Freshman Living in Dorms vs 4/4 Apartment

<p>Hey guys Im going into FSU as an incoming freshman this year. I signed up for summer sesh and Im for sure doing that but I have some friends up there already and they want me to live in a 4/4 student apartment called Tennessee Street Station (looks super nice) with them for fall. MY parents have always pushed me towards traditional dorms for the first two years but this looks sick and I could get a taste of dorms during summer anyway. Thoughts? Will I be missing out because they said the dorms suck but Im doing suite style?! What to do...</p>

<p>I can only relate my son’s experience. He lives in Broward. It is a nice hall, a nice room, great location but he knows almost no one there. Everyone keeps their doors closed. I’ve been there and seen that when kids pass each other in the halls, they don’t even say hi. I thought the RA’s would have some social activities to get kids to know each other, but my son said there weren’t any to speak of. Now maybe some of the other suite style dorms are different. </p>

<p>I, too, wanted my son to have the dorm experience because I remember my days in the dorm as being a lot of fun and I met a lot of people there and we were all in and out of each others rooms. but my son’s experience has been nothing like that…he has made new friends from being in a fraternity and he hangs around with some of the kids he knew in high school. Except for his roommate, I don’t think he knows anyone from the dorm. My son is somewhat reserved, so if you are the outgoing type, it might be different for you.</p>

<p>maybe others on this board can share if they had a positive social dorm experience. I just think the suite style dorms are isolating.</p>

<p>My son says a friend who lived in Deviney and now is in Smith or Kellum, says those dorms are more like the dorm experience I had and what your parents may have had, too. They aren’t as physically nice as the suite dorms, but I think you meet more people. I wish my son had chosen Deviney instead of Broward.</p>

<p>Don’t know where the 4/4 is geographically to the campus, but I think it’s valuable for students to be on campus the first year for proximity to everything and to get the lay of the land, so to speak.</p>

<p>Opt for dorms first year. It’s much more of an experience to be had than to jump ship to apartments. Oh, and Tenn Street Station is decently far it is by status liquors. Being in a suite style dorm is pretty much a luxury, i had Deviney first year but i got a single so it wasn’t too bad. My best buddy here at FSU was the guy i lived right next to in Deviney last year, so from personal experience it helps. You may have friends here already (did not have any when i came to FSU) although you will grow as an adult living on your own to make new friends that are in the same situation as you (first time college students).</p>

<p>My vote is for the dorms. You can always live off campus for the next 3 years. Sometimes living with strangers turns out better than living with friends, too.</p>

<p>i lived off campus this year for my freshman year in an apartment and i couldn’t have been happier with my decision! my friend lived in the dorms during the summer and come fall she was sick of them. i’m the only one out of my friends who lives off campus and literally my friends are NEVER in their dorms and are always over here because of the little space they have. i’ve probably been to each of their dorms a handful of times throughout the year. </p>

<p>as for tenn street station, i’ve actually signed a lease to live there next year and loved the apartment! i don’t know if you’ve had a chance to go visit but it is awesome and i’ve heard from friends who live there that it’s great! </p>

<p>the convenience of being on campus is priceless, but really that’s all that i feel i’m missing out on. i feel like you meet plenty of people through activities like greek life, classes or clubs anyways. this is just my opinion but good luck deciding! :)</p>