall. While some found it less social, the overall consensus is overwhelmingly positive, recommending it as the top choice for incoming freshmen looking for a comfortable and convenient campus dwelling.

Palladium Hall is a well-appointed dorm that stands out for its prime location and impressive amenities. Situated in Union Square, it's conveniently located above a Trader Joe's and near multiple subway lines, making it easy to explore the city and access campus with just a 10-15 minute walk. Residents benefit from an on-site gym that is the largest on campus, complete with a swimming pool, basketball court, and a range of workout equipment. The dining hall receives high praise for its variety, with Sunday brunch being a cherished tradition.

While the amenities are top-notch, the rooms and bathrooms receive mixed reviews. Bedrooms are described as small, though the common areas and kitchen are spacious enough for socializing and cooking. The bathrooms and showers, however, are noted for issues with mold and dated fixtures. Despite these drawbacks, the study lounges and on-site facilities provide convenience for residents who prefer to stay indoors. Overall, Palladium Hall offers a blend of great location and amenities that attract students despite a few minor maintenance concerns.

Rubin Hall, known for its affordable living and great location, is an ideal choice for students desiring to immerse themselves in a vibrant community. Despite being visibly aged and lacking air conditioning, it captures a certain charm with its high ceilings inherited from its past life as a hotel, making spaces feel more like apartments than regular dorms. Its private bathrooms, large rooms, a buzzing lounge, and an active student government accentuate the friendly atmosphere of the hall. However, the hall's ageing reflects in frequent printer issues, slow elevators, and scarce water fountains. The lack of air conditioning may pose a discomfort during the summer months, but post that, this becomes less of an issue. Lastly, its location makes it just a breezy 5-7 minute walk away from the closest dining halls and classrooms. Despite noticeable room for improvement, Rubin Hall offers a distinctive student living experience.

Experience vibrant communal living at Third North, a dorm known for its social atmosphere and diverse features. Offering various room setups including loft-style apartments and traditional doubles, Third North provides a range of options to suit different preferences. The dorm features spacious common areas like the basement activity space, ideal for socializing and studying. While some students appreciate the convenience of the dining hall and proximity to campus, others mention drawbacks such as occasional maintenance issues and room cleanliness. Security guards are friendly and approachable, contributing to a safe environment. Students highlight the social aspect of Third North, mentioning opportunities to meet new friends and participate in engaging activities organized by staff. Additionally, the presence of amenities like private study rooms, a dance studio, and a piano practice room enhances the overall living experience. Overall, Third North offers a mix of positives and negatives, making it a lively and dynamic choice for student living.

University Hall is a well-regarded dormitory that offers a prime location, making it a highly desirable place for students to live. Situated right next to Union Square, the dorm provides easy access to the Union Square subway station, grocery stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and a plethora of dining options. The proximity to Union Square Park, the farmers market, and various eateries makes it a vibrant and convenient area for students to reside in. The dorm itself boasts several amenities, including medium-to-large rooms equipped with kitchens, which many students appreciate despite some mentioning that the kitchen might be a bit small. The living room, however, is noted for its spaciousness, especially for an NYU dorm. University Hall also offers the convenience of in-room printers and modern construction with clean facilities. Although it's a bit of a distance from the main NYU campus, the easy access to the learning center and commons cafe balances this out, providing students with the necessary resources close by. Overall, University Hall's excellent location and well-maintained amenities make it a highly recommended choice for students.

Weinstein Hall is a popular choice for freshman students, primarily because of its prime location near Washington Square Park, which offers the convenience of a quick walk to classes and various dining options. While this dorm features two types of dining facilities, "downstein" for traditional meals and "upstein" for a food court-like experience, the condition of its facilities often draws mixed reviews. Students frequently mention that the rooms have concrete cinderblock walls, giving them a somewhat prison-like appearance; they're small but mostly private, with shared two-person bathrooms. Many students enjoy the vibrant community and accessibility of amenities, including a Chick-fil-A on site. However, issues like unreliable elevators, occasional power outages, roach infestations, dimly lit hallways, and sudden fire alarms can detract from the living experience. Despite these drawbacks, Weinstein Hall is appreciated for its social atmosphere and proximity, aspects that often outweigh the older infrastructure for many students.

NYU, or New York University, is a private research university located in New York City, United States.

Living on campus is not mandatory, except for students studying away at NYU-NYC from NYU-Shanghai or NYU-Abu Dhabi. The majority of the rooms available for students are shared, with less than 3% being private. Tandon first year residents are assigned to Brooklyn residence halls, while Manhattan-based school first year residents are assigned to Manhattan residence halls with no exceptions.  

NYU dorms come in a few different styles: triple in unit or studio, double in unit and double in studio, with or without kitchen inside depends on the building. NYU also offers lower cost options for students, such as 3 people living in a double. On-campus living is not a requirement but most commonly first-year students would choose to live in dorms.

NYU Dorms

Browse 136 Student Reviews

Alumni Hall

Brittany Hall

Broome Street

Carlyle Court

Clark Street

Coral Tower

Founders Hall

Goddard Hall

Gramercy Green

Greenwich Hall

Lafayette Hall

Lipton Hall

Othmer Hall

Palladium Hall

Paulsen Center (181 Mercer)

Rubin Hall

Second Street

Seventh Street

Third North

University Hall

Weinstein Hall

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