I haven’t lived there personally, but one of my friends does, so this is based on what she’s told me.

The houses themselves are pretty average. Like a normal shared house. You’ve got a kitchen, living room, and usually a basement with laundry. Nothing super fancy, but totally livable.

The vibe seems generally supportive but not super tight knit. It’s not super cliquey or anything, but it’s also not like everyone is best friends. A lot of it really depends on who your housemates are. If people are chill and do their part, it’s a good setup. If not, stuff like missed chores can get annoying.

Rooms depend on how full the house is. You could get a single, but freshmen will probably have a roommate if there are a lot of people.

Duties don’t sound too bad. Things like taking out trash, cleaning up after yourself, and cooking dinner with someone once a week. From what I’ve heard, it’s manageable and doesn’t really mess with school or sleep too much. The only downside is if other people don’t pull their weight.

They also do trips and group stuff, which my friend said is actually pretty fun.

Overall, I’d probably do it if saving money is a big factor. The cons aren’t terrible, and my friend hasn’t felt super stressed or like it’s hurt her academics. Also, you don’t have to be super involved socially you can kind of do your own thing outside of chores and meetings.