<p>So I am a recently accepted Computer Science major, and I will be a freshman next year. I have been debating whether to live on campus in a dorm (Yosemite or Sierra Madre) or live in the on campus apartments (Poly Canyon Village). Some friends and I decided that we wanted to get an apartment instead of a dorm for our first year in college. It would be the four of us, and one of us has a car, so we wouldn’t have to worry about transportation too much. Also, money isn’t really an issue in our situation, we all come from privileged families. We are all very compatible and work well together (2 engineers and 2 econ majors). There would be no problem living with them, but what I want to know is what would be my best option. </p>
<p>I really like the idea of having my own room and my own place, but after talking with students they said that Poly Canyon is really for people who are socially awkward and I definitely don’t see myself in that category. I like having my own space but I do also want to make a lot of new friends. I don’t like the idea of having a random roommate though. SO, what do you guys think. Poly canyon Village with 3 of my close friends, or a dorm in either Yosemite or Sierra Madre with someone I haven’t met yet? Also, it would be nice to hear both sides of the argument. I have been told by almost everyone that dorms are better.</p>
<p>PCV isn’t good for freshmen according to the ones I’ve talked to who had that experience.
Sophomores usually live in PCV so you’ll have a chance to live there. So the PCV socially awkward stereotype is very far off. </p>
<p>My freshmen year, being an out of stater, I knew nobody and even though having random roommates was tough, it was super fun, and honestly made me a better person in so many ways. I learned to be more outgoing, meet new people, form study groups, go on spontaneous late night adventures with people etc. The “freshmen experience” term might sound cliche, but it’s something you really don’t want to miss out on. </p>
<p>If worse comes to worse, you can always change rooms, and for your sophomore year you could room with friends in PCV.</p>
<p>My daughter is a current freshman and lives in Yosemite. She loves it. Students from all majors are in her tower. She went with random roommates and it has worked out very well for all of them. They have all made so many friends. The layout in Yosemite is nice. There is a common room in the middle of each floor. Very social and inclusive. Another great thing about Yosemite is that the rooms are fairly spacious. No complaints about tight quarters from my daughter, and she’s in a triple (she requested one, more variety). If you decide to go with Yosemite, and a triple, try to get the bottom bunk! My daughter gave up one of the large closets and took the much smaller wardrobe in exchange for the bottom bunk. So worth it. If you snag a double, consider yourself lucky. Lots of space. </p>
<p>One thing: It gets loud. A lot. That said, she said if they close the door to their room, it blocks out the noise pretty effectively. Plenty of other places to study nearby if it gets too loud. </p>
<p>I hope you know cerro vista apartments also exist and its only freshmen…</p>
<p>On a side note, i currently live in yosemite and it’s the best place on campus to live. All my friends in the apartments wish they were in the towers because its way more social. If you really like these guys and want to be with mostly them, apartments are for you, but if you’re looking to make new friends, go for yosemite with and room with one of the guys you were planning on living with and join your big happy tower family.</p>
<p>I’m sure your friends are good people, but I would recommend you not live with them at all as a freshman. It greatly inhibits your ability to meet other people. My son went to Poly with one of his best friends, but they intentially chose to live apart. They still see each other frequently, but have grown in ways that would not have been possible had they lived together. You just tend to cloister too much. Choose your respective living learning communities as freshmen and the get a house or apartment as a sophomore. </p>
<p>It all depends on you. I’m living in cerro and I love it. I’ve got my own bedroom and share a full bathroom with one guy. It is quieter which I like since I can go to bed when I want to. I don’t see it as being anti social though meeting people would be harder. It’s not as crowded so you bump into people less though with that you gain privacy, amenities, and quiet. If you do choose apartments then use WoW to meet a lot of your neighbors since you’ll probably be in the same group.</p>
<p>LIVE IN THE DORMS!!! It is an experience that you need to experience lol! Cerro is fairly antisocial and it is truly great having your best friends down the hall</p>