What Is Student Housing?

Learn about student housing options at MCPHS and what items you might need to bring with you when you move in.

Whether you’re a freshman or a returning student, living on campus offers several benefits. However, with so many options available, it can be tricky to narrow down which living quarters are best. Do you want suite-style housing with plenty of space to cook and hang out with friends? Or would you prefer a single room with a roommate like in a traditional dorm setting? 

Either way, it’s beneficial to know what types of housing are available to you and what you’ll need to bring as you move in. Use this blog as your guide to discovering the perfect on-campus housing to suit your needs.

Types of Student Housing: What Options Are Available?

Student housing is the living option for students enrolled in a college or university. They’re a fun and easy way for learners to stay either on campus or close to it, meet new people, participate in student activities, and create a home away from home. 

There are several types, including:

Traditional Dorms

These are the most common student housing options and typically feature shared bedrooms and communal bathrooms. They foster a strong sense of community as students live closely together and often share lounges or study spaces.

Suite-Style Dorms

Suite-style dorms offer a more private experience, with several bedrooms sharing a common living area and bathroom. This setup provides a balance between privacy and social interaction.

Apartment-Style Dorms

These dorms mimic apartment living, providing private or shared bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. Students enjoy more independence and responsibility, often cooking their own meals and managing household tasks.

University-Owned Apartments

Similar to student apartment-style dorms, these off-campus arrangements are managed by the university but offer more freedom compared to traditional dorms. Students typically live independently, often with multiple roommates, and have the flexibility of off-campus living.

Cooperative Housing

Cooperative housing, or co-ops, are student-run living spaces where residents share responsibilities such as cooking and cleaning. This affordable housing option encourages collaboration and communal living.

Greek Housing

For students in sororities or fraternities, greek housing is an option. Members of these social organizations live together, similar to a traditional dormitory setup, often participating in events and activities that foster brotherhood or sisterhood bonds.

Homestays

Homestays involve living with a host family, offering a cultural exchange experience. It's a popular option for international students who want to immerse themselves in local culture and have a comfortable home-like stay while studying abroad.

Student Hotels

These are private, hotel-like accommodations designed for students, offering services like cleaning, meals, and organized events. Student hotels are ideal for those who prefer a more serviced living environment.

Residential Learning Communities

These are specialized dorms where students with similar academic interests live and learn together. They often have built-in academic resources and activities tailored to the community’s focus.

Living-Learning Centers

Living-learning centers integrate academic and residential life, where students and faculty live and interact in the same space. These centers often have a strong academic focus and provide unique learning opportunities.

MCPHS Housing Options

While not every college will have all these options available, students will still generally have their pick of places to stay. At Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ (MCPHS) Boston location, there are multiple residential housing options:

Fennell Hall

Home to more than 180 students, Fennell Hall is a great choice for students looking to marry academic convenience and comfort. The dorms in Fennell Hall are located in the same building as academic and lab spaces, making it quick and easy to get to class. When choosing this university housing location, residents will have a choice among double, triple, and quadruple rooms, depending on how many people they’ll want to live with. 

Matricaria Hall

This apartment-style residence hall allows students to live in four or five-person apartments or co-ed floors. Each apartment at Matricaria Hall has a common room with a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and two to three bedrooms, enabling learners to cook for themselves and have the independence of living on their own while still being close to their classes. 

The Treehouse

The Treehouse is as fun and unique as the name suggests. With 20 floors of two to five-person suites, this suite-style residence hall is shared with our Colleges of the Fenway neighbor, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, giving students the chance to interact with individuals in different fields. This university housing option features double or triple rooms and a shared bathroom, with workrooms for study, lounges with tons of seating, and a game room to enjoy. 

St. Julie Hall

St. Julie Hall is an 18-story apartment-style living space for upperclassmen, returning, and older students. Those who live in the two-bedroom apartments at St. Julie Hall have access to a full kitchen, two bathrooms, a living room, and a washer-dryer unit, giving them all the space and amenities they need to live comfortably and independently while still being close to their classes and labs. 

Benefits of Living On-Campus

There’s no better way to get a lay of the land, meet new people, and assimilate into college life than living on campus. On top of that, there are plenty of other advantages students can enjoy:

• Proximity to classes and campus resources: Living on campus ensures students are just a short walk away from classrooms, libraries, dining halls, and other vital campus resources, making daily life more convenient.
• Sense of community and social engagement: On-campus living fosters a sense of community, helping students have social interactions, form friendships, and engage in campus activities.
• Structured lifestyle: The structured nature of dormitory life, with quiet hours and community standards, helps students establish routines that balance their academics, social lives, and rest.
• Increased campus involvement: Being immersed in campus life encourages greater participation in clubs and organizations and enhances students’ overall college experience.
• Safety and security: Student safety is incredibly important. That said, on-campus housing provides enhanced protection with secure access, campus patrols, and proximity to emergency student services, ensuring people feel safe at all times.
• Cost-effectiveness: While off-campus options may seem cheaper, when you add up utilities, internet, and access to amenities, on-campus living may be a more cost-effective option.
• Meal plans: Many on-campus living options offer meal plans, providing students with access to nutritious meals without the need to shop, cook, or clean up, allowing them to focus on their studies.
• Independence with support: On-campus living strikes a balance between independence and support, helping students manage their own schedules while having guidance from residence assistants and resources available.

Student Housing Considerations: What You Need To Know Before Moving

While students can flourish in any setting, they’ll do their best in a living setup that best suits their daily schedule and lifestyle. Every college student should consider the following aspects before choosing where to live:

• Access to public transportation
• Included amenities
• Laundry facilities
• In-house gym access
• Security features
• Cost per semester
• Storage capabilities

Another important thing to note is what items and furniture the student housing provides. While most places come with beds, dressers, wardrobes, desks, and desk chairs, students will have to bring many of their own belongings, including the following items (just to name a few):

• Bedding
• Lamp or lighting source
• Fan
• Clothes hangers
• Laundry basket
• Microwave
• Area rug
• Clearing materials

No matter where you live on campus, student life at MCPHS is unforgettable. Find your place and start your educational journey at one of the leading medical institutions in the country. Apply today.