January 21, 2025 by

During my freshman year at Cedarville, I stayed in McKinney Hall, a hall-style dorm. It was what I expected a college dorm to be like: one long hallway lined with doors, each leading to their own room. The only thing it was missing was individual bathrooms, but I contented myself with the standard communal bathroom in the center of the hall. There was a laundry room downstairs, two study lounges (one on the first floor and one on the second), and then a shared lounge that connected McKinney to McChesney Hall, the male dorm.

The next year, I stayed in Johnson Hall, which was nearly identical to McKinney except that it was taller. Now, I am in my junior year and staying in my first unit-style dorm, Maddox Hall, and it has taken some getting used to. After two years of living in hall-style dorms, I have a preference for them, but I still have found many good things about the unit-style options.

For those unfamiliar with unit-style dorms (or suite style, as other schools may call them), they are essentially mini apartments. Each unit typically includes four bedrooms, each occupying one corner of the unit, that are connected by a lounge in the middle and a bathroom. This style of dorm is very different from a hall-style setup. So which style dorm should you choose for your time at Cedarville? Consider the factors below:

1. Space

Unit styles are usual on the smaller side at Cedarville. Printy Hall and Lawlor Hall are especially tight fits, but they have the benefit of being in some of the most convenient locations on campus. The larger unit-style dorms, such as Walker Hall and Jenkins Hall, are more difficult to get into for underclassmen, but they offer bigger rooms and a bigger lounge area.

Though living space in a unit style may be less than in a hall style, they allow for unitmates to become closer together over the course of the year. Of course, you can make connections in hall-style dorms as well, but the smaller shared spaces encourage everyone to interact at least a handful of times a week. I’ve found that it’s easier to interact with the quieter girl next door than the one at the end of a long hallway. It’s also hard to ignore someone when they’re lying in the middle of the floor hanging out when you’re on your way to brush your teeth — an event I have lived through (I was the one on the floor).

Now, no matter which dorm you stay in, there will not be a guarantee of lifelong friendships, but you may find it easier to get closer with people in a smaller rather than a larger dorm.

2. Privacy

One of the disadvantages of a unit style is, funnily enough, the lack of a hall. Units are great for socializing, but if I need to make a late-night call or if my roommate wants to sleep and I have homework to do, I can’t just go down a hallway to keep from disturbing others. Each unit has the benefit of a shared lounge, but if it is occupied, I either have to hope and pray that the study lounge is free or have my call outside. This can be fine on warm nights, but it’s not a pleasant experience during the colder months.

3. Kitchen

Another key aspect to consider when choosing a dorm, whether it be hall or unit style, is to keep in mind which dorms have a shared kitchen.

For townhouse residents, a kitchen is essential if they are not on the University meal plan, but other students might still want to check whether or not they can make a late-night batch of cookies in the dorm they select. I have found that most unit-style dorms have a kitchen (I have yet to find one that doesn’t).

There is not a similar guarantee with hall-style dorms. Neither McKinney nor Johnson had a kitchen. While many hall styles do have kitchens, such as Willetts Hall, Bates Hall, or Diehl Johnson Hall, even newer dorms, like Morton Hall, don’t always have a kitchen. If a kitchen is important to you, keep a keen eye out for the dorms that do have one, especially if you prefer a hall-style dorm.

4. Laundry

While it has its benefits, the disconnected nature of a unit-style dorm can present a challenge for laundry since you’ll have to carry your load up and down stairs outside in the cold. I was familiar with carrying my laundry outside already since my family doesn’t have a personal washing machine back home, but I did grow comfortable with cozy indoor laundry trips in the hall-style dorms like McKinney and Johnson.

5. Community

One of the biggest differences I’ve seen between hall-style and unit-style dorms is the community.

As I said earlier, unit styles make it easy for you to get to know the other girls or guys in your unit. However, I’ve noticed that unless you know someone in another unit, you may not interact with many other people in your dorm. The most dorm-wide communal activity in everyday life at Maddox is laundry time, and, while I love my sisters in Christ, I’m usually hoping there aren’t a bunch of them in the laundry room when I’m looking for an open washing machine.

In contrast, I’ve found that hall styles are more broadly interactive than unit styles. It really is incredible the number of times I’ve had a long conversation in the communal bathroom with a girl from the other side of the building. To me, hall styles are not just bigger when it comes to rooms, but also when it comes to the number of people you’ll interact with.

Which Should YOU Choose?

At the end of the day, the choice is up to you. Though your options may be limited for your first year since upperclassmen will have already made their dorm selections, you will have more choices after you get a couple of credits under your belt. By that time, you will have a better understanding of Cedarville and figure out your preferences, whether hall, unit, or even off-campus living. You will also decide which friends you want to live close to and who your roommate will be.

Choosing your first dorm is an exciting time for a college student. It is sometimes disappointing (like when I didn’t get into Walker because it switched to being a men’s dorm), but most of the time it is thrilling and full of possibilities. Even the year when I decided to follow my friends to Johnson rather than stay in McKinney (like I had wanted) led to me making some of the greatest friendships in my college time, including meeting my current roommate (Love you, Chloe!). No matter where you go, God will be there to direct you to the people who will share some of the most eventful times in your college life.

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