<p>I have yet to visit UIUC, but will be doing so in February-April sometime. I have not committed to UIUC, but it's down to UIUC and another popular engineering school.</p>
<p>That said, anything I should know about housing/housing stereotypes? Is there any housing that is exceptionally nicer? Maybe most importantly to me: I would like housing with mainly fellow engineers. From what I can see, I should go with Wardall or Townsend on Illinois Street (I'd probably prefer Wardall b/c it's coed haha).</p>
<p>Any suggestions would be awesome (or we can just make this the Generic Housing questions/suggestions/etc thread).</p>
<p>The nicest residence hall on campus is Nugent Hall, which just opened on the west side of campus in the area now called Ikenberry Commons this year, and is the first new residence hall built since anyone can remember any hall being built. If you cannot get that luxury, then most halls have similarities in that they are old, few have air-conditoning (which is really only needed for about the first three weeks of class), the rooms are small except those on the east side of campus such as ISR (The Illinois Street Residences occupied by many engineers) are even smaller. Heating units can sometimes be a little loud, there are community bathrooms, and they generally look old, inside and out. </p>
<p>Many engineers like ISR simply because it is the closest on-campus residence hall to the engineering quad (and main quad). It has more uperclassmen than many halls with the result that access to freshman is more limited. Engineering students are in fact in virtually all halls and generally it is really a myth that you have to get into one or the other. The “six-pack,” a reference to halls on the west side of campus are thought to be more party-oriented than others but even that comparison is overblown. In any event, many try to avoid the Florida Residence Halls, not because they are lousey (they are really OK), but because they are furthest away from the main quad where most classes are and the walk is long (many use the on-campus bus system).</p>
<p>Actually, Townsend is the one that has co-ed floors. If you live in Wardall, your floor will be all-male. Townsend is nice, because you always see cute Asian girls walking around and you can easy start a conversation with them, but to me the floors look a bit too crowded. I’m at Wardall and it’s really nice and quiet here (for the most part).</p>
<p>But yeah, if you want engineers - ISR is the place. Practically everyone here is an engineer. Also, like, 80% of people here are Asian. Main quad, mathematics building, and the engineering quad are all <10 minutes away. It’s awesome, because you don’t ever need to worry about a bus.</p>
<p>Also, if you’re a video game nerd, you’ll feel right at home. There’s always people playing DoTA downstairs and a bunch of other kids playing consoles, WoW, and other PC games in the lounge. So if you’re into that stuff, you’ll definitely feel right at home.</p>
<p>Ehh, ISR doesn’t sound like me anymore (I like video games, but all this WoW and DoTA [I don’t even know what this stands for but I googled it] is not what I’m into), but I actually want to study, so neither is 6-pack. Any middle ground compromise you guys can suggest?</p>
<p>Plus, I’m not much for asian girls, so Wardall doesn’t sound much like I would have figured.</p>
<p>On the class of '15 facebook page, someone said there’s something across the street from the 6 pack that is a little more balanced. not sure of the name, and can’t find the facebook post again :P</p>
<p>But I’m sure if you lived in the 6 pack you would have plenty of time to study. If it is too noisy to study, you can always go into the lobby downstairs or to the library. (source: sister who lived in the 6 pack )</p>
<p>Dont worry about FAR/PAR being far away from each other because you can take a bus anywhere. I have lived in the 6-pack and PAR and I can honestly say most people will have a much easier time making friends and having a good time at the 6-pack. Dont let people fool you. However, PAR is a lot nicer as far as commodities.</p>
<p>BTW the taft/van dooren residence halls next to the 6-pack are a dump. Try to avoid these residence halls unless you want to avoid FAR/PAR and ISR at all costs.</p>
<p>How does one avoid (or, alternatively, guarantee) to get certain Univ sponsored housing? I think I read that you make a 1st , 2nd, 3rd choice and you can get ‘anything’.</p>
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