Dorm Style Choice Impressions (Good info brahs)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Central Florida
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<p>I went to the open house this weekend (Nov 18) and figured I'd do a quick rundown of my impressions for those of you who can't go see it for yourself and see what the rest of you guys thought as well. I visited Nike, Libra, and Towers.</p>

<p>Libra</p>

<p>There are two types of Libra dorms. There's the L shape and the pod style. The L shape is suite style with 2 to a room and 4 to a bathroom. The L shape is interesting. It gives a shred of privacy as each person gets one part of the L. It is also has more square footage than most normal 2 person dorm rooms. I'm relatively claustrophobic but did not feel incredibly uncomfortable in this room.</p>

<p>The pod style is also 2 to a room and 4 to a bathroom. Pod style has traditional rectangular room dimensions. The interesting thing about pod style is that it's not a hall. You walk into the building and there's a big open living room for all of the people on that floor. The dorms are located in each wall in this living room. This style seemed very good for socializing and/or parties (depending on how cool your RA is). However, I did feel pretty claustrophobic in this style.</p>

<p>Overall, I did not particularly like the Libra dorms. They are the oldest dorms on campus (built in the 80's) and it shows. The walls have cement block instead of dry wall. The carpet is dirty. The AC unit didn't look optimal. The poorly lit hallways give the overall impression of a bomb shelter. Not where I'd wanna live, but if you're strapped for cash and want to make lots of friends this is an option. The location is very good...very close to the heart of campus.</p>

<p>It is of note that Libra is for freshman only. After spring, you will be kicked out. You cannot stay there even for that summer.</p>

<p>Towers</p>

<p>The towers are apartment style. 4 people, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. The bedrooms are about 120 sq ft. Personally, that's bigger than my room at home. You get full beds instead of the twin xl's you get on the rest of campus. Everything about them is new and awesome and feels like any modern apartment. The price tag is up there too. The big negative with the towers is location. Unless you're a communications or psych major, you're looking at a 15 minute walk from your dorm to your classes. If you frequent the gym, you're looking at a 15 minute walk there too. It's close to the stadium, the arena, and knightros, but that's about it. Besides that, it's wonderful. I could live in an apartment like that indefinitely. If you have any questions about the details feel free to ask. </p>

<p>Nike</p>

<p>These dorms are traditional suite style (2 to a room, 4 to a bathroom). The atmosphere at Nike is that of a tropical resort. The buildings are painted vibrant colors and everything is well lit and beautiful. You're right next to the pool, tennis courts, and basketball courts. The gym is right across the street. It gives a great vibe. </p>

<p>The rooms themselves are actually smaller than both Libra and Towers. According to the floor plan, a room in Nike that you share with someone is approximately the same size as a room in the towers that you get to yourself. However, the room didn't FEEL small. Perhaps it was because the room they showed me had 20 ft ceilings (which only the first floor gets), but I did not feel claustrophobic in there. While they may be smaller, they are nice. The walls are drywall and painted. The carpeting doesn't look trashed. The bathroom is head and shoulders above Libra. Everything is well lit. For me, it felt like Nike could really work especially if I got a roommate I already knew.</p>

<p>Those are my impressions. I'd love to hear what you guys thought of the dorm options and if you have any questions feel free to ask!</p>

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<p>Thanks, this helped a lot! I know for fall, I’m looking towards Nike, or Libra. Libra seems like it will offer the best social environment, which is what I’m looking for, being out of state. I’m unsure of whether or not I’d want the L shape, or Pod style though. The beinifit of the pod style is the common room area, where you’d likely run into more people. L shape benefit is a bit more privacy. I’ll worry about that choice, if I decide on Libra. Nike/Hercules looks really, really great! However, the room in smaller. Also, on the video, it looks as though the bathroom isn’t between the two rooms, but actually to one side? Have any info on that? I saw videos of the court yard, and it really looks like that Florida feel, which I’d LOVE. However, what’s closer to classes, market place (food) gym, and pool? This is going to be a tough choice, but as of now, I’m only slightly leaning towards Libra. Towers aren’t an option-I don’t like how far they are from classes, etc. Definetly and option sophomore year, once I get to know the campus:) Thanks for any answers you can provide, this has helped a lot!</p>

<p>Caitlin</p>

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<p>@problemofchoice, </p>

<p>I’m visiting UCF on the 28th. Have you heard if towers are open to freshman for fall or are they only for graduates?</p>

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<p>kyle anyone can get towers but you cannot get them for the summer term, they are full year agreements. or at least im pretty sure you cant start in them over summer</p>

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<p>hey problem did you check out lake claire</p>

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<p>Thanks sifanatic I’m going for the towers.</p>

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<p>Housing needs to open up! Lol I can’t wait until it does.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>This is actually really cool. When the bathroom is in between the rooms, frequently your suitemate will forget to unlock your door and you’ll have bathroom lockouts. Here’s how it works in Nike. You open the door to your dorm. You enter a small lobby. Due to firecode, you can’t put furniture in this lobby, but it looks like it would be good if you were sexile’d. Anyway, in this lobby there are 3 doors. One to one dorm, one to the other, and the third to the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, the toilet itself is behind yet another door. So someone could be taking a shower and you could still go in an pee with some degree of privacy. </p>

<p>As far as the gym and pool, you can’t beat Nike. It is literally RIGHT there. Both Libra and Nike are very close to The Marketplace…but libra is closer. And which is closer to your classes would depend on your major, in general the edge probably goes to libra. Both are relatively close to science and engineering.</p>

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<p>

You are correct in that anyone can get the Towers. But you can get them for the summer term. Students from last year whose contracts began in the summer will expire at the end of this spring, leaving some openings to be filled. Theoretically, a contract can be started at the beginning of any semester. Obviously, availability will greatly differ depending on which semester you attempt to begin your contract.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>I walked around the outside, and talked to a student who lived there. However, I did not go inside and actually see one. Lake Claire seemed like lower scale apartments. There was outdoor entry. It wasn’t particularly well lit. There were tons of trees over the parking lot and leaves everywhere. The location is relatively far both the marketplace and nitros, which could be an issue. It’s also right next to the frat houses. I didn’t see the inside, but I’d imagine it’s like a smaller version of the Towers with the quality somewhere between Nike and Libra (just making assumptions based on build date).</p>

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<p>@problem</p>

<p>What dorm was your favorite personally?</p>

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<p>Hey, problem, mind telling me if this is the nike/hercules community? I found it on youtube, and I’d first like to say, the courtyard is BEAUTIFUL! Also, was there a sink inside each doorm room? Or was the sink in the bathroom only?</p>

<p>[Housing</a> at UCF - YouTube](<a href=“Housing at UCF - YouTube”>Housing at UCF - YouTube)</p>

<p>If this is it, the rooms do look a bit smaller the Libra. However, it looks lilke there’s a narrow hallway, by the closet. I wish there were more videos, other then the ones on the websites, that could show us the common areas, too. Right now, the only thing holding me back from this is the common area, that libra has. Does Nike/Hercules have a common area on the first floor, by the front desks, maybe?</p>

<p>Ah, I’m beyond excited now! I showed my sister (Who attends Northern Illinois University) and she said, “That’s not a dorm…that’s a resort.”</p>

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<p>For me, Nike. ESPECIALLY if my best friend from high school ends up going to UCF. For me, Libra was just too old. I didn’t feel comfortable there. The Towers are great, but the location kills me. 10-15 minutes to walk to most places is a big deal. Not the walk itself, but the time lost. You walk to 3 places and back and suddenly an hour of your day is gone to walking. I go to the gym every day. And classes. And probably ECs. It’d get bad. Additionally, for those of you who want the Towers…Knightros (the meal plan place next to the towers) closes at 9PM. The marketplace closes at midnight. Those of you who stay up late and eat late know what that means.</p>

<p>In the end I’ll probably use the national merit clout and try to get into the upperclassmen apartment style dorms at Nike ;)</p>

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<p>

There is NOT a sink in the bathroom at all. Like you said, there is a small hallway leading into each dorm. On one side of the hallway is a sink, mirror, and under sink storage. On the other side of the hallway is two closets, one for each person. You bring your own shower curtain to cover your clothes, as the closets are really just indents in the wall with a clothes rack lol.</p>

<p>There is a small lobby on the first floor of the buildings with desks IIRC. I wouldn’t exactly say it’s a substitute for the pod style at all. The Nike dorms also have “programming rooms” where RAs throw “programs” at least once a month in order to get everyone to be social. I’d imagine that these could be used for other social functions as well. </p>

<p>The real attractiveness of the pod style as a social device is that people are forced to go there to get to their rooms. You could go study out in the pod lobby and “intercept” people with conversation as they go to their dorms. Also, the people who choose pod style are self selecting for sociability so I’d imagine they’d be much more likely to engage in such a conversation and be eager to make new friends.</p>

<p>And those videos are so bad…I desperately wish I could produce my own set which actually show you the dorm instead of trying to make it look like an episode of Cribs</p>

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<p>although Nike are the newest, they are the smallest. I personally like Apollo the best. and the L shaped in libra. I asked the housing advisor about her stays, and she recommends that freshmen stay in either libra or Apollo because they are freshmen communities.</p>

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<p>Ah, you should have! “Now you’ve seen my crib-you don’t have to leave, but you got to get the HELL out of here.”
Sorry…I had to do it:)
Hum, so if the sinks are by the closets, it doesn’t seem like it’s DIRECTLY inside the dorm, but just a little bit outside. They only attraction I have for libra, is that the room is a bit bigger, and that there’s the common area. Being out of state, I’m going to want to meet as many people as possible, and that would really help. Otherwise, if there wasn’t that, I’d be for Nike/Hercules, all the way. Ah, so tough. Hum, what did you like best, personally?</p>

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<p>

I didn’t see Apollo at allll. Could you tell me a little about it? I haven’t heard great things</p>

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<p>

I addressed this more thoroughly in a previous post, but Nike. Basically the Towers are too far away. Libra gave me a bad feeling in my stomach. I just didn’t feel comfortable there AT all. Nike had atmosphere, gym, pool, etc. It felt like home.</p>

<p>And I’m actually not too worried about meeting people. I have tons of ECs that will allow me to meet people. Problem is that all of them will be filled with GUYS…not sure how I’m gonna meet girls :/</p>

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<p>Well, personally, I’ve have no issue meeting guys, lol. I have a very, very laid back personality, am up to try anything (like longboarding, looks FUN) but am not a boyish girl. Except, however, you will NEVER catch me wearing pink. Disgusting color. Uhg, I’m still so undecided. I’ll need to think this over:)</p>

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<p>Oh, do you play soccer?!:smiley:
I’d be the idiot trying to get a soccer game together. I love soccer.</p>