...posted by Stefanie B.
Personally, CRIBS entries are one of my favorite because I clearly remember frantically looking for pictures online as a high school senior. But I cannot believe that I am composing my final CRIBS entry for SAAB as a college senior. In the end, I have been extremely pleased with my housing experience at Hopkins. Every year has been different in one way or another. Here is a review of my experience at Hopkins, CRIBS style:
My freshman year, I was placed in a double in McCoy with a sophomore. This was mainly because I was out of the country the entire summer prior to Hopkins and I was unable to submit my papers on time. Plus, as JHU_Esther mentioned, Hopkins over enrolled for the Class of 2009 (more love is all). My roommate and I never became close friends, but we worked well as roommates. My major issue was learning to live neatly in a confined space. Usually, I love to be organized and neat, but I brought way more than I should have my freshman year.
My sophomore year, I stayed in McCoy in an essentially identical room but with my closer friends my age. The entire year taught me that it truly doesn't matter necessarily where you live -- it really is about the company. It was a great year overall -- in fact, it may rank as one of my favorite years in regards to living situation. My roommate and I talked to each other a lot, and we bonded over our studies, meals, weekend festivities, and etc.
My junior year, I moved off-campus with four of my girlfriends. We moved to a popular apartment building about five blocks north of campus. The amenities were fabulous, but the additional walk to get to school was an adjustment (even if it was five blocks). I shared a room with my previous suitemate (from sophomore year) because my roommate decided to stay on-campus. The extra space was fabulous -- along with a quickly accessible place to cook and bake -- but the furniture coordinating was a new challenge. After this experience, I learned to appreciate dorms (and their pre-set furitnure) more!
My senior year, I moved back near campus (directly across from the Mattin Center, essentially where Charles Commons is). After living in a double for three years, I thought it would be interesting to have a place of my own. Plus, I knew this was going to be a full year preparing for post-graduation life. However, I let my friend (a Hopkins alumna) come live with me for 1st semester. But the photos below show my current space alone. In mid-May, I will be living with two other girls in a row house in Baltimore as Hopkins Nursing students!
But for now, welcome to my humble apartment. As soon as you walk through the door, there is a little entry room with a shoe-rack, full-length mirror, and some boxes of clothes (where I usually put my jacket for the day). There are four doors: two leading into walk-in closets, one into the bathroom, and one into the main room.
The main room is large enough for my queen sized bed, a dining room table (which functions as my desk and eating area), my TV stand + television, a bookshelf, and my disk chair. I think the size is great for one person or even a couple. The furniture is all used. The queen sized bed came from Craig's List for $30. The dining room table was also added after my roommate found her own place because I needed a place to work at home. It was purchased from Craig's List for $100 (the previous owner also delivered it).
The only downside of living alone is being in charge of the cable/internet bill alone. When you live with more people, the bill is split equally. However, this independent living has been an experience. Plus, I am not usually alone too often. But as I wrote in my previous entries, I have been valuing my alone time so quietness is not unbearable. The next series of pictures are of the food/kitchen area. The main room is separated by this next area by a curtain. The first little room has the fridge, microwave, and tupperware of food. Then the kitchen is a small area with a mini-oven, stove top, and sink.
That's it! It has been interesting tasting the different flavors of apartment buildings around Baltimore. I am looking forward to sticking around this city but row-house style! But before you leave, enjoy the final pictures of my bathroom and disk chair. This disk chair has been with me since freshman year - never stopped loving it!