BJ vs Snell (Housing)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

I’m really clueless about housing preferences. I was accepted ED and enrolled pretty early so I presume I should get my first preference. I’m looking for a single.
Initially I was very confused between the ‘normal dorms’ (like North) and the UChicago dorms. (BJ/Snell) A large number of people have advised me to go to the normal ones but I feel like a better fit for the ‘quirky’ environment. I’d really love your opinion on the normal/quirky split.

So now I’m considering BJ and Snell. While I do find BJ more beautiful and a better fit for me, Snell seems to be more conveniently located. Although Snell also has a rather polarizing reputation. I’m interested in STEM and Snell will be right next to the labs and classrooms. Please give your suggestions and advice

2

We know a current 1st year who has a single in Snell and loves it. He’s not necessarily STEM (his parents aren’t really sure what he’s planning to major in). My daughter’s first choice is Snitchcock because she just felt it was the right fit. She’d really like a single but is cool with a double if it comes to that. For her, the dorm and location to dining is more important that getting a single or double.

3

Snell isn’t very close to the Bartlett dining commons. Whereas BJ is right next to Cathey. Anyway, thanks for your feedback. I’m pretty unsure about which dorm would be a right fit for me.

4

I suggest you write a list of what is important to you in priority order (without thinking about the dorms themselves), and then try to match up the dorm(s) that meets the top priorities. Simple but effective.

5

@lolbol I came up with this list for myself…not sure if it’s 100% accurate as it’s based on people’s opinions.

If you want to live in newer dorms then…North, South

If you want to live in older dorm then…BJ, Snitchcock, I-House

If you want more house culture/spirit then…Snitchcock, BJ

If you want less house culture/spirit then…North, South

If you want a small house then…BJ

If you want to live in an apartment then…Stony Island

If you want a semi-private bathroom then…Max P, Stony Island

If you don’t mind a community bathroom then…Snitchcock, BJ, I-House, North, South

If you need a single-user bathroom then…North, South

If you want AC then avoid BJ, Snitchcock and I-House

If you want to live very close to dining halls then…South, North, BJ

If you want to be close to food trucks then…Snitchcock

If you want to be close to a convenience store then…South, BJ

If you want to be very, very close to the main quad then…Snitchcock

If you want to be relatively close to the main quad then…Max P, BJ

If you want to be close to STEM classes then…Snitchcock

If you want to be relatively close to STEM classes then…Max P

If you want to be relatively close to humanities and social sciences then…BJ, Snitchcock

If you want to be close to the Logan Center then…BJ, South

If you want to be close to the gym then…North, Max P

If you are looking for a party then…South, North

If you want to be close to the Metra station then…I-House, Stony Island

If you want to be close to the library (Reg/Mansueto) then…Snitchcock, Max P

If you want to keeping walking outside in the winter to a minimum then avoid Stony Island and I-House

If you want to stay in your room over winter/spring breaks then…I-House (I read you can’t stay in South this winter)

If you are a big fan of elevators then avoid Snitchcock and BJ

If you are into art and/or want to be close to the Smart Museum then…Max P, North

If you are a fan of movies then…I-House, BJ

6

@RiverOtter2 Good list, though re: single-user bathrooms: you will not get one. Broadview had entirely single user bathrooms (RIP :frowning: ) but now the only ones I know of are a handful of singles in BJ.

7

@HydeSnark I thought there was one single-user bathroom in each house in North and South…Not that one bathroom for every 100 students is that great, but I’m guessing that some people need to have zen like peace to do their thing.

8

@RiverOtter2 Hm, that’s possible. But there’s no way first years will get it. It will be first to go in the housing lottery. It shouldn’t factor into your decision - you are more likely to end up in an apartment with your own bathroom.

9

I think HS and RO are talking about two different things. HS seems to mean a private bathroom attached to a single room. RO is, I believe, talking about a public bathroom that is made for one user at a time. Those do exist at Campus North IIRC. http://d3qi0qp55mx5f5.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/housing/docs/Campus_North_1.pdf These sample floor plans suggest that there are two single-user accessible bathrooms per house (one on the first floor, one on the third),

10

@exacademic You’re right. I was talking about a private bathroom in some hallway where everyone can use, but only one user at a time - not a private bathroom that is part of a single.

11

How would we lug my kid’s stuff up the stairs at BJ or Snitch?

12

@JBStillFlying on move in day? There is lots of help from other students.

13

@JBStillFlying manual labor aka o-aides

(source: I was an o-aide)

14

@JBStillFlying I found these pdfs from last year’s move-in. I’m guessing that the process is going to be similar this fall.

http://d3qi0qp55mx5f5.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/housing/docs/Burton-Judson16.pdf

https://d3qi0qp55mx5f5.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/housing/docs/Snell_Hitchcock16.pdf

https://d3qi0qp55mx5f5.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/housing/docs/Granville_Grossman16.pdf

http://d3qi0qp55mx5f5.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/housing/docs/Campus_North16.pdf

http://d3qi0qp55mx5f5.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/housing/docs/Max_Palevsky16.pdf

http://d3qi0qp55mx5f5.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/housing/docs/I-House16.pdf

15

Thank goodness! Hooray for the O-Aides!

16

@JBStillFlying, move-in is great the first year with all the O-Aides helping. It’s the years (yes, my kid stayed all 4 years in BJ, along with several of his close friends) after when your kid is on the 4th floor walk-up that is the worst. Expecially since most of the rooms are huge, so room for plenty of additional furniture to move in. As much as I miss visiting UChicago, I don’t miss helping lug up futons and big fridges up four flights of stairs.

17

@Marylandfour - OK thanks for letting me know. Sounds like a job for my husband LOL. I’m sure from her perspective it’s totally worth the extra hassle if she gets a large room out of it.

18

@JBStillFlying, My husband could never get the time off of work to help with move in/outs, so this old lady did what sI could. Luckily plenty of his friends helped!
The upperfloor rooms in BJ were huge, and the closets huge as well. Really a nice home-away-from-home.
Good luck to your D.

19

@JBStillFlying The good thing is that the dorm/housing assignments for First Years come out at the beginning of August, followed by private Facebook pages for the dorm and the house. From there, the First Years can ask the previous occupants of their rooms about approximate size, closet size, idiosyncrasies, if they have pictures to share, and whatever else they might want to know. BJ’s room layouts are not particularly uniform, which is part of its charm. :slight_smile:

As for move in day, my husband feared it would be a mess. For BJ, it was the opposite - efficient and quick, and I think the only thing I carried was a pillow because the O-Aides kept taking things from me.