<p>I heard from my dad that dorms are not required for first-years, or any year for that matter! </p>
<p>Therefore, would it be preferable to live in the dorms or an apartment?</p>
<p>How hard is it to find an apartment?</p>
<p>How much is the average apartment compared to living in the dorms?</p>
<p>dorms aren't required for the first year....it's for the experience!! haven't you ever wondered what it's like to live in one? you can live in apartments the rest of your life...but not dorms. at least....that's what i think. i think first year you should live in dorms, although berkeley dorms are especially expensive. i'm not sure exactly how much apartments are...go to craigslist or something and get a good deal there.
my vote goes to dorms all the way :D</p>
<p>Dorms.</p>
<p>As cathersx3 says, you have the rest of your life to live in apartments. Bond with your fellow first-years, get to know the campus with the people there to help you make the best of your experience, and enjoy not having to think about monthly bills just a little longer.</p>
<p>Dorms are expensive, but apartments aren't much better. In the downtown area, a room will cost you $500-$800+, and an apartment a hefty $950-$1450+ AND you will have to pay for food, utilities, and internet. Compared to the $1200 or so for the all-inclusive cost of living in the dorms, those prices seem pretty steep.</p>
<p>urgh. hate how every housing/apartment around campus is so expensive.</p>
<p>Stay in the dorms for as long as you can. You'll have plenty of decades ahead of you for solitude and privacy. Apartments can be cheaper, but they're also generally in worse condition, farther from campus, and less social. Your dorm functions as a general college resource as much as it does a residence.</p>
<p>You make friends by living in dorms -- that's where you build up your initial network of friends.</p>
<p>Can the prices of apartments be alleviated by sharing amongst two or three partners?</p>
<p>Of course, Castel, but realize that the prices I quoted were for 1-2 bedroom places. If you're willing to compromise, there are plenty of spaces that separate the living room so that, too, can be a bedroom, and even a few that have a closet big enough to justify renting it out.</p>
<p>But that should be something you worry about, at earliest, your sophomore year. Take it from someone who never stayed in the dorms: you WANT the experience.</p>
<p>Dorms are the best choice first year. It's really a communal bonding experience that's important at that point, not saving a few bucks by finding a cheap apartment (unless money is really an issue).</p>
<p>I'd say dorms are more expensive that apartments in general. For example, living in Foothill cost (I think) about $1300 per month (at least when I was living there, it could be more by now). Typical Berkeley rent+utilities will be $500-700 for a shared room, so unless you spend $600-800 on food and non-dorm things, you will be paying more for a dorm room.</p>
<p>However, as I said before, the dorms are really a unique opportunity to make friends. I know a lot of people that were in dorms their first year that moved out to an apartment with the friends they made in the dorms for their second year.</p>
<p>dude, if you live in an apartment your first year you will end up having a miserable time at Cal. i don't know about you guys, but the core group of friends that i have to this day (3rd year) i met at the dorms. </p>
<p>you will have 2-3 years to live in an apartment, there's no need to rush. the thing about apartments is that they can be so isolating. you're far away from everyone, so your friends don't visit as often as they would if you were in the dorms. you rarely interact with your neighbors, and chances are that you'll be living in a building with older people that have families.</p>
<p>i missed the communal living aspect so much that i moved to the Ihouse this year. so my advice to you: what you do, MAKE SURE YOU LIVE IN THE DORMS YOUR FIRST YEAR!!!</p>
<p>Thank you all for the advice, I guess I will be living in the dorms for 1-2 years :).</p>