Housing Middlebrook vs Frontier

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Minnesota
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<p>I've been accepted into the U of MN, and I'm not sure that I'll do the honors program (even if I do get into it) because I want to take some art and music classes, and it would be easier to devote more time to these and EC at the U without the Honors...</p>

<p>Anyway, to get to the point:
What are the pros and cons of Frontier and Middlebrook? Do you feel like an outcast if you're in Middlebrook and not in Honors? Frontier has the IT, etc. communities (which is great for me cuz I'm going to major in Math from IT) but Middlebrook sounds awesome... </p>

<p>Any info would be helpful!!!</p>

2

<p>Congratulations! I lived in Frontier my freshman year (2000-01). I stayed in Middlebrook for one or two nights for orientation the preceding summer so I’m not intimately familiar with it, but here are some notes from what I remember. I was not in the Honors program or any subject-specific communities, and most students are not, so you shouldn’t feel left out because of that. I won’t recommend one over the other because everyone is different.</p>

<p>Middlebrook:

  • Built in the 1960s, with a new wing completed in 2003ish
  • Larger
  • Rooms seemed a little “nicer” than Frontier’s (although these are, of course, dorm rooms we’re talking about)
  • Better views
  • Has its own dining hall
  • More variety in types of rooms (single/double/suite…)
  • Closer to art- and music-related buildings
  • Shared private (lockable) bathrooms</p>

<p>Frontier:

  • Built in the 1950s, with a new wing completed in 2002ish
  • Shares a dining hall with Pioneer (connected via underground tunnel)
  • Freshman-only (at least when I was there)
  • Part of the Superblock
  • Slightly cheaper (at least when I was there)
  • Closer to math-related buildings
  • Within walking distance of Stadium Village
  • Large, shared public bathrooms</p>

<p>Frontier caters to the “freshman experience” and the social activities are geared around this. It sits next to Territorial, another freshman-only dorm. Being smaller, it has more of a “community” feel. You really get to know your neighbors, doors often remain open, and there is more spontaneous interaction and “hanging out.”</p>

<p>Middlebrook has a slightly quieter, more grown-up feel. There are fewer all-hall activities, but more hall-specific clubs. It is a bit more individualistic.</p>

<p>Hope this is helpful. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Frontier: More fun in general, lots of parties so arguably better social life
Middlebrooke: A little quieter but definitely not boring. Easier to balance work and play. </p>

<p>My roommate is not in the Honors program and she loves middlebrook and has tons of freinds. You will definititely not feel like an outcast.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the responses!!! I feel better about making a decision now…</p>

<p>I’m planning to take art and music classes b/c my lib arts req. will be filled by APs so I’ll have extra time to take “artsy” classes… so Middlebrook sounds perfect!</p>

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<p>Double in MI is not bigger than my single in Centennial</p>

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<p>Congratulations on being accepted! That’s really great news. I’m a freshman living in Middlebrook right now, so I thought I’d offer you some of my observations. </p>

<p>If you’re looking to take art and music classes, you really can’t beat Middlebrook in terms of location. Frontier is quite a ways away from the West Bank Arts Quarter, but luckily the campus connector system can really cut down on that time. </p>

<p>I don’t think honors will stop you from being able to take art classes. I’m an applied plant science major, and there are literally no honors classes offered in that major, but luckily I can take care of my honors requirements with honors courses that fulfill my liberal education requirements I didn’t finish with AP credits as well as seminars and foreign languages. Any freshman seminar, whether it’s deemed “honors” or not, counts as an honors experience, and there are tons that involve art and music. A friend of mine just completed a seminar called BioArt, taught by this crazy professor who isolated one of his genes and expressed it in a flower. Anyways, foreign languages also count as honors experiences if you’re not in the College of Liberal Arts. I would definitely recommend Chinese! And if you’re planning on doing extra curriculars, a ton of those can count as honors experiences as well. I would really encourage you to accept an invitation to the honors program, and if you discover later that it really is restricting you from doing what you want, then you can always drop out. </p>

<p>If you don’t get into honors, I don’t think you’d feel like an outcast in Middlebrook. If you’re going to be an IT math major and you already have some AP’s under your belt, you’d fit right in with any of the honors students. Not only that, only floors 6 through 10 are honors floors. 4 and 5 are the international student floors, while 11 and 12 host the arts living and learning community. Maybe one of those would be something that you’re interested in. The other floors and the new edition host kids who aren’t in a living and learning community, so all in all, there’s a wide range of diversity in Middlebrook Hall.</p>

<p>As far as the downsides go, when I first got to college, I really struggled for a few weeks because it seemed like everyone wanted to sit around and watch Disney movies on Friday and Saturday nights. In all honesty, a lot of the people on the honors floors are like that (which makes things really nice when you do get around to doing some studying), but if you can stick it out, you’ll find your niche of people who are exciting and want to get out and do fun things. And like I said, Middlebrook has a huge variety of kids, so if you’re looking to play World of Warcraft, go to frat parties, get high, watch the Lion King, drink, go downtown, go clubbing, study, or go to bed at 8 pm on a Friday night, there are literally different groups of kids in Middlebrook for all of that. It’s just a matter of finding the right people who mesh with you. </p>

<p>I would definitely recommend living in Middlebrook and doing the honors program, but of course it’s up to you. If you have anymore questions about either of those, let me know! Good luck on your decisions!</p>

7

<p>thanks for all of the info! so how does one get to classes from Middlebrook? biking and walking are great, but if it’s snowing does one just grab a coat and admire the white brilliance? and if its raining (hard otherwise the staring into space is just continuing) does one just run/bike faster with head down? i know the gopher way is great… and the bridge isn’t exposed to the weather… but is the gopher way really that extensive?
sorry for the long, continuous questions, and the answers have been great!</p>

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<p>i got accepted in uhp so i want to go to middlebrook, but I’m just kind of concerned about not having the “freshman experience” if I do lol</p>

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<p>Potato, Here’s a the link to a .pdf map of the Gopher Way:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www1.umn.edu/pts/files/Walking%20Guide.pdf[/url]”>http://www1.umn.edu/pts/files/Walking%20Guide.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There are many more tunnels than this map shows but these are the main routes. You have to figure out the rest on your own. As for getting to classes, apart from a dash accross Washington St you never have to go outside if you choose. My cousin (class of 2009) says that when he lived in the Superblock he spent the bulk of the winter in a sweat shirt. It’s going to the Bars, Resturants, Downtown, and other Social Activities where your investment in a nice coat will pay-off.</p>