I don’t know if I’m breaking any rules asking because no ones mentioned it yet, but how do you all like your offers? If opinion on here is anything like the Facebook page, let the saltiness begin. I’d lie if I said I wasn’t a little salty as well. I’m like a salted caramel right now- happy I’m going to Berkeley, but a little irritated I got an option I didn’t even list (DAT TRIPLE ROOM).
Let’s put it this way: my daughter didn’t get anything she asked for. Instead she got put into one of the priciest units. Same thing happened at UCLA last year. By sheer coincidence we also are not on financial aid. Lottery system? Yeah, I bet.
She’s looking to switch out since it’s nearly $17,000 for the year. It’s probably too late to try and find an apartment. I am beyond upset. I’m furious.
Plus, she’s forced to take some full time meal plan she doesn’t want, as she also wanted the option of eating around town.
Anyhow, if someone wants to switch to a double mini suite unit 1 let me know. It is very spacious.
@lindyk8 do you mind me asking if your daughter got foothill? I actually listed foothill as one of my main choices (my only residence hall, actually) and they put me somewhere else, haha. I’m irritated that I won’t have the comforts of the Wada apartments, which were my first choice. But I guess that’s the college life! Just remember your daughter is in the number 1 public university in the world! We have to have something that’s not perfect, haha.
Yeah, we had wada as first, then Channing-now and Martinez. I mean those prices are nuts. At least at UCLA, you got to pick your meal plan level.
Oh well, what can you go? Your attitude is correct… 
She’s unit 1, double mini suite. It is close to campus and quite spacious. So yeah, I guess I’ll get over the sticker shot - eventually.
Yeah the aid aspect definitely sucks. Well good luck to your daughter! And good luck to you as well!
Ah it seems like a lot of people are unhappy. I was one of the lucky ones to get a wada double apartment so I cant complain. Anyways for those of you that got wada, we should all get to know each other some time
@lindyk8 if it helps, the same exact thing happened to me. I never asked for the offer I was given. My offer also costs about $17,000 for the academic year which, with my financial aid package, means I’m going to graduate with about $6000 more debt. Extremely frustrated right now.
Do you know if there’s any way to ask for a different offer? If someone declines an offer for a regular double for instance, how will students know that a new option is available? I’m very confused with how the system works.
I just found out slottman and Christian halls in unit 1 (that have my daughter’s mini suites) have basically NO WIFI service due to the thick concrete walls. None. Nada. You’re advised to bring a landline phone. Are they crazy? At nearly $1700?
Well, I guess she’ll be scrambling for an apt.
@disyatov12 I sent an email earlier to see if there is a window to back out after you accept (if you can’t get another offer). You have to accept to get in the loop. Now I just sent a second email about wifi. If it’s even remotely sketchy that’s unacceptable to us. I’m so disappointed if it’s true that wifi sucks, they have the nerve to not announce it and charge those prices.
Now having said that, maybe they came up with a workaround.
UPDATE: well I found a site that seems to be working to improve wifi across campus, esp ATT, so I left a message and asked them to call me back. I am worried though with all the thick concrete that they can only do so much and it will be slow. I’ll keep you posted. Maybe I should put the link up. Residential housing computing:
@lindyk8 ok so to be clear,
I need to accept my housing offer in order to be eligible for a different housing option? Will I be selected randomly if, for instance, a spot opens up in a Unit 2 double? Is there any going back if I accept the current offer and never get a different one?
I have a roommate listed who already accepted his housing offer. Am I less likely to be given another option?
Edit: Does anyone know if there’s anyway to check your original preferences? The “Housing Options” tab on the application is not working anymore. I want to make sure I at least didn’t forgot to put Wada as my first so I at least don’t feel stupid.
Yes, you need to select the offer and then you can put a request in for a change. If you don’t accept it, you’re tossed to the curb.
What I asked them was if you accept, request a change and then don’t get it (or not what you want), is there still a window to back out or are you locked in for the year. I have a feeling you’re locked in for the year.
So you didn’t get the roommate you requested?
@lindyk8 I did and was with him when he accepted his offer (although I still haven’t accepted mine). I just figured that since we’re listed as roommates, I might be less likely to get a different offer for some reason. But on second thought, the system is probably not that sophisticated.
Maybe people who were given more expensive housing are given less priority since they would rather have vacant spots in the cheaper housing options than the more expensive ones (if I don’t get another option, I’m forced to pay the full $17,000 but if someone who’s currently in a Wada apartment doesn’t get a second offer, they’re only forced to pay $10,000). Maybe I’m just overthinking though. I’m still very angry and disappointed. I have an extremely low income listed on my app. so why would they give me one of the most expensive housing options?
Actually, if they do take that second point into consideration then I’m basically screwed. After all, who would willingly pay that much for a double mini suite? It’s way too overpriced.
Exactly, that’s what I told my daughter. Whose going to want to switch to a double mini suite that’s $1700?
Your second point is interesting. I guess they do lock you into the double rate if no one else comes in.
Re your low income, at least from my end it wasn’t a deliberate placement cause we don’t have aid. To be honest, these prices are ridiculous. Even UCLA wasn’t this bad.
You should all check craigslist for sublets near campus - shared rooms often go for around 600-650 per month. The dorms really aren’t too much better - apartments are just as comfortable, and the latter have kitchens/bigger refrigerators!
That’s what my daughter’s doing via the FB berkeley housing page. But I really want her close to campus, so I don’t know, at this point I’ll probably keep it as is. It’s only one year, and it’s spacious and close to campus. Assuming the wifi is OK. . 
You can’t win 'Em all.
Approximately how much is the monetary benefit of the included meal plan? Maybe it’s enough to compensate, or are they ripping us off with than too by charging us more than the average person eats on campus?
@lindyk8 if your daughter ends up living there, just make sure to tell her to bring an ethernet cable. It’s recommended everywhere anyways. I know foothill’s wifi is good, but apparently everywhere else is a bit slow.
Thanks @nediac. She will for sure. So you’re foothill? Are you in engineering? It’s really close.
@lindyk8, no, my ex girlfriend lived in foothill, so I became familiar with it. I did a lot of online homework/reddit in there, and never once had a problem with the connection. I actually got placed, somehow, in a triple room in unit 3. All of my choices were apartments, with my fallback being foothill. But hey, it’s Berkeley, so whatevaaaa.
I think it’s all good. The more we’ve read on the mini suites at unit 1, the nicer they sound. At least you’ll meet ppl in a triple.
Where are you guys receiving your housing information I haven’t gotten any e mail yet