<p>So my little brother just got accepted. (hoooooorayyy!!!!)</p>
<p>He says that when he visited, everyone said that the "B-J" complex was the best. Is this true?? From the information, it looks pretty good but I just want Chicago students' opinions. If not that one, which is the most coveted dorm? </p>
<p>Also, how does housing selection work, is it first come first serve or is it randomly assigned based upon what you put down on the application ALL after a certain date, regardless of when you apply for it?</p>
<p>Priority is housing choice is given to returning second-years, and then the first people who turned in their admission acceptance/housing selection. So if your little brother really wants a dorm he should turn his stuff in right away. </p>
<p>There's no universally "most coveted" dorm because they are all really different. B-J has a reputation for weirdness that I think they embrace, and you're a lot less likely to find people going out to frat parties and drinking there - so for some people it's perfect. It's a classically U of C dorm, really.</p>
<p>The other big ones are Max and the Shoreland, any other dorms don't count because you'll likely never go to them or know they exist. Max is probably the closest thing to "most coveted" as it tends to get really selective, lots of returning students always pick it along with a lot of incoming first years. But it's all up to the student, really.</p>
<p>Merh... You completely left off Snell-Hitchcock... That's no good. They're quirky and fun and pwn in broomball and Scav. They tend to be very offbeat and usually work well with other people in the same dorm... unless it's Hitchcock section 3...they always hate each other by the end of the year...</p>
<p>B-J is too big to not break into houses. Linn house is pretty risque....as far as UChicago goes. This of course isn't saying much, but the people there tend to be known for sleeping in various rooms. Dodd-Meade is basically amazing, and I think it's the biggest house in B-J. They always win the chariot races...for the most part anyway. I also think Chamberlin has ultimate frisbee...</p>
<p>I've heard MaxP described several times as the state school on campus. If you're into partying in college where the main activity isn't combining Monopoly and Risk into one game (ie S-H), but you'd rather have someone pass the Smirnoff... live in MaxP...</p>
<p>I really haven't heard much about Shoreland...if that says anything. However I think Filbey and Bishop tend to be pretty close-knit groups and do a lot of stuff. Also Dewey kids love broomball...they just...never win.</p>
<p>As Jack said... the others aren't heard of much. As I said though...I do resent him neglecting Snell-Hitchcock as I consider it the most "UofC" dorm on campus... Still that's just my opinion... I'm biased.</p>
<p>Vincent House in BJ was the intramural champion last year, and they are looking good this year. </p>
<p>BJ has the dinning hall right there - which is gorgeous - and beautiful lounges... I would agree that it is the best dorm... also, it is pretty much on campus, but with the midway in between, you get a nice feeling that you can separate school and home...</p>
<p>bj's dining hall though will make you cry. max p and s-h have bartlett which should not be taken lightly. as far as college dining halls go, bartlett is the second best in the nation. people complain about it all the time, of course, but its still a far better option than any other dining hall on campus. FAR.</p>
<p>Query for current students: compare contrast BJ and Snell-Hitchcock, perhaps Snell vs. Hitchcock too if need be. These are my top three pics right now. Which is more nerdy/less party oriented?</p>
<p>The setting of Max P depends a lot on the house. There are some houses where Monopoly and Risk will give Smirnoff a run for his money. (And Max P as a dorm has won ScavHunt a couple of times in a row, I believe, so it's still definitely UChicago).</p>
<p>in general, the single dorms are "less social" and the doubles are "more social"</p>
<p>I'm in BJ and it's totally the right place for me.</p>
<p>BJ the Good:
-- Single, and pretty large
-- Near the quads
-- Dining hall
-- Beautiful-- BEAUTIFUL-- BEAUTIFUL</p>
<p>BJ the Bad:
--Relatively quiet. It's quiet at 7:30 Monday morning, and it's quiet 7:30 Friday night. Sometimes you get that "nobody's home" feeling
--The house lounges are small, so people are relatively scattered, even if they are there.
--Some rooms have ventilation issues.
--The bathrooms are public and co-ed (which is not an issue for me, but is for many.)</p>
<p>For Snell-Hitchcock, or Hitchcock-Snell, you gotta know that you want it. Snell is even more quiet and even more insular in some ways that BJ, although the people in it are totally awesome. Hitchcock is more social (doubles), but for a type. You can always find people in the Green Room, (and you can always find the Smirnoff), but be prepared for house meetings that last two hours and random craziness.</p>
<p>Common reputations (not saying they're true, just what they are):</p>
<p>Snell-Hitchcock: weird, nerdy, quirky, hardcore U of C students; best dining hall; basically on the quad Max P: students are a mixed bag, generally social and friendly; best dining hall; very central; suite set up with 2 double rooms and private bathroom for 1st years; colorful Pierce: social; small rooms; short walk from the quads; conventional dorm set up Shoreland: most social, "coolest" kids, best dorm parties; short bus/shuttle ride from campus; next year is the last year you can live there, and if you do you'll get preference for the new dorm; some triples and quads are huge appartment-style rooms, but there are also some forced triples, though they all have private bathrooms B-J: somewhat nerdy and weird, but not like Snell-Hitchcock; conventional dorm set up; across the midway; beautiful Broadview: mostly unknown; singles with private bathrooms; pretty near Shoreland Breckenridge, Maclean, etc.: pretty much unknown</p>
<p>honestly, don't worry too much about getting a dorm that doesn't match your social needs. if you've made friends in the past, you'll make them again regardless of where you live. I live in Max and there are people in my house i've never even seen and even more i've never talked to. This can be interpreted many ways. My point, though, is that i wouldn't put a lot of emphasis on the type of people who live in each dorm, but rather the specifics of the dorm itself. I think my house, btw, is especially nerdy for Max (May-home to many scav fanatics).</p>
<p>I've dreamt of getting accepted into UChicago and living in the Shoreland for years. The first part's come true (hooray!), but now I'm starting to have some doubts about Shoreland and how far it is away from the main campus...</p>
<p>Shoreland is take-the-shuttle-bus-far, but it seems as though students in Shoreland get used to it very quickly. A lot of Shorelanders become creative in minimizing trips back to the dorm... instead of going back to take a nap between classes, they'll nap in the library.</p>
<p>The nice thing about Shoreland, though, is that once you're there it feels like you're home. The travel time may factor into that feeling.</p>
<p>1) Shoreland is getting torn down. Next year is the last year for it.</p>
<p>2) I heard and believed all these housing stereotypes - B-J is all weird D&D players, Max is the state school, pass the Smirnoff, etc. They're crap. Look, no matter where you live, if you want someone to pass the Smirnoff, someone's going to pass the damn Smirnoff.</p>
<p>If architecture is a consideration for you (as it would be for me), go to the uchicago.edu website and get photos. One of those dorms (and some of you will know of which one I speak) would gag me every time I got near it ;-).</p>
<p>I am in Snell. It's very quiet, generally, which I like, as well as small. Architecturally, it is beautiful and charming, I feel. Also, the fact that it is situated on campus makes it ideal for those days when one wakes up five minutes before the start of class. ;-)</p>