<p>What would you consider to be the best neighborhood to apply for and why?</p>
<p>You might want to start by reading this thread from earlier this year:</p>
<p>Here's the link to RPS (the residential housing and dining group):</p>
<p>IU-RPS</a> - About RPS</p>
<p>Here's where it tells which dorms are in which neighborhoods. Remember you request a neighborhood, not a dorm:</p>
<p>IU-RPS</a> - The Neighborhoods</p>
<p>Generally it's Northwest for the party groups, the internationals and those who want to be close to the business school, it's the Southeast for the Music students and theatre students and for those who want to be closer to the mall, and it is Central for most other applicants (most students)--which is probably the best neighborhood to be in overall. Only you know what works best for you, though--so like I said, read through the posts in the first thread above.</p>
<p>Calcruzer is right about reading up on the various neighborhoods</p>
<p>As far as my D is concerned, there is only one neighborhood for her and that is SE. Reason being is that is where all her classes are. Since she will stay up till 2 am doing homework or whatever, punch the "snooze" on the alarm a couple times, go back to sleep and then frantically have 15 min to dress and get to class on time, it's nice/important to be living near her classrooms. </p>
<p>Even if living near where "the action is" were important to her - and it's not - I know that after having lived there a semester this one factor is the most important to her. Plus the other people in her major live in that neighborhood and are dorm mates.</p>
<p>So far it seems like Central will be the best choice. I'm planning to be a liberal arts major.. would it still be a good fit?</p>
<p>To be honest, as a freshman, unless you are a direct admit to a school (I.E. Kelly School, Journalism School, etc) or you are in a Living Learning Community (LLC) it doesnt really matter where you live. Most freshman, no matter what, are going to be taking mostly the pre requisite, or I-Core, classes, which are mostly all located around by 3rd street from the union over to Indiana ave. I applied to Southeast, and more specifically the media LLC because i want to be a journalism major, and basically everyone on my floor is either a journalism major or telecomm major. I like the LLC idea because you get to have floormates who already have some of the same interests as you, and so there is a better chance of forming a tight knit group. The Media LLC is in Read, which is also good cause we have 3 places to eat in our building, and is a 10 minute walk at the most to any class. But honestly all the dorms are good and get plenty of bus service so its all your preference and if you are a direct admit or are going into an LLC. I recommend to visit 1 dorm from each neighborhood, plus maybe eigenmann because its different than the other central neighborhood dorms. Hope this helps</p>
<p>rct's point is valid, but there is a small error in what was posted.</p>
<p>rct said "Most freshman, no matter what, are going to be taking mostly the pre requisite, or I-Core, classes, which are mostly all located around by 3rd street from the union over to Indiana ave."</p>
<p>I think rct meant to say "Most freshman, no matter what, are going to be taking mostly the prerequisite, or general education classes"</p>
<p>I-Core classes are the ones business majors take during their junior year--and they are offered only at the business school building (or at IUPUI).</p>
<p>just a question... what does being a direct admit have to do with housing choice/ preference?</p>
<p>Probably very little--.</p>
<p>Whether you are direct admit to one of the departments that allows this or not, during your first two years you are likely to be taking mostly general education courses--and you'll take the same number of courses in your major under both scenarios (direct admit or non-direct admit).</p>
<p>So you are correct--it probably makes very little difference--at least if you are going to be a freshman student.</p>
<p>P.S. There are some schools that allows you to be in a separate section of a dorm together with some other "direct admit" students, however--like Kelley's new Living-Learning Center. So, if that matters, then it might make a difference.</p>