There are tons of housing options here in Amherst, so here's the skinny on the best places to live at The Zoo.

For Freshman or Sophmores living on-campus:

• If you like to drink and party: Live in the SouthWest Area. Go for the low rises rather than the towers because you'll be in a more intimate setting and will probably be able to make more close friends. Also, the towers don't have co-ed floors and that sucks. Another thing about the towers is that they have a lot of fire drills and that means getting up and standing outside for at least half an hour at 2am. If you're a freshman, Cance is a great dorm and if you're a sophmore, I would shoot for either Patterson or Mackimmie. These three dorms are also right next to Berk, which is by far the biggest and best D.C. on campus.

If you're a hardcore stoner/like to do drugs: Live in the Central Area. The buildings are much older than in Southwest but if you're looking for accepting people who also share your affinity for drugs, Central's the place to be. Walking up that massive hills sucks, but the bright side is that your ass will look fantastic by the end of the semester. Shoot for Baker.                         

For Juniors or Seniors living off-campus: 

• If you like to be in the center of the action and don't mind noise Thurs-Saturday, then the Townhouses are a great place to be. It's filled with college students and there's always parties going on. 

• For those of you who like to live in a little bit of a quieter area but still close to campus, the Presidential apartments are clutch. It only 1/2 mile from campus so it's within walking distance or just a five minute bus ride. The place is lesser known, but there is plenty of college students living there. The apartments are pretty nice, with hardwood floors and bigger bedrooms, just try to get a place on the third or second floor. The basements are massive so they make for throwing good parties and the cops never come because its set back and out of view.

If you're 21 and want to hit up the bar scene, get a place on Main Street or near the Amherst Center. Houses on Main Street can be great if you pick one that isn't run down but the downside is that parties get broken up a lot. The best apartment on Main Street is definitely the Salem Place Condos. They're a little bit more expensive, but you won't find a nicer apartment in this college town. Close enough to walk to the bars and quiet during the week, this place offers the perfect balance of party and home-life. Also, the cops almost never show up here.