<p>Hellooooo everyone! I'm going to USF in the Fall and I was hoping someone could give me some insight on what on campus housing is like there. If anyone could tell me what their experiences have been like, I would greatly appreciate it. I would prefer a suite style but any information is welcome. </p>
<p>Thank you and Go Bulls! =)</p>
<p>Hey usfgirl! I’m finishing my 2nd yr at USF now. Freshman year I lived in Castor Hall which is a traditional style dorm, 2 to a room with the bathroom down the hall. This yr I’m in Maple Hall which is suite style–I share the suite with 3 girls. Next yr I’m living in a private apt. near campus, not because I don’t like living in campus housing, I guess I just want to try something new and will still be able to walk to school. There is a glut of apts. in Tampa now with the off economy and the rents have become more attractive. I still think it is wise for new students to live on campus until they at least learn the ropes at USF and freshmen are now required to live on campus. A new dorm complex that just opened this yr is Juniper-Poplar which has about 1000 freshmen in suite style rooms with its own dining hall downstairs. It is the most popular dorm now for freshman, but what I don’t like about it is that it is a pretty long walk to most everything, including classrooms and the rec center and athletic complex. There is a shuttle bus service (Bull Runner) available, I just prefer walking. Don’t rule out the traditional style dorms like Beta and Castor–they are cheaper, more convenient to everything and are in good repair after being remodeled a few yrs ago. Freshmen have to get a meal plan anyway so it’s not like you need a big room with a bunch of kitchen appliances. Some of the older dorms (the ones with the Greek letter names) have suites–try to avoid the ones with 8 people to a unit–they get kinda cramped. If you can get in Cypress or Maple suites they are really nice. All the dorms except Juniper-Poplar are near the two dining halls–Argos and Andros. Argos is better for breakfast and lunch, Andros has better dinner and is open late hrs. There are some “apartments” on campus–Cypress and Kosove allow freshmen–Cypress is expensive at $787/mo and the bedrooms are super tiny; Kosove I think is a better deal at $600/mo with bigger rooms…it’s an older bldg. but convenient. But I think it is stupid getting an apt with a kitchenette freshman yr when you are still required to buy a meal plan. Older dorms Mu, Lambda, Theta are not being used this year and are locked up now–I don’t think had enough students to fill them up this yr after Juniper-Poplar opened this yr. They might be used next year. So recapping Juniper-Poplar might be the best choice if you are a freshman and dead set on suite style and it is loaded with freshmen activities, I wouldn’t rule out traditional styles Castor and Beta dorms. All the dorms have wireless internet service and cable TV at no extra charge. If you are an upperclassman student, check out Cypress and Maple suites. Have a great year at USF and GO BULLS!</p>
<p>[Housing</a> & Residential Education - University of South Florida](<a href=“Housing & Residential Education | University of South Florida”>Housing & Residential Education | University of South Florida)</p>
<p>Hi!
I just visited USF yesterday. It was the first college I’ve visited so far, so maybe my opinions are kind of off because I don’t know the norm, but here goes.</p>
<p>The housing is nothing fancy. (Of course no colleges are. But if you’ve been shopping nice private schools and such, you’ll be surprised.) However, it was still pretty nice. </p>
<p>The first house I visited was Delta, which I really didn’t like. It was very cramped, and it was one of the ones that the poster above mentioned with 8 people to a suite.
It was all uphill from there, however. The newer suite style is much nicer. There are two people in a room, then it connects to a bathroom and another two person room. I really liked that, however the one disadvantage is that there is only one shower and one toilet and they aren’t even separated… and that would be really tough for most girls to share that space!
My favorite style turned out to be the traditional. I think I visited Beta. It was the most cheerful, and the students had decorated everything, which was really cute. (That’s not that important though. ;)) The rooms were average sized, and then of course theres the bathroom down the hall which is just like a bathroom at a gym or something with toilet stalls and some showers. This type of dorm is the most social, which is another reason I would like it.</p>
<p>Lastly, I saw the apartments. I think a lot of students would absolutely love this, but I personally didn’t like it. There are 3 bedrooms and each student gets a bedroom, and then there was also a bathroom. Then there was also a common living room type area and a kitchen. It was a nice apartment, but definitely not social (making friends in the dorms is a big part of the college experience, IMO. It’s important for me anyways.), plus I don’t know how much you really need your own kitchen. I absolutely wouldn’t recommend an apartment for a freshman since you have to have a meal plan. </p>
<p>Hope this helped! If you’re going to USF I suggest visiting if you are able and haven’t already. I went to their “Stampede to Success” event. It was very informative and I’m really considering the school now. </p>
<p>If you don’t mind my asking, what is your high school GPA and your test scores? I’d just like to see my chances.
Also, what made you choose USF?</p>
<p>Thank you both so much for the replies! I really appreciate them. =)</p>
<p>I did go to the Stampede to Success event but it was in my Junior year and I haven’t been back since I was accepted. That event was a huge reason why I chose USF. I LOVE the atmosphere there. Everyone seemed friendly and laid back…I just felt really at home there. On paper the school is great but the people and the atmosphere are what make it special. USF also has a really good psychology program, which is my major.</p>
<p>My GPA was a 3. 79 the last time I checked. My SAT scores were nothing spectacular…550 Reading, 550 Math, 540 Writing. My ACT was a 25.</p>
<p>The Eligibility Matrix is here: <a href=“http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Admissions/pdf/counselor-grid.pdf[/url]”>http://usfweb2.usf.edu/Admissions/pdf/counselor-grid.pdf</a></p>
<p>That should help you, too. When are you applying for?</p>
<p>Hey I was at the Stampede to Success Friday at the Marshall Center too. I was “womanning” a booth for a dept. I am majoring in trying to answer questions about my major. The Stampede is an annual event for high school juniors and has been a big success at USF.</p>
<p>hey there guys! I’m attending USF fall 2010 too… and i’m prolly signing up for the Juniper-Poplar housing as part of Honors LLC… has anyone been to its rooms yet?? if so… any info on how big it is? does it have windows?? just some general infor would be great!
GO BULLS!</p>
<p>Singapore,
I haven’t seen Juniper-Poplar yet but according to USF’s housing site a typical room is 11.5 ft. by 14.5 ft. and it does have windows.</p>
<p>This is a picture one future Bull took on her tour there. [Login</a> | Facebook](<a href=“http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?pid=31153730&id=1122992401]Login”>http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?pid=31153730&id=1122992401)</p>
<p>I don’t think I can put it directly on here so if you don’t have a Facebook I’ll email it to you if you’d like.</p>
<p>hey usfgirl I’m going to usf too! i really want to go to the juniper-polar one cause of their engineering community. but could u PM me the link. i have a facebook. or tell me who the name is. but for those who are going to usf for the class of 2014 then u guys should join the facebook group! but what is the difference between the juniper and polar doube rooms. also what do u put for the area room/floor?</p>
<p>heyy usfgirl. thx for the info… i cant seem to see it on fb… and yeah i do have an accnt. why dont u pass me the link thru a personal message or smth? btw, are u from florida?</p>
<p>Ok so i just put the picture on photobucket so everyone should be able to access it now.</p>
<p>[juniperpoplar.jpg</a> picture by forevergreen14 - Photobucket](<a href=“http://s988.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/af4/forevergreen14/?action=view¤t=juniperpoplar.jpg]juniperpoplar.jpg”>http://s988.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/af4/forevergreen14/?action=view¤t=juniperpoplar.jpg) </p>
<p>BlackRose21,
I’m not sure what you mean by “what is the difference between Juniper Polar double rooms?” but I’ll try my best. As far as I know the hall is two towers, one is named Juniper and the other is Poplar. A double room means you would share your room with one other person and because it’s a suite style there are two double rooms connected by a bathroom. I hope that helps, if not let me know and I’ll try again.
Also, when applying you should be able to just choose “Building” and choose juniper or poplar without specifying a room number.</p>
<p>Singapore,
Yes I am from Florida. I’ve lived here my whole life. Do you have questions about the state?</p>
<p>oh what i meant was is the juniper and plolar rooms the same in room size and style. but i think i am going to try to also apply to the engineering community. but i need to jump fast because apparently tis dorm room is very popular. by the way thanks for the pic! the room looks very nice. I didn’t know u could raise it up like that. i would be afraid to fall though. haha</p>
<p>Ohhh! Yes the rooms should be the same size and style.</p>
<p>I found the LLC page if you don’t already know it…
[Housing</a> & Residential Education - University of South Florida](<a href=“Housing & Residential Education | University of South Florida”>Housing & Residential Education | University of South Florida)
Here’s what the housing department says about bed lofting.</p>
<ol>
<li>Can I loft my bed?
Argos, Greek Village, Holly/Kosove and Magnolia areas are responsible for setting the terms and conditions for distributing bed lofting materials including pins and raisers for bunking your bed. If you live in the Andros area, you are not permitted to raise your bed.</li>
</ol>
<p>I just wonder how you get up there in the first place because I didn’t see a ladder or anything lol. And I totally agree, they should have some kind of railing or something.</p>
<p>yeah! i was wondering about that! i didn’t see a ladder either. i was thinking that they used their desk to get up there. i’m not much of a roller but I do agree there should be a ladder. can u imagine falling from theat height in the middle of the night!? also what did u put for building/floor/area. i asked the person at ousing at usf and they said i should be fine if i don’t fill out that part. cause i have no idea what is the difference of what the magnolia and agnos and ect. in the juniper-polar area.</p>
<p>have u finished applying for housing usfgirl? </p>
<p>also what did u put for ur 2nd and third perference. is it wise to put juniper for first and then polar as the second choice? </p>
<p>it’s so nice to have this! there aren’t that many active usf forums so it’s nice to have one where we can exchange info. :)</p>
<p>A lot of people elevate their beds up only to chest height and not as high as in the picture above with the desk under it. I can hop up in to my elevated bed no problem, but some shorter girls get hassocks to use to jump into bed–you can use it as something to sit on also. With your bed elevated you can store a lot of your loose junk, and too what you can do is get some rubbermaid storage chests (about $12 at Target or Wal-Mart–both stores are almost across street from campus) with drawers to put your clothes in–the dorm chests don’t hold much and closet space in dorms is small. There will still be plenty of room for your desk in room.</p>
<p>(If you look at the photobucket photo posted above it looks like there is a ladder attached to the bedframe you can climb while using the window valance as a rope to pull yourself up ladder!)</p>
<p>Yeah i was thinking that you could use the wood slats at the end of the bed as a ladder. The biggest thing for me is that there isn’t any side rail because I would be too paranoid about falling. If I loft my bed I don’t think I’ll do it so high…we’ll see when we get there!</p>
<p>BlackRose21,
I’m going to assume you’re applying online. When you search for a hall just choose “building” in search criteria and then a hall. I think you’ve been choosing community instead.
It shouldn’t ask you to fill out anything else. But here’s a breakdown anyway…
Greek Village-fraternity and sorority houses
Holly, Kosove, and Magnolia are all apartment complexes
Argos complex- beta and castor (traditional)
Andros complex-suites</p>
<p>I’ve been playing around with my choices but I haven’t sent in my deposit yet. If you really want to stay in that hall then yes I would put them both because it gives you a better chance of getting what you want. It will probably fill up fast because everyone wants to stay there.</p>
<p>I agree! It’s really nice to be able to talk to fellow students and share what we know. =)
We should have more active forums for USF. Where are all the Bulls at?</p>
<p>hahaha. yeah I’m wondering where all the bulls are too. i think that their all on facebook. also what other good dorms are good besides the juniper-popular? </p>
<p>@lizard
yeah that is waht I usually see. the beds rised to waite-level so they can have more space. what year r u?</p>
<p>@usfgirl
r u going in as a freshmen? have u picked any roommates yet?</p>
<p>hey usf girl, thx for the pic. yeah it looks kinda pretty (:
well, is the weather there crazy hot? i mean, i’m from Singapore and it can get pretty darn hot and humid here… but i’m not too sure how the “winters” there are. also, are u by any chance in the honors college? </p>
<p>and i agree with blackrose21… its nice to finally have a running thread.</p>
<p>I think they’re on Facebook too…but it’s easier to actually exchange information on here. I want to know what other dorms are good too, like the older ones.</p>
<p>Yes I’ll be a freshman but I’ll have 26 credits so I should finish early. I haven’t really been looking for a roommate. How about you, are you a freshman too?</p>
<p>Singapore,
Ummmm well it can get pretty hot but lately it’s been rather cool. This past winter was unusually cold for Florida…at least where I’m from. And it is VERY humid. FL is the worst place for hair lol. I’m not in the honors college. Are you?</p>
<p>Ohhh and Singapore, do you use Fahrenheit or Celsius? Haha sorry I’m not sure.</p>
<p>yeah I’m going to be a freshmen too. yeah this past winter was cold. hopefully it won’t be like that next winter. and I know what u mean with the hair. i think i might have to have it braided for the summer. did u do dual enrollment at bcc to get 26 credits? i have done some too so will see how the credits will transfer. but i suggeest to apply for housing before may 1st.</p>
<p>@singapore
that’s soo cool that ur from singapore! what made u come to usf? also what is ur major?</p>
![http://s988.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/albums/af4/forevergreen14/?action=view¤t=juniperpoplar.jpg]juniperpoplar.jpg](http://s988.photobucket.com/albums/af4/forevergreen14/?action=view¤t=juniperpoplar.jpg%5Djuniperpoplar.jpg){kind=link}
