h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Here in the US, the "College System" is pretty rare, most universities have either dorms open to all or very exclusive fraternities/sororities (members being referred to as "Greeks" because of the typical names being Greek letters, e.g. "Delta Upsilon"). My alma mater, Rice University in Houston, Texas, does use the college system, which I think is a plus. In fact, fraternities and sororities are not allowed.

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Undergraduate life at Rice University differs from that at many universities because of Rice's tradition of residential colleges. To quote from the Rice University General Announcements, '02-03:

One of the unique features of Rice is its residential colleges. Before matriculating, each of the university's 2,700 undergraduates becomes a member of one of nine residential colleges, which have their own dining halls, public rooms, and dorms on campus; most of the first-year students and close to 80 percent of all undergraduates reside at their associated colleges.

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The system does give all students a "base" which can be important to 18 year-olds on their own for the first time.