One of my biggest questions before attending Rutgers was which campus to live on. With five different campuses to choose from, it felt hard to pinpoint the “vibe” of each location before actually becoming a student here. One amazing trait about the Honors Program is that you’re more likely to get the campus you want if you apply for Honors Housing. This was a game changer for me because once I figured out I wanted to live on College Ave, I had a good feeling that I would get Brett Hall.
Each campus here at Rutgers has a unique feel. None better or worse, they all have something special to offer. Much like the variety on the Starbucks menu, our campuses embody diversity. Imagine each campus as a flavorful Starbucks drink! While it can be hard to decide which may be the best match for you, I hope that after reading this article you have a better understanding of each campus.
College Ave
College Ave’s lively atmosphere calls for a fruity, summery drink. College Ave, like the Strawberry Acai Refresher, is loved by many because of its fun style and familiarity. Immersed in the city of New Brunswick, College Ave is the most energetic campus here at Rutgers. Home to Greek life and the green expansive Voorhees Mall, College Ave has a classic college feel to it.
The dorm for Honors Housing on this campus is Brett Hall. This hall is very social and in the heart of College Ave. Brett has a very traditional feel to it, with four floors, doubles, and communal bathrooms. Another plus of Brett Hall is how close it is to Cafe West, a retail location which takes meal swipes. I often go on bagel and coffee runs there before class!
Busch
Busch is home to many STEM classes and a good spot for a late-night study sesh with friends. Arguably, out of all campuses, Busch has the most academic feel. I think Busch would be a Nitro Cold Brew. A great pick-me-up, the Nitro fuels the typical college student through midterms, finals, and projects.
Busch is also home to our football stadium, many sports fields, and the biggest gym at Rutgers. If you’re really into athletics, this might be the spot for you! The hall for honors here is McCormick Suites, loved by many for its air conditioning and innovative layout. Each suite houses six people and has a common room, so you get an apartment feel, skipping the traditional freshman-year communal bathroom experience.
Cook/Douglass
Though technically two different campuses, most students group them into one because they share the same space. Cook/Doug is so unique because of its laid-back, rural atmosphere. There’s also a working farm! Because of its earthy, green feel, Cook/Douglass would be an Iced Matcha Latte with oat milk.
Cook/Doug has the best food (in my opinion). Harvest is an organic dining spot that takes meal swipes and gets their produce and meat locally. In a nutshell, Cook/Doug is a chill, artsy campus home to the Mason Gross School of the Arts and Passion Puddle. As for Honors Housing here, you’d live in Jameson Hall, which has a traditional dorm feel but is a bit more stylish.
(Last but not least) Livingston
Livingston has the most modern feel to it, home to the Business School, tasty eateries, a movie theater, Jersey Mike’s Arena, and a huge dining hall. Livingston is freshman-friendly, housing many freshmen in its Quads and Towers. Because of Livingston’s modern and sleek feel, it’d be an Iced Blonde Vanilla Latte.
Livingston is known for its food. Three places which take meal swipes are the dining hall (the best dining hall in my opinion), Kilmer’s Market, and Henry’s Diner. Honors housing here is at the top floor of the Livingston Towers, a traditional, social dorm. The Towers are very close to the dining hall as well as the Livingston Plaza. Another great quality about Livingston is its Eco Preserve trails. The preserve consists of seven trails, one of which is dedicated to spotting wildlife. Make sure to check those out!
Thanks for following along! I hope this exploration of the Starbucks menu has provided a tasteful glimpse into each campus!
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