<p>I heard that the reason why tour groups aren't allowed to see the dorms is because they kind of suck. How ARE the dorms at UVA?</p>
<p>just like everywhere else. halls of rooms</p>
<p>You weren't allowed to see dorms because of security reasons. The dorms at UVA are fine, but most first year dorms do not have AC.</p>
<p>I don't think any university allows you to enter dorms because, as cav said, of security concerns. You can read up on the dorms at the uva housing website, University</a> of Virginia - Housing Division :: Home. The dorms are pretty much what you'd expect so you don't need to be worried. They are starting the elimination of new dorms(alderman) and if I remember correctly the first ones will be torn down this summer with the two new ones that are being built now as the replacements.</p>
<p>Within 4 or so years all suite style first year dorms will be torn down and hall-style AC dorms like cauthen/woody will be in their place.</p>
<p>UVa dorms are your standard white painted cinderblock, tile floor deal. Nothing thats going to blow you away, nor nothing thats going to make you rethink your college plans.</p>
<p>The dorms (including Lambeth) at UVa are the worst of any school I looked at. Nothing beats using the rest rooms on the first floor of Hancock in plain view of the world outside. Even better on a Sunday morning after the frat parties the night before. BTW, room and board goes up 9% next year.</p>
<p>The dorms aren't bad enough to really influence your decision, but when you see them for the first time, you wonder about the school's priorities.</p>
<p>Mech, what schools did you tour?</p>
<p>I've seen a good number of residence halls and UVa's are pretty standard. Plenty of schools are spending more and more money on residence halls these days, so there are some schools that have gorgeous buildings to show on tours. Sometimes you have to spend a few years in standard, old school halls before you get to those nice buildings, though.</p>
<p>Okay, maybe Duke's and Princeton's dorms were slightly worse. W&M and UNC had probably the best dorms I saw among UVa's peers. In general, the less selective the school, the better the dorms. </p>
<p>I have to say that my first-year RA and the other Hancock RAs were great. They can really make a difference, even if you do have to wear rubber boots on Sunday mornings.</p>
<p>The rooms we viewed at UNC (south end of campus) looked very similar to what D ended up with at UVa. Except that the walk to class would have been a lot longer...
I thought both locations had pretty standard dorm rooms. Nothing special/nothing terrible.</p>
<p>From what I've heard and seen, the dorms are pretty standard. As for AC, they might be needed for the first 2 or so weeks of school--not a big deal.</p>
<p>"In general, the less selective the school, the better the dorms."</p>
<p>I think Mech is onto something here. Less competitive schools need some sizzle to bring in applicants, and great residence halls rate right up there with wonderful landscaping. BTW, I can second the notion that Duke's residential facilities are nothing to write home about, and Harvard's notoriously a mixed bag, ranging from "nice but remote" to "dated but OK" to downright squalid.</p>
<p>HA. I don't know if I buy that gadad. CMU had some of the nicest dorms I toured, while RPI seriously scared the crap out of me, there is no way I could have lived there (grant it, RPI is still pretty selective).</p>
<p>The dorms here are about average. New dorms are fairly large in comparison to most, but don't expect to find the amenities like Plasma TV's in the common rooms that you might find at a big private like say, WashU. Then there is brown, where you get an average sized room all by your self :). Brown ftw.</p>
<p>some of the most ELEGANT dorms are at Dartmouth and Williams. so much for less selective. i do wonder, however if the more REMOTE schools have the better dorms? BUT, UVA dorms are, as others have said, FINE. altho we didn't see inside the dorms til the July admitted student visit, we did see them. main point...try to get a big window fan in place, and my d and her roommate used a second, floor model one as well! just til the summer heat passes!</p>
<p>UVA dorms are very basic. There doesn't seem to have been much improvement to the old or new dorms since I lived in the old dorms in the early 80s! My son attended a soccer camp last summer and lived in some newer dorms near the football stadium--all single rooms. My daughter attended a program and lived in the new dorms. I actually liked my room in Humphreys better than both of these options!</p>