<p>Hey guys,
So this fall I'm going to be a Bio major @ UIUC (will try and switch into Bioengineering later). Where should I dorm? I prefer having a social dorm, but not to the point where I can't study/sleep. Also, I would like to be close to a gym (I heard the ARC is the best one), have decent food, and be able to choose my roommate (my friend is also going to UIUC). Is there any way I can avoid having to share the bathrooms with my entire hall? I was considering private certified housing, but I'm not entirely sure which would be the best for me. Can you guys suggest some housing possibilities and pros/cons? Also how far are the housing options from the main campus? (Walking)
Thanks,
Nik</p>
<p>If you want to avoid having to share bathrooms with the entire hall, you are looking for suite-style dorms with each suite having its own bathroom and a number of bedrooms (either doubles or singles) separated from the suite’s common area (small “living/TV room”) and bathroom/shower area by it’s own door. You’d be looking for a double bedroom, since you have a roommate in mind. As a freshman, the majority of your courses will be on the main quad, so a dorm between there and arc would be ideal. As I always recommend, I recommend Newman Hall, which is PCH. It is ostensibly a Catholic Dorm, but anyone is welcome, and while the religion is there if you want it, it’s not “in your face” and no one pushes it, or cares about your level of involvement. No dorm that freshman have a likelihood of being able to obtain housing in is closer to the quad. It has suite style rooms, a ton of social activities, and decent food (but seriously, dorm food is not 4-star restaurant quality and is repetitive in many dishes). You need to get your application in asap as those PCH rooms go quickly. Good luck with your choice.</p>
<p>@Balthezar
Which PCH is closest to the ARC? Armory, Bromley, Hendrick or Illini Tower? Also if you have a meal plan @ PCH can you pay to eat at any of the dorm halls?</p>
<p>@Itsmedonuts
Whats up, </p>
<p>I’m a current Freshman at UIUC living in PCH.
If you have a friend coming here and you both want to live in the same place I would suggest Presby Hall. That is where I currently live, however I live in a single. I picked Presby because it is really the only “suite” style housing I found. Bromley and Newman just didn’t do it for me. Every suite in Presby has its own kitchen, living room and balcony. Suites are either 5 or 6 people, sounds crazy but the suites are big, plus some doubles have their own bathroom so if you have a friend you can be the only ones to use that bathroom. Each room comes with free cable and internet, each suite has its own wifi router so you can always stream or game online. There is a parking garage so if you want to bring a car for one or both semesters you can. It is one block from the main quad and about 3 from the ARC. I would rather have a short walk to classes on a cold day and jog to the gym, also it is close to greek life if you want to get into that. One of the top houses is literally across the street.
Some suites throw parties so its a nice social scene, however since you have a suite between you and the hall way if you need to study it is always silent.
Also, technically you need to have a dinning plan as a freshman, but you can always opt for a campus meal plan instead of the presby plan. </p>
<p>Hit me up if you have any more questions.
-Jordan</p>
<p>Newman is slightly closer than Presby, but I’m not knocking Presby. You should check things out for yourself. All the PCH have their pluses and minuses. Opinions vary, and most PCH have websites with pictures, so, again, you’re the best judge of what’s best for you. You need to apply quickly though because PCH is in pretty high demand due to it’s suite style dorms. Also, google maps is your friend ;)</p>
<p>@WarreJor
Hey Jordan,
I was considering Presby but my friend is Hindu (to be honest he’s not a huge believer), and he wasn’t too comfortable going to a Christian hall. Not to be blunt, but is Presby very “in your face” about religion? Also, are the suites 1 kitchen, 1 bath, 2 bedroom and a living room for 2 people like Illini Tower (like this layout: <a href=“http://www.illinitower.net/rooms-and-rates/rooms-and-rates/2-Bedroom-1-Bath-Private-Suite-Hurry-Limited-rooms.html”>http://www.illinitower.net/rooms-and-rates/rooms-and-rates/2-Bedroom-1-Bath-Private-Suite-Hurry-Limited-rooms.html</a>)?
I was looking into getting something similar to a 2 bedroom apartment but Illini tower is super expensive (20k). Also is the food @ Presby decent?
Thanks a ton :D,
Nikhil</p>
<p>@Balthezar
Yeh thanks I’ll definitely check all of them out but I’m leaning towards either Hendrick/Illini Tower/ Presby/ Armory (assuming my friends okay with it). I’m pretty sure Armory doesn’t have a private living room; instead they have a common living room (<a href=“http://www.armoryhouse.com/home/index.php?housing-suitesDouble.html”>http://www.armoryhouse.com/home/index.php?housing-suitesDouble.html</a>). I’m looking for something similar to Illini tower’s private suites for two. Not sure about Hendrick because they haven’t posted a floor plan.</p>
<p>@Itsmedonuts
Presby is not religiously affiliated at all. There is a church next to us but that is about it. So don’t worry about that aspect.
The doubles here are more you share a kitchen and living room with 3 other people and you have your own bathroom.</p>
<p>@WarreJor
That’s awesome! So if the kitchen/living room are shared, do two residents share one bedroom? Or do 4 bedrooms (and therefore 4 residents) share 1 kitchen/living room?</p>
<p>@WarreJor
I was thinking of getting something more like a standard 2 bedroom apartment. I’m almost convinced only Illini tower has the 2bedroom 1 kitchen/living room + 1 bath arrangement :… Also what happens if a PCH doesn’t offer meal plans like Europa? Do we just eat elsewhere?</p>
<p>its more like 5 residents and 3 bedrooms. So illini tower might be what you want. If a PCH doesnt have a meal plan than you get a university meal plan and eat at the dinning hall</p>
<p>What are people’s opinions on ISR? I am going to be a engineer, so it seems like the best choice. However, I would also like to be closer to a gym. How nerdy is it, really? Are there still small parties and stuff?</p>
<p>ISR is popular with upperclassman engineers and others, so the odds of an incoming freshman or transfer getting assigned to it are slim. As for socialization, engineers are just as likely to want to unwind from a hard week of heads-down study as anyone else. </p>
<p>People say PAR/FAR sucks but I have a social floor this year (freshman). I met a lot of friends from the sixpack and its definitely the most social. Allen is right next to CRCE, btw you can’t switch into bio engineering (its the one major that they don’t allow you to b/c its a small program). </p>