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At Tufts, all first-year students live on campus in one of the several residence halls scattered across the hill. Housing is assigned, meaning you don’t pick your building, your room, or even your roommates. While that was a little nerve-racking, it also adds a layer of excitement, knowing you’ll end up with a new space and a built-in opportunity to meet people right away.

When I got my assignment over the summer, I expected to get a standard double. Instead, I found out I’d be in a triple in Hodgdon Hall (“Hodge” for short). I wasn’t sure what to expect from sharing a room with two other people, but I quickly learned that it came with its own unique set of perks.

The Set-Up

Our room was arranged with three lofted beds, with our desks and dressers tucked neatly underneath. It was a surprisingly efficient use of space that allowed each of us to have our own little “corner” of the room. For me, adjusting to a lofted bed was intimidating at first (I wasn’t thrilled about climbing a ladder every night), but over time, it became second nature. I even laugh about it now when I remember how dramatic I felt clinging to the ladder each morning.

The best part of living in Hodge was Hodgdon-on-the-Run, the grab-and-go dining option right in the building, which made it easy to pick up breakfast on the way to class or dinner on the way home when I dont want to eat in the dining halls. Having food literally downstairs was a huge convenience and definitely made up for any challenges of sharing a room. Plus, Hodgdon’s partial central location meant I was never too far from classes or friends in other dorms.

The People Factor

Living with two roommates meant there was always someone around, and I learned a lot about sharing space respectfully. Even though my roommates and I weren’t inseparable, the experience taught me how to adapt to different habits and live harmoniously with new people.

At the same time, I saw just how meaningful first-year roommate connections can be. Two of my closest friends met in their freshman double and even decided to room together again as sophomores. So, while my experience was more neutral, I saw firsthand how these living arrangements can spark really strong friendships that start right in those first weeks of college.

Hodgdon Now

These days, Hodgdon still has singles, doubles, and some triples. However, Tufts has been moving away from converting as many doubles into triples. That means current first-years get all the perks of Hodge, while having a bit more space to themselves.

Tips if You’re Assigned a Triple

1. Be upfront about your habits and boundaries early on.
2. Use common spaces when you need breathing room.
3. Invest in storage – utilizing the vertical space is key.
4. Embrace the chaos – some of the best first-year stories come from shared living.

Final Thoughts

While living in a triple wasn’t always easy, it shaped my first year in unexpected ways. I learned to compromise, to laugh at minor inconveniences, and to make the most of a shared space. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything else.

Now that I have a single as a sophomore, I can appreciate the extra space while still recognizing how valuable that first year triple was. Sharing a room with two others might not have been what I expected, but it was a welcoming start to life at Tufts and an important part of my college journey.