<p>Ok, this is it. I need to decide. I'll be an exchange student during the 2012 spring semester at the UT and I need to choose where I'm going to stay from January until May. I've read SEVERAL reviews from both places and I'm completely confused. </p>
<p>It is said that Dobie has better food, private badrooms and a lot of international students. The problem is that it is too quiet. So I'm afraid to be left alone and not meet anyone. If I'm traveling a long way to get there I want to have a real american college experience.</p>
<p>That said, The Castilian reviews are really similar. Maybe some security concers and not having private bathrooms. Nevertheless it is definetly more social.</p>
<p>Like Lebron said: What should I do?</p>
<p>Just for you to know, I thought in Towers too. I know that thats a full party place, but since I'll be there for only a few months I don't need an apartment style place to stay in. Besides I heard its dirty and the food is bad. No private bathroom also. Don't get me wrong, I want to party but it's not mandatory to live in Towers in order to have a good time, right? Because, if it is, I'm going there.</p>
<p>Final considerations: I don't care about the proximity to the campus nor the size of the room. The food and the social scenario are my main concerns. Also, I study law in Chile, and I will be attending UT's Law School, but again, I don't care about the proximity or if Law School people live in North Campus. I want to meet people and have a good time.</p>
<p>If you read this thread please comment, don't leave this poor foreign young man guessing in the dark!</p>
<p>Lol in the Dobie paragraph should say “private bathrooms” and not “private badrooms”</p>
<p>to be included on the castillian social calendar you have ti pay an extra 400$</p>
<p>I don’t know about the castillian, but dobie seems to have some fun events:
(Taken from their blog)
Each year, we plan some truly amazing events. Heres a few that youll be a part of:</p>
<p>Volleybrawl - A dorm wide Volleyball tournament with floors competing against one another for the title (and bragging rights, of course). Oh…and a free dinner for your entire floor. Start practicing!</p>
<p>Plaza Party - A carnival themed event on the plaza level of Dobie. Carnival games, delicious food, prizes, face painting, balloon animals, and other general chaos. One of our favorites!</p>
<p>Java Night (name is subject to change) - A break during the general frenzy that is finals. A chance to take a break from studying and take part in the following: movies, snacks, gingerbread house making, and temporary sanity! </p>
<p>Ice Cream Social - Enough said. Tons of ice cream and toppings. A pie eating contest with the winner able to pie the RA of his or her choice!</p>
<p>Hypnotist - Ever been hypnotized? Ever wanted to watch your friends be hypnotized? Be there.</p>
<p>Talent Show - We have some SERIOUSLY talented residents. Show yo skillz and win cash billz.</p>
<p>Casino Night - Huge prizes, fancy clothes, casino games, and delicious food. Our end of the year event! </p>
<p>There are plenty more for you to discover while youre here! We cant wait to see you. </p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Thank you both for at least attemping to answer something. But there’s anyone out there that can tell me “go to Dobie because of this and this” and also explain if those concerns areas are real? Or the same about The Castilian? I’m talking about real experiences in those buildings.</p>
<p>C’mon, I’m pretty sure that from all the people who had read this (about 60), at least some of you know something about those places. It only takes a couple of minutes to answer.</p>
<p>Theres plenty of money at stake in the lease. I know that probably both are similar good options for an exchange student, but I’m looking for comments that can solve my doubts.</p>
<p>THANK YOU.</p>
<p>Umm, maybe a lot of us DON’T know anything about them. “c’mon!” is not likely to elicit much help.</p>
<p>All right. I’m sorry if I’m annoying, I’m just discouraged.</p>
<p>For those of you who know something, anything, you know what to do. And if you don’t, nevermind.</p>
<p>I stayed at the dobie this summer and to be honest youare pretty secluded from everyone which kinda sucks. </p>
<p>I plan on staying at the Castilian this fall and mainly because i’ve talked to people in person who have lived there and they have all loved it completely! A ton more freedom and social time with people on your floor and what not! </p>
<p>Hope this helps:)</p>
<p>Hope to see you in the fall as well!</p>
<p>You might find that a lot of the students in Castilian or Dobie are very young. If you are 20 or older you might want to look at the co-ops. The co-ops are quite social. There are two groups, College Houses and ICC.
<a href=“Austin Co-op Directory - List of Cooperatives in Austin, TX”>Austin Co-op Directory - List of Cooperatives in Austin, TX;
If you a eating dinner with a group of 20 or more people every day, it will be very social. :)</p>
<p>the castilian management and the food both suck baaawlls, but i had a great time there as an international student. i got to meet a lot of internationals as well as us kids. dobie is not on west campus, if you want to be really social and be close to the parties you want to be in west campus, trust me on this one (aka, go to castilian or towers).</p>
<p>The food at the Castilian is not very good, but I’ve also heard that the Dobie cafeteria food is terrible too. Dobie has a food court with decent stuff, but this is not included in your meal plan. Castilian cafeteria is NOT 24 hrs; it closes at 7pm.</p>
<p>If you want to have a fun social experience at the Castilian, I would strongly recommend NOT applying for a room on one of the “quiet floors.” </p>
<p>Most of the kids that live in the Castilian are freshman/sophmore. That said, there are also plenty of foreign exchange students, most of whom are grad students.</p>
<p>Security in this place is complete crap btw.</p>
<p>to be honest - both aren’t great. if you’re foreign, live at the castillian. tons of foreign people live there. it’s in west campus, which is cool, and super close to campus. dobie is too big. the castillian has a nice fitness center. people moderately like the castillian. most people hate dobie. live in the castillian.</p>