<p>Which dorms are you guys considering and why?</p>
<p>The red bricks(specifically Santa Lucia) is my top choice because its probably the closest to classes, I want the dorm experience, and I just liked the vibe I got there and its an engineering dorm. I put Cerro Vista as second(they are apartments style so it might be cool to have my own room and only share a bathroom with one other person plus having a kitchen is nice), but it’s kinda far away. Um and then I forget what I put as third…</p>
<p>If you haven’t already, I strongly recommend that you find a way to tour the dorms. My son did and it made all the difference. He selected Santa Lucia for the same reasons Rosie did and Sierra Madre just because it felt good to him. Also, there are a number of good housing threads in this forum; just do a search and, of course, the housing web site - [University</a> Housing - Cal Poly](<a href=“http://www.housing.calpoly.edu/oc_futr_frsh_where_live.cfm]University”>http://www.housing.calpoly.edu/oc_futr_frsh_where_live.cfm) - which is not bad.</p>
<p>Im still thinking about it. I really like the apartment style at cerro vista, but Im afraid it will be too isolated. Also, since cerro vista is for anyone basically, do you guys know if you only room with other first-years? And can there be upperclassmen on the same floor?</p>
<p>I’m going to be going a little off topic, but how does on campus dining work anyways? The website doesn’t really make it clear and concise on the dining situation, especially how meal credits work and where it is accepted. Also, which meal plan works best for other students?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure you would only room with first years. I honestly don’t know if there are upperclassman on the same floor but since most of them are off campus it seems doubtful…</p>
<p>What I’ve learned is that for campus dining, most of the places on campus to eat at accept meals and they all accept plus dollars. Different meal plans will give you different proportions of plus dollars and meal plans but it all basically equals the same. A meal will give you a set amount of money you can spend at a place for a meal(a set amount of dollars depending on if its breakfast, lunch, or dinner and if you don’t spend it all you kinda lose that money) so you might want to grab some extra stuff for later to fill up your tab. Plus dollars is basically you can spend it at I think all the food places, but what’s nice is if you just want like a muffin or something then you can just pay the small amount for the muffin instead of like a whole meal.</p>
<p>From all the students I’ve talked to, they say to get the plan with the most amount of plus dollars and the least amount of meals to get the most ‘bang for your buck’ so to say.</p>
<p>I hope that helps. :)</p>
<p>Rosie is correct - the plan with the most plus dollars is the best. My S is a freshman and that’s what he got because everyone said that is the best. It has worked out great for him.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I guess I was confused because Cal Poly doesn’t seem to have the typical dorm food cafeteria that I have seen on other college campuses. I think that I will like the flexibility of choosing what to eat without being restricted by a preset daily menu.</p>
<p>I noticed that that most of the eateries located right on campus aren’t open 'till late or on weekends. What are some of the good eateries that are walking distance from Cal Poly? Also, does the bus system run late enough to get a late night hitch to the downtown area in case I’m feeling something from down there, lets say past 10 p.m.? Haha, sorry for all these questions about food but I want to make sure I don’t limit myself to the few places that I get comfortable with and end up getting sick of the food halfway through the quarter.</p>
<p>As far as the bus goes it looks like it runs to 9:45 PM M-F. Not sure about the weekend.
[Regional</a> Transit Authority - Schedules](<a href=“http://www.slorta.org/schedules.html]Regional”>http://www.slorta.org/schedules.html)</p>
<p>Hey everyone, after viewing the Red Brick, North Mountain, and first year connection dorms, there is no doubt in my mind that I want Sierra Madre. </p>
<p>The dorm rooms looked a lot more spacious and I liked the structure of how they were located rather than the completely straight halls in the Red Bricks. Also I really liked the idea of having a social experience for my first year. </p>
<p>I went to a few parties during open house weekend, and everyone said that the best dorms are Sierra Madre and Tenaya (Red Brick)… This was probably a biased view considering the fact that I was at a party with a mostly inebriated population including myself. Literally those were the only two names that came up with the exception of Yosemite as a backup for Sierra Madre.</p>
<p>So for me, I will be going to Sierra Madre. This isn’t to say its the best fit for everyone, I just am really focused on meeting a lot of people my first year, and having a very social experience in the dorms.</p>
<p>When I slept over in someone’s dorm, for breakfast we went to the Sandwich Factory at like 7:30 am and I’m sure there are a few other places open early too</p>
<p>Here are links to campus dining and meal plan information.</p>
<p>[Campus</a> Dining - Cal Poly Corporation](<a href=“http://www.calpolycorporation.org/campusdining/?pid=2]Campus”>http://www.calpolycorporation.org/campusdining/?pid=2)</p>
<p>[FAQ</a> - Dining Plan - Campus Dining - Cal Poly Corporation](<a href=“http://www.calpolycorporation.org/diningplan/faq.asp?pid=10]FAQ”>http://www.calpolycorporation.org/diningplan/faq.asp?pid=10)</p>
<p>trinity was more first choice because i liked the unity of the students. cerro vista came in second because of the isolation and i have the next four years to live in that place. and last, yosemite since i overhear that’s where you can socialize the best.</p>
<p>BTW, when to we learn what dorm has been assigned? Can’t seem to find that date on the web sites.</p>
<p>From the housing application - not until August 20th.</p>
<p>Room Assignments: Your room assignment and move-in information will be available after August 20, 2009 through the online application. Please Note: Room Assignment information will only be available to applicants who have completed all items shown in the “My Status” section of the online Housing Application, accessible via the <a href=“https://my.calpoly.edu%5B/url%5D”>https://my.calpoly.edu</a> student webportal. Click on the Housing Tab, then Housing Application System login</p>
<p>Thanks. If a room mate preference has been expressed I assume that will be determined then as well. My son specified Sierra Madre and Santa Lucia as did his prospective room mate. However, only my son is an engineering major. Wonder if that will make any difference.</p>
<p>What dorm is best for me? I really want to get the dorm experience and meet really cool people and maybe get involved in campus crusade</p>
<p>if you want the college experience, Sierra Madre or Yosemite. Plentiful amount of drunk party kids every weekend.</p>
<p>Just a guess stephjmay, but if you’re interested in Campus Crusade, you’re probably not interested in the ‘drunk party’ experience. Look into the Red Bricks. The following is from the Mustang Daily, the Cal Poly newspaper.</p>
<p>"South Mountain</p>
<p>The “Red Bricks,” as they’re commonly called, are some of the most classic residence halls here at Cal Poly. They are comprised of Muir, Trinity, Santa Lucia, Fremont, Tenaya and Sequoia halls, each of which houses students of similar majors. They are a big part of the Living Learning Program which focuses on ensuring academic success for its residents by giving them the opportunity to constantly be surrounded by others in their majors.</p>
<p>“They’re closer to campus,” said landscape architecture freshman Emmanuel Gomez who lives in Sequoia. “You get to meet a lot of people from your major and it really helps with studying and homework.”</p>
<p>… each floor in the Red Brick is single-gendered. Each building has three floors and a large common room as well as a study room on the first floor."</p>
<p>They are older dorms, but the rooms are really nice and the location is very convenient.<br>
My son is in one of the Red Bricks this year and maybe 50% of the residents are in the same college, so you’ll still get to meet lots of people outside of your major/college. He really likes it.</p>