<p>I'm doing general studies and intend on doing premed/biochem courses. I'm really clueless about what I'm doing for housing though. I'm not looking for partying/going to bars, but a generally good social area that is convenient to go to class and also is comfortable to live in. </p>
<p>I think I'm going with ISR as my number one choice. After that, though, I don't really know where to go. I'm told FAR/PAR/LAR/Allen are really far away and aren't worth going to, but I also heard that distance doesnt matter because LAR and PAR have really good buses. How frequent are the buses? Which one of those should I pick for my 2nd and 3rd choices?</p>
<p>Are the benefits for private house really worth the extra cost (specifically IT and Bromley)? How much more expensive is it?</p>
<p>ISR is a great choice for people who put school ahead of everything else. ISR very close to the engineering buildings and as a result of that, they are primarily Engineering majors. Although you said that you dont really like to party, I would recommend 6pack as your 2nd choice. Yes, pretty much everyone here parties, but it has a very fun and social atmosphere. There are study rooms within the buildings and 6pack is close to EVERYTHING. I would not recommend FAR or PAR because of their location and although you can get used to the bus schedule, its really not fun taking buses in the middle of the winter! As for private housing, they are slightly more expensive but not a deal breaker. Btw IT is noticeably “nicer” than Bromely. Also, many students who live in Bromley tend to join a frat/sorority. Last thing is that with Bromley there is not that much socialization between other students compared to 6pack and even ISR. 6pack>ISR>Bromely in terms of socialization</p>
<p>On campus buses run approximately every 10 minutes.</p>
<p>I’d like to mention that FAR/PAR is actually one the best place to stay during the winter transportation wise because it’s the first dorm stop on the bus route to class, so you’re nearly always guaranteed to get a seat. Any dorm after that and it’s up to chance. Expect buses to be PACKED on rainy/cold days. So much that they’ll reject riders and then your stuck in the cold to wait for another bus or run to class in the next 10 minutes.</p>
<p>Allen/LAR is not far from the quad at all. It’s actually closer than the 6-pack, especially if you land a dorm in the southwest corner of the pack. Usually the second bus stop after PAR. There are plenty of study rooms here also with a close-knit atmosphere.</p>
<p>ISR-Great location, especially if you are an engineer and/or don’t party, but there are lots of people here who aren’t social. The food at ISR is terrible, especially when you have it 10+ times/week.</p>
<p>PAR/FAR-Terrible location, FAR really lives up to its name.</p>
<p>Ikenberry-Great social life/food and is next to the ARC(really awesome rec center), but it is far away from classes.</p>
<p>IT-Apartment style living(good luck getting to know people, my friend doesn’t know anyone on his floor and they have terrible internet). Also, there is a mandatory meal plan that can only be used at the IT cafeteria; I ate there once and the food was worse than ISR.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you stay in private housing, your meal plan only works in their cafeteria.</p>
<p>And in response to the previous poster, packed buses are really annoying during the winter. In addition to rejecting riders, the buses also have a tendency to run really slowly when packed.</p>
<p>Consider checking into Weston Exploration - a “Living / Learning” community. What could be better than taking your Gen. Eds. in your own Res. Hall? Having engaged academic advisors right on premises? Lots of study space and resource materials. Part of the “6-pack.” Boundless social activities. Flanked on either side by ARC & Ikenberry - literally footsteps to one of the nation’s top fitnesse centers and a brand new food court. Ice rink very close by, too.</p>
<p>Im planning on being a Microbiology student. I’d like a dorm that’s pretty close to where my classes will be. I’m almost sure that I won’t be going Greek. A/C would be nice. I’m social, but not drinking/party social. I’m a little artsy, and a quite eccentric, but I get along with most. I’m coming from a private school.</p>
<p>Likely should not make choice based on air. It is not needed after about mid-September for the rest of school year through May. Most of your classes will be in the main quad. Closest dorm to it is ISR, all the 6 pack and other Ikenberry dorms are fairly close. Liewise Allen. FAR is farthest away and PAR and LAR are also a distance. Artsy suggests Allen Hall and its Unit One living/learning community but you would probably be just fine in six-pack area</p>
<p>@drusba
I disagree, lack of air conditioning can be a major problem. Last weekend, the temperatures were in the 80s, and ISR was uncomfortably hot since the air conditioning was not turned on.</p>
<p>@vannah08510
If you are the artsy type, I would recommend living in Allen, but they have no air conditioning. ISR is in the best location(really close to main quad and chemistry/biology classes), but is not very social.</p>
<p>@bormack
International students can apply to any of the dorms.</p>
<p>@1moremon
I haven’t been inside LAR, but its exit faces away from campus while the exit for Allen faces campus.However, it is not very hard to simply walk around LAR.</p>
<p>Six pack has the newest dining hall. My son was in Garner for freshman year and it was fine, but did move into his nearby frat house. He is an engineering major and doesn’t find the walk or bus ride objectionable to the engineering quad for classes. In winter it’s better to wear a proper coat and shoes for the walk – he tells me after we bought him said proper coat in January after we found out old coat had disappeared in October.</p>
<p>Hi people,
I am an international students (gender=F) from China and wants to find a roommate who can share the double room with me next year so that I can finish my Housing part in the admitted student checklist.
I chose residential halls in order of preference: FAR, LAR, PAR, BUSEY/EVANS, IBN, ISR
Also I like to be in a quiet study environment and usually go to bed around 12 at night.
I like to play basketball but not professional tho, haha
My favorite subject is math, and I am in the Business school of UIUC.
Please reply to my message if you are interested in becoming my roommate for the 1st year in college!</p>
<p>OMG ! FAR/PAR and the Ikenberry Commons (Six-Pack) are the EXACT SAME distance from the Main Quad (where most of anyone’s first year classes will be). So distance isn’t even an issue. Allen Hall/LAR are even closer than that!</p>
<p>Allen has a reputation for being artsy, but is also the most social dorm on campus. And whoever said air-conditioning wasn’t needed was correct. An open window and a fan does an amazing job (I HATE the heat and I was fine in Allen). The person at ISR who was hot didn’t account for the fact that they live in ISR, which has horrible airflow.</p>