<p>What are the best freshman housing opportunities at Cal? I don't want to be in Foothill since it's on the other side of campus from the majority of the dorms. Clark Kerr sounds nice (I've heard students have tons of space?) but I think it's a little far for me. Any opinions on other dorms? (ex. is there a dorm that's really clean or one to avoid?)</p>
<p>I lived in Unit 2 when I was a freshman, but I personally think Unit 3 is the best dorm because it has a close proximity to everything. Just walk down from your dorm and you’re right at Cafe 3 (which is better than Crossroads imho). Some people complain that it’s design and furnishing is older but I don’t really care about these things.</p>
<p>No, Unit 1 minisuites are the best. New, spacious, and next to Crossroads which is always open :P</p>
<p>Thanks for the input! By the way, what really is a mini-suite? I couldn’t find any pics on the residential website. Is it like a complex of 2 larger-ish rooms and a bathroom? And if you stay in a mini-suite, do you still get the full dorm experience? Or is it less social since there are less people and more space…</p>
<p>Yes, it’s 2 rooms (larger than the doubles in the high rise) + one bathroom. So you only share your bathroom with three other people. I think the “dorm experience” really varies - my suite’s door is always open and we’re really social. But some others on my floor aren’t. It really depends on how social you want to be.</p>
<p>At the same time, some of my friends in the high-rises say that my suite is even more social than their floor - apparently their floormates don’t leave their doors open at all.</p>
<p>Does it matter how close you are to your classes?</p>
<p>For example, math, physical science, and engineering are more on the northeast side of campus, where Foothill, Stern, and Bowles are closest to.</p>
<p>Sorta, if you know you’ll be taking a lot of classes say… up at Haas or something.</p>
<p>Room sizes are greatest in Unit 4 and Clark Kerr (Unit 4= Bowles/Stern/Foothill) The absolute largest dorm rooms are in Bowles.</p>
<p>Don’t listen to anyone. Crossroads is WAY better than any other dining hall. I think people are just brainwashed with all the rumors. </p>
<p>As far as housing, some of my friends who live in clark kerr say that it’s far but they still love it. However, I just met a girl the other day who said I was lucky to live close to campus.</p>
<p>So unit 1 is pretty good except that u have to walk up a small hill sometimes but most classes are closer to unit 1 than unit 3. They say unit 3 is closest but closest to what? On the website I didn’t read the fine print that says “close to SATHER GATE”. I mean put unit 1 and 3 as ur first choices. They are the most social and close to frats if that your thang. </p>
<p>Then I would suggest foothill or stern because they are also close to campus but they are up a huge hill. I’d rather be there than clark kerr though.</p>
<p>You can’t really go wrong with any of them, but my personal favorite is Unit 3.</p>
<p>Unit 3 has the best bathrooms, has Cafe 3 and Bear Market, is close to Telegraph and the RSF and Dwinelle, has a neat little shortcut to campus (Sather Lane), and has a reputation for being more social than the other units. Probably because the doors in Unit 3 do not automatically close. :P</p>
<p>Bear Market is waaay overpriced. You’re better off using meal points in the dining halls. Meal points = $ and they charge you like $5 for one drink or $11 for a tiny bag of peanuts. I saw it with my own eyes.</p>
<p>It IS close to the RSF but the other units have exercise machines down below.</p>
<p>Bear Market helps me get rid of my excess meal points - I don’t care how ridiculous something costs when I’m there.</p>
<p>Everything is overpriced when it comes to meal points - it’s not Bear Market specific. You pay for your dining plan in advance, and having Bear Market so close by as a means of using those points is a huge advantage to living at Unit 3.</p>
<p>The RSF has more options than the Unit 1 and 2 exercise rooms. A lot of people at Units 1 and 2 still go to the RSF.</p>
<p>Furthermore, Unit 3 doesn’t look like a steerage deck of the Titanic on the inside (seriously, those weird lights and open ceilings in the older Unit 1 and 2 buildings are so creepy).</p>
<p>All that being said, the mini-suite buildings of Units 1 and 2 are super nice (Slottman, Christian, Towle).</p>
<p>Generally, what I hear about each dorm:</p>
<p>Bowles (all guys): It is what you make of it. I knew someone there that absolutely hated it, and switched to the Unit 1 minisuites, and I also know people there that love it. It’s kind of quirky in some ways though, because it’s old. The rooms are big, laid out with one large room in the middle of two smaller rooms with bunk beds. Bathrooms can be a little funny there. I know at least on the floor I’ve been to, the sinks, toilets, and showers are all in different rooms.</p>
<p>Stern (all girls): I’ve never met anyone from here, never actually been inside, only seen it from the outside. Can’t really give my input. I’ve heard it’s quiet, and people seem to avoid being placed there, but I don’t really know.</p>
<p>Foothill: The dorm with a ‘quieter’ reputation. Suite style, with a room with couches and chairs shared by a few bedrooms. Like anywhere, though, it’s luck of the draw as to what kind of people you end up with: quiet, engineer types or loud partiers… But, you get a ton of space compared to the units. On Northside, so it’s closer to Evans etc but further from Dwinelle/Wheeler.</p>
<p>Units 1/2, Highrises: Basically the same but separated by one block. U1 is closer. These dorms, along with Unit 3, are considered the most social. You share a bathroom with like 30 other people. 3 shower stalls, and 3 or 4 toilets. Bathrooms are coed unless you live on your building’s designated single-sex floor. Rooms are either doubles or triples and are akin to living inside a shoebox. Still, this is where most people want to live because of the ‘freshman experience’ and the friends you make on your floor. Some floors are really tight, some floors are cliquey, and some floors are antisocial. It’s luck of the draw. Also, odd floors have lounges, even floors have laundry rooms. Close to frat row and campus. Your dining commons is Crossroads, which is probably the worst of the places but it’s always open and it’s big, so there’s always SOMETHING to eat. One important point to remember is that even though you want a double, you might not get one… I didn’t know this, got assigned a triple, and it’s fine.</p>
<p>Unit 1/2 Minisuites: I think these are the most expensive. They vary in being social or not but from what I’ve heard from friends, they’re a bit quieter than the highrises. But, you basically share a bathroom with only your suitemates, and your room is bigger. I think laundry is also only on the ground floor or basement or whatever.</p>
<p>Unit 3: Like the highrises in U1 and 2. Actually is newer, but looks older because the other Units got remodeled within the past ten years or something. Ceilings in U3 are slightly lower, the furniture’s a little different, and laundry is centralized rather than every other floor. The Unit 3 dining commons is smaller than Crossroads but has better food sometimes… But it’s closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But, you have Bear Market to go to. Also closer to RSF, and right across the street from campus. Also closer to Telegraph so it might be a little louder depending on which building you’re in, I guess.</p>
<p>Clark Kerr: Some of the nicest, most spacious rooms on campus, but this place is kind of far away. Dining commons has arguably the best food. This is the dorm that many freshman athletes seem to be assigned (though not all of them, a couple basketball players live in the U1 minisuites). I think Clark Kerr has some suites, and some big-floor style buildings, but I only know for sure that there are suites. </p>
<p>In short,
People who value socialization usually pick the Units
People who value space pick Clark Kerr or the Minisuites
People who value quiet and proximity to engineering/math/science classes pick Foothill</p>
<p>^ Probably the most well-put informed dorm guide I’ve seen put together/made so far. I wish I could “like” or + rep posts.</p>
<p>Also important to note is the fact that because the units are so popular, a lot of people who want the units end up being assigned to Foothill, Stern, Bowles, or Clark Kerr. And within the units, Units 1 and 2 are the most popular. So it’s helpful to think about what is more important to you - location or room style.</p>
<p>For example, if you REALLY want a double, you have a better chance of getting a double if you request one in Unit 2 rather than in Units 1 or 3, because Units 1 and 3 are simply more popular (I think the vast majority of people who are in triples did not list triples on their application).</p>
<p>Strategy is key!</p>
<p>Thank you very much! Do many freshmen live in the mini suites or is that more of a soph thing?</p>
<p>more sophs live in the minisuites than in other rooms, but the majority of minisuiters are still freshmen (just because very few upperclassmen live in the dorms since they’re so expensive)</p>