<p>I've been accepted to UNC-Chapel Hill, and I have decided that that's where I will enroll.
I was looking at the brochure that was included alongside my admissions decision package, which has a section called "Living on Campus" and briefly goes over the two options: Campus Housing and Granville Towers.</p>
<p>I also received a Granville Towers brochure in the mail, but I still feel like I have a minimal and vague understanding of how the housing works.</p>
<p>What are the pro-cons (if I can call it that) of living on campus vs living in Granville towers?
Is one more affordable than the other?</p>
<p>If I want to join a "Living-learning community", can I only select one, or, more than one, in case I don't get a space in the one that's my first choice?</p>
<p>Some universities require students to live by the housing plans provided by the university as opposed to off campus, is that how it is at UNC?</p>
<p>Do you have to reapply for housing every year as opposed to being 'gauranteed' housing,
(ex: I also got accepted to Boston College and in the admissions letter I was assigned 4-year housing, leading me to think that if I accepted, I for sure would have a place to live while I'm in school).</p>
<p>I do know that with Granville, if you get their meal plan, it does NOT carry over to campus. You can not use it anywhere except for the cafe in the housing complex.</p>
<p>I’m going to live in Granville Towers, here are the pros and cons:</p>
<p>Pros: best food on campus, parking for freshman, pool, larger rooms, suite-style bathrooms shared by only 4 students (as opposed to 8 on campus), closer walk to classes than south campus, on franklin st!!!
Cons: I didn’t find any cons except that you can only eat food at the Agora (granville’s dining hall), but that’s not a big deal since I’ll be rushing and if I get a bid I’ll get a house meal plan.</p>
<p>You can apply to more than one living-learning community, but you can only accept admission into one.</p>
<p>You don’t reapply for housing, but you do move rooms and whatnots every year (if you choose). There will be some upperclassman that won’t get oncampus housing, but only if they sign up too late in the year. Housing isn’t really a problem at UNC.</p>
<p>Also, Granville costs about the same to living on campus.</p>
<p>If you’re an out of stater, it is generally recommended that you do NOT live in Granville. Generally, Granville attracts more in-state students with more solid friendships and who are already firmly committed to going Greek. This isn’t necessarily bad, but it can be more difficult for an out-of-stater to get adjusted to the dorm. </p>
<p>Granville does end up being marginally more expensive than the other housing options.</p>
<p>After freshman year housing choices are determined by class standing; ie rising seniors get first pick, then rising juniors etc. There are some juniors and seniors who do stay on campus all four years but many/most don’t. You’ll find the majority of juniors and seniors living in nearby houses and apartments some of which can be closer to the academic core than some south campus dorms.</p>
<p>If you choose to live in Granville and then want to get into the university housing system for sophomore year you are ranked below incoming freshman for room/dorm selection.</p>
<p>Sophomore year you will have the right to remain in your freeman year room if you like it and want to stay there, but if you decide to try for another room in the same dorm you could end up losing that dorm altogether since juniors and seniors would get priority selection over you.</p>
<p>For all the reasons Artemis said, with a few exceptions, the consensus of opinion is that for an OOS student Granville is not necessarily the best choice. Just the inability to have lunch with friends on campus without having to pay out of pocket would be a big deterrent for most but the pre-formed HS friendships and the heavy Greek lean should seal the deal. </p>
<p>Since you are coming from San Diego I would HIGHLY recommend the university housing system over Granville.</p>
<p>Actually, UNC changed the way they assign housing this year. People who want a different room in the dorm they are currently in are now given priority over juniors and seniors who want to move into that dorm.</p>
<p>Good to hear that…I was not aware of the policy change…I’ve been away from the dorm scene for a while… :)…it’s a good change nonetheless and also more fair. </p>
<p>Does anyone know how transfer are ranked in housing placement? I BELIEVE to have read that we are at the bottom of the barrel, or perhaps it was at the top? But I think the former. Will search for this information.</p>
<p>I believe transfers are at the bottom of the barrel with the freshmen. All the transfers I know spent their first year on campus in Hinton James.</p>