Dorm/Housing Choice

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
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<p>Blackstone is not, and does not feel, that far from campus. It’s a straight shot down 57th, very walkable, and people go down that direction for the restaurants anyways so it’s not bad at all. From what I’ve seen, the place is pretty nice (private kitchenette!) and the house is tight.</p>

<p>Broadview is much further, or at least feels that way. You’ll usually be taking the shuttle or the bus to and from campus, in the warmer months as well as winter. If you’re used to living on a bus schedule, I suspect it isn’t too bad, but it’s kinda lame if you’re hanging with people and they have to constantly keep an eye on where the shuttles are. People who I’ve spoken to love their house in Broadview, and it’s in a great location to get into the city, but you can fall into the ‘Broadview’ bubble. A friend of mine makes a conscious effort to get to campus and meet people in other dorms, as many will get to only socialize with other Broadview-ans.</p>

<p>And of course, I have to do the mandatory rep’ing of my dorm: glorious Snell-Hitchcock. Specifically, I live in Hitchcock house, which has freshman doubles in a European ‘landing style’ building that’s a beautiful mix of Prairie School and Neo-Gothic. It’s a fantastic place with a great diversity of people and interests, with great house spirit (Midnight Soccer Champs!). </p>

<p>We probably don’t have the concentration of partiers as Alper House (I just pulled one of my buddies into Hitchcock from Alper House because he got tired of the partying xD), but we still manage to enjoy ourselves. Of the “Asberger Heaven” name . . . we probably have a few individuals on the spectrum, but they’re pretty chill. In fact, I think that pretty well describes our approach to all things, partying included.</p>

<p>Otherwise, we probably have some of the largest numbers of Physics, Math, and Computer Science majors on the campus, which is pretty cool. It’s nice to get away from the Econ majors, even if you are one yourself xD. It’s also pretty cool living in an ivy-covered building literally on the quads; it’s actually gotten so bad that I started waking up 5 minutes before my first class :).</p>

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<p>I’m in Broadview this year, and I absolutely LOVE it. It’s near all of the best restaurants, the Metra station, and all of the major bus stops that will take you downtown. The rooms are great. Having a single with a private bathroom is absolutely splendid for a college student, but you can also request a double or triple (with a private bathroom) if you want. There are a few of those in every house. As for the house culture, it’s amazing. My house is always doing a million great things together, and everybody knows everyone else in the house. It’s like a big family, and everyone looks out for one another. There are always people in the lounge to hang out with, but you also have your private room if you need a little down time. There are dorm parties in the doubles quite frequently, but people also travel to frat parties together on weekends, so don’t worry about not getting out. And you still meet people from other dorms through classes and campus activities as well. So I feel like you get the best of both worlds. And about the distance, it’s not a big deal at all. The walk is actually quite pleasant in the warmer months (and I’ve even made it in the colder months without much problem). In the colder months, it’s still not a problem because the 171 (the bus that will take you to campus) stops at the end of the block, the central shuttle stops in front of the dorm, and the east shuttle (which will take you to the dining hall at night) stops at the end of the block. If you like having a home-away-from-campus dorm with an intimate house culture while still being able to easily access the campus and the loop, then Broadview would be a great fit.</p>

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<p>On another note, I have a friend in Blackstone who really likes his dorm. He says they have a fireplace in their lounge, which is cool. It’s also a bit closer to campus than Broadview is (but Broadview is still super awesome). Their rooms are shared single half apartments, which means that you have two singles that are connected by a bathroom and a tiny kitchenette (which he says are very, VERY tiny but depend on the room).</p>

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<p>Thanks insomniac159! I want Broadview!.. but I gotta make it in first. did u get to choose bv?</p>

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<p>Wow, thanks for all the info insomniac! I’m still leaning towards Blackstone I think… (now if only my parents will let me go to Chicago instead of insisting I apply to other places “just to see”… <em>sigh</em>)</p>

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<p>Okay, since everyone’s plugging for their dorms - here’s one for Breck! </p>

<p>Breck has been grouped in with the other quirky dorms, and while that is true in terms of tradition, keep in mind that the dorm composition changes a lot year to year. While there were first-years like me who wanted Breck, there were also people who didn’t even have Breck on their top three. Distance-wise, it’s getting more annoying in the cold weather, but I do kind of like the separation between school and work that has been mentioned by the other out-there dorms. It’s more of a pain in the morning with the bus as you have to take a CTA bus, but in the evening there are two shuttles that will get you back. Don’t be fooled by the fact that South is Breck’s dining hall, because it is nearly equidistant with Bartlett, aka not very close. Also, Breck’s culture is pretty accepting - if you want to hang out in the lounge a lot, there are plenty of people there, and if you want to stay in your room, that’s fine too. It may not have as social a reputation but there are plenty of people who go out and party, and of course are also social in tons of other ways. Bathrooms are sometimes annoying, but I’ve never had to wait or had any major problems. Rooms seemed kind of small at first, but they’re kind of cozy (albeit old!!) and if you have your heart set on a single, you have a good shot at one here. Amenities-wise, while the music practice room is creepy, we do have a halfway-decent piano in the lounge as well as a newly bought piano, a new power tower in the exercise/dance room and a newly renovated kitchen (which people don’t clean, but yay!) But the best part of all is the random house traditions! Like doing “Breckies and Brickheads” at house meetings, being obnoxious at the house table, lots of house trips and other traditions like going to watch the sunrise at the point on the first day of the quarter, and the entmoot, scav and Sophie Day (a day honoring Breck’s namesake and which you can invite a professor to). </p>

<p>Okay, I just realized how much I’ve rambled, but hopefully it makes some sense! Good luck deciding!</p>

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<p>Blackbanana, I picked Broadview as my first choice. You rank your top three, and then they put you into whichever one is most convenient for them and/or whichever one they think you’d fit best in. My top three were (in this order) Broadview, Blackstone, Breckenridge. And I obviously got my top choice even though I submitted my housing selections on the second to last day (regular decision). I don’t think Broadview is that hard to get into because a lot of first years want to live right on the quads. That’s why Snell-Hitchcock fills quickly. Thankfully Max and South have a lot of space, so you typically have a chance at both no matter when you apply for them.</p>

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<p>Oh! Another awesome thing about Broadview: we’re totally right by the Point. :)</p>

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<p>Thanks. What’s the point?</p>

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<p>Promontory Point Park.</p>

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<p>I know you guys started to discuss this, but can anyone compare and contrast Max P and South</p>

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<p>Max P is located right on the quads, and South is located just on the other side of the Midway. Neither are a long walk, though Max P is definitely closer to everything on campus.</p>

<p>Both dorms are new, but South is newer (and most would say nicer). My current RA used to live in South, though, and she said with all of the glass and windows, there wasn’t a ton of privacy, but it does allow for some nice natural sunlight.</p>

<p>South has its own dining hall, but Max P doesn’t. However, Max P is located right next to its dining hall, which is Bartlett. I’ve heard mixed reviews, but I think most people like Bartlett more than South as far as dining halls go.</p>

<p>For first years, South has doubles with community bathrooms. Max P has suites (two doubles joined together with a small hallway and a private bathroom shared by all four people).</p>

<p>Both dorms house a lot of people, and their houses are very large.</p>

<p>I’m not entirely sure about South’s culture, but Max P tends to be seen as one of the major party dorms. Of course, there are still people in every dorm who don’t party.</p>

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<p>max and south are pretty similar, I think if you’d be happy at either one or the other</p>

<p>as far as the small distinct differences:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>as has been mentioned before, max has suites, south has doubles. however, it should also be noteworthy that you CAN get a single as a first year in south. </p></li>
<li><p>max has a bit of a more frat/jock culture. lots of athletes choose max because it’s close to ratner, plus max is closer to a lot of frat houses. South campus is closer to AEPi (jew frat) and SigEp though, since those two frats are on 61st street. In the brief 2 years that South has been functioning, it has also somehow given rise to lots of hipsters (though there are lots of hipsters in general at UoC). Most are not as pretentious and fake as the label suggests, and dem hipsters sure know how to party. </p></li>
<li><p>south seems to have a bit more of a “house lounge” culture while max’s suites are more conducive to room hopping</p></li>
<li><p>bartlett vs. south campus dining hall: it depends who you ask</p></li>
</ul>

<p>ALSO, people, consider BJ. I lived in Max my first year and am now living off campus, but I prospied in BJ and have lots of friends from there, and it’s a pretty tight place. Gorgeous architecture, full of traditions, small(ish) houses, eccentric but nice people. i feel like BJ embodies a typical uchicago kid more than snitchcock does. If you want traditions but also a social atmosphere, consider BJ and Pierce. South and Max for the more typical college experience, and Broadview/Blackstone/Breck if you want to get further from the main campus</p>

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<p>does bj give singles to freshmen? what about south?</p>

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<p>BJ is almost all singles. South is 1/3 singles (I think I read this somewhere…), and I think a few of them do, in fact, go to first years. But you probably have to send in your housing application fairly early.</p>