Wash U in St. Louis - Olin Hall Anyone?

[gotgirth]

Anyone have experience with Olin Hall?...How much does it run, what are the room sizes, and what are general feelings on the place? I remember hearing at my interview that ~1/3 of the first year class lives there, seems like a good spot to meet people and be close to class for the first year?

Comments appreciated

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[LunaMoth]

Hey,

I'm gonna be an M1 at Wash U next year...definitely psyched! Anyway, as far as Olin goes, from my understanding, about 1/3 of the first year class chooses to live there. I'd estimate that the rooms are probably around 160-180 sq feet. You get your own sink, which is nice, as well as basic furniture, ethernet, and a/c. Olin is convenient because of its sheer proximity to the med school. Everything is connected, and as one 1st year mentioned to me, it is possible to never leave the building at all. I think that Olin also houses physical therapy students at Wash U.

I'm planning on living off campus because I'd like to have my own kitchen. Having lived in a dorm for the past four years, I really want my own place. Plus housing in St. Louis is incredibly affordable.

Hope that helps!

 

[DarkChild]

olin .... interesting.
i'll be living in an olin hall next year, only its in NYC 😀
who was this olin guy? must have been pretty important - or very rich. 😛

 

[Newquagmire]

All I can say is from the outside it looks pretty ghetto.

I honestly don't know about the rooms themselves, but there's a 'security' desk in the front and a gym and study room on the first floor. I'm sure you know it's practically next door to the med school.

 

[Doctor&Geek]

I've been to Olin, and I have plenty of friends from undergrad staying there.

There is absolutely no comparison between getting an apartment on Pershing versus getting a room in Olin. Olin is old, tiny, and decrepit! The only reason why they can't tear it down and build something better is because the Olin Foundation won't let WashU do it!

Yours,

 

[siempre595]

Olin's not terrible. I worked across the street from it for 2 years and visited often. It's basically another college dorm, and it's not terribly posh. But it's dorm life, it's cheap, you live with your class and any other grad students at the med school, and like the other poster said, you never have to leave indoors if you live there😛 . If you wanna save money and hang out with your class first year, i'd live there. But if you're used to apartment life....don't, it'll be a huge downer.
good luck

 

[Louweezel]

i'll be there. gotta save $$$ and i like the idea of rolling out of bed 5 mins before class and still being on time. yes i'd like an apartment, but i don't plan on staying in st louis and i hate moving furniture around. so dorm life it is. i've spent the last 4 years living in a shoebox so the rooms there seem quite nice 🙂

 

[Wrigleyville]

Originally posted by Louweezel
i'll be there. gotta save $$$ and i like the idea of rolling out of bed 5 mins before class and still being on time. yes i'd like an apartment, but i don't plan on staying in st louis and i hate moving furniture around.

You'd rather spend four years in a dorm to avoid spending a day moving furniture?

 

[Louweezel]

well, dorms don't really bother me, and it seems a lot of trouble to me to get a place, furnish it, and then wonder what the hell to do with it all when i leave st louis which i definitely definitely will 😛 who knows, i may feel differently next year but it just doesn't seem that bad to me, and it's a lot cheaper than some other options i've heard from talking to the first years there already (some of who are moving to apartments next year).

 

[gotgirth]

I'll be joining you next year in Olin...it's just too convenient to pass up for 1st year. The basketball court in the basement is a nice bonus - too bad the workout room is extremely ghetto.

Anyone recall the food situation? I know there are kitchens every other floor, but is there anything else besides the hospital cafeteria? mmm perhaps lots of Jimmy Johns in my future..

 

[Louweezel]

hmm...apart from the kitchens and the cafeteria it seems like the other options are only to go out and eat, or bum off other friends. i spoke to some of the first years about it and they said it wasn't a problem at all - they all manage to find food, and wash u provides a lot of food as well. so i'm hoping it'll be ok, because i like eating, and i hate cooking, and i also hate cafeteria food. microwave dinners perhaps? 😀

 

[Doctor&Geek]

You sure cafeteria stuff's not for you? There are plenty of really really good places within 5 minutes walk in Central West End. St. Louis BreadCo (Panera), a greek gyro place, subway, italian, chinese, lots of good stuff.

Children's Hospital cafeteria is also pretty good too. Personally I like a pile of salad from Barnes (healthy!). McDonnell is overpriced cafe style food. 🙂

To all; best of luck at WashU!

Yours

 

[LaughingGiraffe]

and for food, don't forget the pizza parties that they threw us all the night before our interviews! i think if i lived in olin this would be a primary source of food...

 

[HBZ]

A lot of the first years said they get free breakfast at least 2 days a week..so there, some more meals provided for! I'm also living in Olin next year.. I think I'll buy a fridge and try to cook "easy" stuff as much as I can.

 

[Bighead]

From what I gathered at the second look weekend, Olin really doesnt seem that bad. Everyone I was hanging out with then (besides a few people) lived there, and there was no complaining. I just got my confirmation for Olin today, and judging by what the current first years told me about it, I'm looking forward to it...

Lunamoth - so you decided on Wash U then?

 

[LunaMoth]

Sure have =) Can't wait till august!