<p>Please provide information about the pros and cons of each dorm along with size, hygiene, etc :) Much appreciated!</p>
<p>Well…the list could go on forever in both categories haha…what are some of your preferences? Are you looking for something in particular?</p>
<p>I’ll give you a brief preview:</p>
<p>Unit 1: Closest to Crossroads (the main dining common for the unit); close to campus as well</p>
<p>Unit 2: Tbh I don’t know why people choose Unit 2 since it’s pretty much like Unit 1, but father from campus + dining common. </p>
<p>Unit 3: Right next to dining common (only open for Mon-Thurs though); nearest to Sather Gate; oldest of the unit</p>
<p>Foothill/Stern: North side of campus. Good view; near dining common (Foothill); quiet</p>
<p>Bowles: Bad rep… extensive long walk because it is uphill x 2. Somewhat far from dining common (Foothill); people just despite it lol</p>
<p>Clark Kerr: Very nice looking place, farthest from campus (literally…); near dining common (Clark Kerr). </p>
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<p>My person recommendation would be (this is a bias recommendation since I’m currently living in unit 1 lol):</p>
<p>Unit 1… - close to Crossroads + Durant Food Court + campus.</p>
<p>I second the Unit 1 thing (that was my first choice 
I hate walking uphill for 8AM at haas…I always miss the bus to take me from unit 3 to 1 in time haha). </p>
<p>If you’re ok with the cost, and will be taking a lot of courses in the north part of campus (engineering stuff, like Soda, Cory, etc…) I recommend foothill - not as “social” from what I hear, but shorter walk if you’re lazy like me. Getting back up from the south part is annoying though lol.</p>
<p>Best: Unit 3
Worst: Foothill</p>
<p>I would actually recommend Unit 3. I’ve lived in Unit 3 for 2 years now (going to be 3 years soon) and I love how it’s really close to everything (i.e. Sproul, RSF, Haas Pavilion, Dwinelle, Wheeler, VLSB). There’s a nice and covered walkway between Unit 3 and main campus in Sather Lane (so you don’t have to walk on Telegraph to get back to the dorms at night). We are close to the major bus stop at Bancroft/Telegraph (headed to BART or SF), and taking the bus back is really easy as well (1/1R or 51B) Also, starting next year, our dining commons will be open every day of the week.</p>
<p>hahaha that^ is why I said we need to know your preferences xP</p>
<p>Wait Cafe 3 is opened every day next year?!</p>
<p>Yep! I’m super excited… don’t need to walk to crossroads anymore during the weekends :)</p>
<p>avoid bowles like the plague</p>
<p>Hey guys, I’m looking for a dorm that is relatively close to everything(library, campus, gym, dining, computers, etc.). I prefer a more spacious dorm if possible, and would like to be in a more “social” dorm, but not where there’s huge parties all the time. Any recommendations will help! Thanks!</p>
<p>Unit 3 has always been my favorite. It’s actually not the oldest dorm. Unit 1 is older. I don’t know why people always say Unit 3 is the oldest.</p>
<p>It’s got its own DC (which apparently is going to be open every day next year? Does someone have a source for this? Even as it currently operates, on weekdays only, it’s still very convenient) and its own convenience store. It’s super close to campus, has its own little shortcut, has its own vibe that is different from the Unit 1/2 vibe, doesn’t have the creepy nautical lights and exposed ceilings of the older Unit 1/2 buildings, and it can have pretty great views (Ida Sproul, for example). Unit 3 is also considered the most social of the dorms, although that of course varies considerably depending on your floormates. It does lend itself to more socializing, though, because room doors actually stay open on their own, unlike most doors in the other units which close automatically.</p>
<p>Units 1 and 2 are fine. They have laundry on every other floor, unlike Unit 3…actually, maybe they’ve changed this? I know Cal is getting desperate for more housing. Last time I checked, though, Units 1 and 2 had laundry on every other floor. 
They both share Crossroads. Unit 2 is super convenient if you are FPF, as it’s very close to where most FPF classes are held. Units 1 and 2 are also known for being pretty social, like Unit 3, and both are also very close to campus (the east side rather than the west side) and Southside dining options.</p>
<p>Bowles is probably the “least liked” dorm around Cal, despite its cool exterior. Most people in Bowles don’t want to be in Bowles and got the short end of the housing lottery stick. It has tried to hold on to some of its older traditions from when it was not a freshman-only dorm, but because most Bowles residents couldn’t care less, these traditions come across as more of a nuisance than anything. I don’t know many people who particularly enjoyed their stay in Bowles, but that’s just from my experience.</p>
<p>Stern doesn’t have as much of a negative reputation as Bowles, simply because it isn’t a freshman-only dorm. I have a friend who lived there for two years because she loved it so much.</p>
<p>Foothill is fine, in my opinion. A lot of people are anti-Foothill for whatever reason, but I find it very nice (I like the architecture), and I love how close it is to the Greek, the engineering side of campus, and Euclid/Northside in general.</p>
<p>Clark Kerr is awesome if you want a quieter location. It’s a bit farther away (although really not that far, it’s basically on the south end of frat row), but it has a very nice DC and a very beautiful Spanish-style campus. The 49 takes you to and from campus, the Southside Nightly Safety Shuttle stops at Clark Kerr, and the walk really isn’t that bad. I’d much prefer to live in Clark Kerr than Unit 4.</p>
<p>One last option is Maximino Martinez, which is going to be brand new next year. Priority is given to second year and upper-division students. Don’t know much about 'em yet.</p>
<p>If you care more about your rooming style (double vs. triple vs. suite, etc.) then it would be best to strategize and pick Unit 2, as Unit 2 is probably the least ranked dorm on housing applications (simply because it is a copy of Unit 1 only farther away). In other words, if you really want a double for example, you would be better off listing Unit 2 Double as your top choice, rather than a Unit 1 or Unit 3 double as your top choice.</p>
<p>The open ceilings in units 1/2 are nice though - you don’t bonk your head on the ceiling when you sit up or bounce up to mess with your covers (if you’re in a top bunk). I swear I’m losing brain cells everyday, and my roomie always asks if I’m okay since I hit it pretty hard and it’s loud haha =____=</p>
<p>I believe unit 3 was first to be remodeled (like when my HS bio teacher went here), hence it’s now the “oldest.” Bear market is amazing though. Unit 1/2 people stop by at night if they really need cereal or something for breakfast. It still only has one laundry room in the main building. </p>
<p>Honestly, a huge part of whether you will like it or not has to do with your floor.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, everyone! I think based on the information you provided and my own research, I will be settling for Unit 3 :)</p>