<p>The costs per person of a two person dorm room is ~$8500 an academic year (9 months). That's with the 10 meal a week plan. You can also buy the plan separately for $625 a quarter.</p>
<p>8500 - 3(625) = 6625</p>
<p>6625 / 9 = $736.11 a month</p>
<p>Vista Del Campo is $738 a month for a 2 Bed/2 Bath. It also gives you a ktichen, living area, and patio/balcony.</p>
<p>So I'm really confused why people decide to live in dorms rather than apartment. Is proximity to the campus and a difference in FAFSA awards (it's like... 300 bucks difference) worth the tiny cramped dorm room?</p>
<p>Not trying to start an argument here, I'm dorming, but seriously considering living in an apartment since the cost is pretty much the same... so if someone could enlighten me, i'd gladly appreciate it.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, EFC is 14,000</p>
<p>In the dorms you get to meet a ton of new people and you have RAs and such that have community type events. You're not going to get any kind of community in an apartment, which is ok after your first year cause you've met people and stuff and want to move on from the dorm life Also, in apartments you have more independence. With independence comes responsibilities (haha that sounds really funny typing, I sound really old...anyway...) like cleaning your apartment and assigning chores for all your roommates, cooking/cleaning, and it's farther from campus, but VDC has a shuttle so it's not too bad. Dorms have all the living areas and a kitchen too actually. Definitely dorm your first year.</p>
<p>cleaning and college?</p>
<p>Yeah, my current roommates both dormed the 1st year, and said that they made all their UCI friends there, and it was a nice community to have being their 1st year away from home. All the freshman are put together, since being a freshman is such a unique experience.</p>
<p>Plus, VDC doesn't let freshmen in; only sophomores and up are allowed to reside here. VDC is pretty great though, and you can get it even cheaper if you live in a 4 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment ($575/month). All utilities are included and the community center/pool/jacuzzi/gym/computer lab is pretty awesome, and everything is nice and new. And everyone who lives here is a UCI student, so you'll meet people and socialize if you go to the community center often or go to the events that the CAs throw.</p>
<p>Vista Del Campo isn't really an "apartment", per se. It's still "campus housing". If you go across the street to somewhere like Stanford Court or Berkeley Court or Dartmouth (I guess they like to name apartment complexes after other colleges), you're probably going to be paying close to $2000 a month for a 2 bedroom apartment, not including utilities.</p>
<p>It is too an apartment. I fail to see how it's not. You have your own kitchen, bathroom, living room, etc. The two terms aren't mutually exclusive, though. I would consider Campus Village to be both campus housing and an apartment complex. But yes, non-campus affiliated apartments, like the various university-named "Courts," are much more expensive than Vista Del Campo. You'd probably have to share a room to be able to pay the same amount of rent that you would pay at VDC. </p>
<p>Edit: If you're looking for housing for the upcoming academic year, you're probably not going to be able to find space at VDC, since so many people have already applied and I think there are quite a few people on the waiting list already. I'm not sure though; you can call (949) 854-0900 if you want all the info.</p>
<p>Well, I guess it is an apartment, but I guess the reason I don't consider it as such is because you still have an RA and you don't pay utilities so there isn't that "on your own" factor that you would have at one of the complexes across the street. But regardless of how you classify it, VDC is a sweet deal and if I were an undergrad I would kill to live there. I guess the one drawback to VDC is that parking sucks, although I heard that spaces are more plentiful in the grad student lots.</p>
<p>definitely live in the dorms the first year. I dont know about Stanford or Dartmouth being $2000/month, but if they are that sucks. We lived in Newport North our 2nd year which is like 2 miles down University from campus and it was only $1,600/month for 2bed/2bath (with 4 people it was just under $400 each- this is what most people do). Then we moved into Irvine more, down Jamboree- and got a 2 bed/2 bath for 3 people that was like $1,175. </p>
<p>I also had friends who went down to Newport Ave on the beach and the rent for those vacation homes is actually pretty cheap during the school year.</p>
<p>What would you guys advise for transfer students? Arroyo Vista or off-campus apt?</p>
<p>Anyone? Any advice would be great.</p>
<p>I dont know much about arroya vista other than that's where the fraternities/sororities are. Not sure how many non-frat/sor people live there. Also not really sure as a transfer student if you don't know anyone, how fun an apartment would be. You can always go to the school though and walk thru different buildings and see flyers for "roommate needed." I'm sure there are other more efficient ways to find roommates (are there websites that do that?), maybe you know some of those better ways. </p>
<p>That is all unless you plan on getting a single place by yourself. That probly wouldn't be too fun. People don't really seem to meet good friends thru classes, but moreso thru dorming freshman year/clubs/organizations.</p>
<p>Good luck with whatever you choose.</p>
<p>Thanks, pharmD. </p>
<p>Actually, Arroyo Vista is where transfers usually go because that's the only place where they guarantee housing for us. Anyway, the Housing Office should have many resources regarding off-campus housing... I already have an apartment in mind (w/a friend from high school actually so that's not really a problem)... I'm just thinking more in terms of advantages/disadvantages of living in AV vs. an off-campus, given that the apt is also walking distance from the school. Anyway, I'm gonna go and turn in my housing application just in case and ask around some more. Thanks!</p>