<p>is there a pre-housing contract that we sign saying that we will be living on campus, so they can reserve the spots for us? like ucsd, there is a housing contract we do (before we submit the SIR)
does berkeley have this? or do you have to submit your SIR first and deal with the housing later?</p>
<p>incoming freshman fall 2011...please help</p>
<p>Housing contacts are done after you SIR. As a Fall freshman you are guaranteed 2 years of housing, so you don’t have to worry about them reserving your spot. There is a $20 housing application fee and then a $300 deposit that you get later when you get your offer.</p>
<p>is there a way to reserve the spot at a specific resident hall that you would like to stay at? or do we not have a pick, and get randomly assigned?</p>
<p>a bit of both, actually. Everyone who registers for housing by the deadline is assigned a random position, then they allocate housing from first position to last. Each student submits a list of five choices in priority order, composed of combinations of the type of room and the residence units they want. When your number comes up for the draw, if your first choice is available, you get it. If not, they look at your second choice, giving it to you if that is open. Someone who received a very good random position will get their first choice, someone with a very late random position is going to get to the last choice, which is any-hall and any-type-room. </p>
<p>In addition, there are some options you can pick that affect assignment, as these options are very likely to be met. Single-gender floor, substance-free residence hall, and the theme housing selections have a big effect, both positive and negative compared to your prioritized list of choices. If there is room in your first choice unit and room type, but it is not single gender, then you won’t be allocated that first choice room. If you pick theme housing, you are very likely to get into the space where that theme is housed, giving you more control than a prioritized list of choices. </p>
<p>You don’t select down to the individual residence hall building, but to the group. In other words, you can choose Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Foothill, Bowles, Stern, Clark Kerr but not individual buildings. You can indicate Unit 2 as a choice but not Griffith Hall within Unit 2. However, since the halls are grouped together into these complexes like Unit 2 or Foothill, sharing common facilities and together on one physical plot of land, selecting to the individual building isn’t that important.</p>
<p>could you chooose which building you want to live in? like Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Foothill, Bowles, Stern, Clark Kerr. </p>
<p>i just want to be put in a suite, but not sure where yet…</p>
<p>which would you reccomend? or which one is higest rated?</p>
<p>Is housing first come, first serve? Do I have to submit my ratings as soon as possible after I submit my SIR?</p>
<p>Also, can we choose our own roommates?</p>
<p>Housing is not first come, first serve. Regardless of whether you submit your SIR and housing contract now or a few weeks form now, you’re still going to be randomly assigned a lottery number. And yes, you can choose your roommate.</p>
<p>And you get to kind of choose where you live (see rider’s post above). But if you want a suite you’re going to either want Foothill, Clark Kerr, or the Unit 1&2 minisuites. Clark Kerr is most spacious but far away. Minisuites are most expensive, but newest and closest to campus. Foothill suites are close to engineering/science buildings, and quiet. I don’t think any one is better than the other, all suites in Berkeley are pretty spacious but not as social as the high-rise dorms in Units 1, 2, and 3. Believe it or not, most people actually want spots the old, kind of ghetto high-rise dorms because they’re known for being really social and great for meeting people. But if you value space over social activity then go for a suite somewhere! The high-rises are cramped, but fun.</p>