As Colgate University sophomores prepare to select housing options for next year, many students find themselves deciding between Townhouse-style residences, commonly known as Tohos, and apartments — two of the most popular upperclass housing options on campus.
Tohos are designed to foster close-knit group living, in either an eight-person or 16-person format, while the University Court, Parker and Newell apartments emphasize privacy and apartment-style independence. Walk into any Toho on a Friday night and you can find doors propped open, music spilling into hallways, friends moving freely between rooms.
According to Residential Life, both options are intended to give juniors and seniors increased autonomy while maintaining access to campus resources. However, student experiences vary widely depending on building, floor and roommate dynamics.
Junior Charlotte Marston chose the Tohos specifically so her teammates could live together. A year in, she does not regret it — the built-in community means spontaneous hangouts, shared meals and the comfort of always having people around
“One of the pros is the community aspect … the ability to live with a group of people whom you choose but still live around other groups,” Marston said.
She added that Tohos appealed to students who wanted to live with friends while remaining surrounded by classmates in the same grade, noting that the housing option made it possible for her lacrosse teammates to live together.
However, Marston emphasized that the experience comes with drawbacks.
“There isn’t good insulation between the floors … When someone is walking upstairs, it sounds like a herd of elephants,” Marston said.
Other concerns included small kitchens, plumbing issues and general wear from high-traffic living.
“If I could change one thing, it would be the insulation between floors,” Marston said. “It’s really tough for people living on the bottom floor.”
The apartments, located farther from the academic core, offer a quieter and more private living experience.
Junior Shepard Sorenson, a first-semester resident of the University Court Apartments, highlighted the benefits of space and autonomy.
“One of the biggest pros is the large common area and personal kitchen,” Sorenson said. “I’ve really enjoyed cooking more rather than going to Frank [Dining Hall] this semester.”
Sorenson also noted that University Court rooms feel larger than those in other housing options, particularly in four-person apartments. Still, distance from classes remains a common concern.
“A con is the location with respect to classes, as it can be cold to walk up the hill every morning if you don’t have a ride,” Sorenson said.
Sorenson explained that he chose University Court after hearing positive feedback from upperclass students and wanting to avoid the density of townhouse living.
Senior Sophia Ceconi lived in the Tohos during her second semester of junior year. She transitioned to the Parker Apartments for her senior year.
“For senior year, I wanted a smaller space that was closer to campus, and I really love that Parker has two floors,” Ceconi said.
Students emphasized that the ‘best’ housing option depends on personal priorities.
Students who value social energy, proximity to peers and shared experiences may gravitate toward Tohos, while those seeking quieter spaces, larger common areas and apartment-style independence may prefer the apartments.
As housing selection approaches, many juniors recommend speaking directly with current residents before deciding.
“It really depends on what kind of environment you want to live in every day,” Marston said.
As housing selection approaches, sophomores will log in and make their choice: the noise and energy of the Tohos, or the quiet and space of the apartments. Some will choose based on friend groups, others on cooking ambitions or tolerance for morning walks up the hill in the snow. Marston has it right: in the end, it’s not about which option is better. It’s about which life you want to wake up to every morning.
