Carlton Arms Dorm Reviews at Columbia

Living in Carlton Arms can be a positive experience for someone who is looking for a tight-knit suite-based living atmosphere, but the common bathroom ratio (in my dorm, 12 males to 2 shower stalls) can be difficult to adjust to. If you'd like to live in Carlton, I'd recommend a higher floor with a Hudson view (the only dorm at Columbia where that's an option!) and the rooms are generally on the larger side.

While it was the most affordable housing provided by the university, it was quite dirty and noisy. They mixed undergrad with grad students, and you would be surprised that grad students were those who were so so messy. The problem was not fully the fault of the maintenance but rather not punishing other students for disrespectful behavior. Constant noise at 2-4 a.m., wet floor in the showers (dangerous), hair everywhere, and absolutely awful smell on our floor. We have a saying in Russian: "it is not clean where someone constantly cleans, bur rather where everyone tries to not create a mess." Leaking never would be fully solved. It was very cold and the common fridge was filled with spoiled stuff. The securities and the manager of the building were very sweet. Tried to help all the time. But they can do only so much. They also have a grad student "hall director" who was responsible for solving the issues with other students. But she was not helpful and could not do her job properly. Sadly, I have to write all this. But I do not want another student to pay so much money for such a poor dorm (nearly $1000 for a shared room). Either pay more and live in a different building or live off-campus. On the brighter side, there is a small gym on the last floor, laundry included in rent and you can choose whether you would like to live all gender-inclusive or particular gender-exclusive side.