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WELCOME TO GREGORY

Welcome to Gregory, where residents believe that a college house should be more than just a place to study for your Econ 001 midterm, sleep in a one-bedroom, and grab the occasional free slice of pizza. Although the House does provide all that, it is also a place where you can explore new things and feel a real sense of community.

For a start, Gregory celebrates diversity through its Modern Languages Program and cinema through the Film Culture series. But even if German leaves you tongue-tied and the Oscars give you a headache, you will still be welcomed to Sunday brunches, study breaks, and weekly BYOM hot chocolate nights with open arms. With a supportive network of GAs, RAs and dynamic student staff, there's always something going on and someone to talk to - this is a house that's got your back.

So try a new French phrase in the mosaic-festooned Greenhouse, engage in a Star Wars vs. Star Trek debate in the Film Lounge, or simply laugh until you can't breathe in the piano lounge when you're supposed to be studying - this is a House that will embrace you. Visit for a while, or stay four years. Either way, we hope you'll feel at home here.


 


--Vicky Sakr ‘06, Gregory Alumni Society Chair and Lucid Award Winner 2006


Information for Incoming Freshmen

Living in Gregory next year and curious about your new home away from home?  


  • Gregory has a sizable number of first-year students, generally at least 80.  Freshmen are generally consolidated on the top two floors of each building; usually all of the fourth floor and much of the third floor.  In either building, you will be surrounded by your peers, even though you will get to know our upperclassmen-- the majority of whom are returners back for their second, third or fourth years in Gregory-- at our multitude of events.

  • Gregory underwent extensive renovations in summer 2014. The rooms have new furniture and flooring, and our public spaces are top-notch.  The West Wing on the first floor of Van Pelt Manor is the center of much of our programmatic identity.

  • Gregory averages close to 25 events each and every week-- so there are innumerable opportunities to get to know everyone.  Standby social gatherings include Tuesday BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug), Wednesday study breaks and Sunday brunches, but we have a long list of regular traditions. 

  • We have two unique ongoing programs that bring Penn faculty and other notable guests into the House to meet with you: Dinner with Gregory and Diversity Discourse Across the Disciplines.

  • Our freshmen live in four bedroom quads-- so each Gregorian has a private bedroom and shares a bathroom with no more than three students. A very limited number of freshmen are in four bedroom quads with living rooms (Modern Languages Program freshmen only). Each bedroom comes with a twin extra-long bed, a desk, desk chair, two chest of drawers and a small bookshelf; each quad comes equipped with (1) microwave/refrigerator unit. No AC though; so be sure to bring a big fan or buy one at nearby CVS!  See more suggestions on what you'll need in your apartment at Gregory.

  • You'll have three roommates! See our suggestions for conversations to have with your roommates over the summer and during New Student Orientation.

  • Gregory's dedicated staff for 2017-2018 includes the House Dean (Christopher Donovan), Faculty Director (Lisa Lewis), two House Fellows (also faculty-- Lance Wahlert and Philippe Met), our House Coordinator, 9 Graduate Associates, 3 undergraduate Resident Advisors, and a sizable band of undergraduate Managers.  Check out our staff page for bio/photos, though it will not be updated for Fall semester until this year ends. Gregory has the best staff-to-student ratio in the college house system, so you will surely get to know some of the staff throughout the year.

  • Gregory has two extremely active, prestigious residential programs: Film Culture  and Modern Languages. The Modern Languages Program (MLP) has five set language houses-- Arabic, Chinese, French, German and Spanish.  All Gregorians are welcome to take part in our programs -- even if you didn't apply for them originally! Keep in mind that any schedules listed on the webpages/syllabi are for the current year-- next year's schedules will be decided in late August.

  • Freshmen applicants for Film Culture are housed together on the fourth floor of Van Pelt, a predominantly freshman hall. Freshman Modern Languages Program applicants are housed together on the top two floors of the Class of 1925 building; note that your roommates might be in any of the language houses, since it is during the biweekly (at least) events that you will be practicing in your target language.

  • Our Residential Program participants have the option of obtaining course credit in Arabic, Cinema Studies, French, German or Spanish by participating in our residential programs!  No other College House offers that many academic options in residence. See the individual program pages for more information (but note that schedules and syllabi will be different for Fall 2017).  Don't worry about enrolling during summer pre-registration... attend the intro meetings the first week of classes and decide then.

  • Other Gregory perks include free coffee and tea at the Darkroom Cafe and DVD and boardgame rentals from the House Office.

  • The House is named after Emily Lovira Gregory, the first woman faculty member at Penn. 

  • Since Gregory is one of the smallest Houses at Penn, many students won't know that much about us (we kind of like it that way), and what they think they know is often way off base. In addition, many of the photos/videos out there are pre-renovation.  You can read all about our storied history, our coat of arms and our namesake, but the best way to get more information is to ask Gregorians-- if you have questions for current residents, staff, or even alumni, please let us know and we will easily put you in touch! And be sure to follow us on facebook!

See you in late August!