Name: Charlie McClean
Year: 2008
2007 Lottery Number: 8769 (in a range from 7500-8999)
Location: Hillsides 270
Pros: Apartment-style setup, common room and kitchen, proximity to Boston Avenue
Cons: Small singles, distance from Davis Square
Difficulty of getting as a rising sophomore: High
Difficulty of getting as a rising junior: Moderate
Deadline: Feb. 18
Hillside Apartments, which are located uphill between Dowling and Hill Halls, are divided into six-person suites, which may or may not be applied to as entire apartments. The apartments are occupied primarily by juniors and seniors, with a few sophomores. McClean, who has lived in Hillsides since his sophomore year, said he likes Hillsides because of the setup of the apartments.
"The rooms aren't as big as some of the others on campus," he said. "But you trade it off because you get the common room [and] the kitchen." McClean also noted that the uphill location of Hillsides makes it easy to access the shops and restaurants on Boston Avenue. "A lot of the people who live downhill never go to the food places like Nick's or Dunkin' Donuts."
Despite the positive aspects of living in Hillsides, some students may be bothered by the fact that they are so far from Davis Square. McClean added that there is a bus stop close by, but if you are looking to live in Hillsides, it's nice to have a car. Accordingly, there is a conveniently located parking lot behind Hillsides.
