<p>Ahh I see. I do agree that pricing is outrageous for what you’re getting but i guess i just have to deal with it for now lol. Luckily my financial aid covers all it. I just hope living on campus helps me meet more people and stuff like it’s supposed to. Did it help you even though you were in the apartments?</p>
<p>Well, when I was in undergrad at USF St. Pete I met a lot of people, but not too many here. I don’t think you’d have any trouble meeting people in an apartment, where I live is just a little different than the rest of the school since we’re only 21+ and therefore seem to have less parties/social interaction.</p>
<p>What about academics? Have you had good experiences with your professors, do you feel like you’re being challenged enough, etc.? What’s your major?</p>
<p>So far I’ve only had very positive experiences with my professors. I’m doing a M.S. in Finance and unofficially a M.A. in Economics. I don’t feel like it’s too challenging yet, but my schedule for the fall semester is looking pretty difficult. Overall I’m quite satisfied academically.</p>
<p>What is your prospective major?</p>
<p>That’s good to hear. I’ve never really been truly academically challenged so I’m looking forward to it lol. I’m majoring in Psychology.</p>
<p>hello Dperalta and Gordon_Gekko!
(:</p>
<p>so the Bulls finally have a running thread. YAY. </p>
<p>Dperalta: I agree with usfgirl… you should prolly get started on the housing and all that soon. I’ve alrdy sent in my stuff for Juniper-poplar… and yeah, i’m taking the unlimited meal plan (just in case the other dont quite work out). oh, i think Juniper-Poplar bathrooms are way better than the ones at Castor hall because the number of ppl using them are way less. (not that i’ve been there or anything)</p>
<p>usfgirl: i’m off to orientation on the 16th & 17th of aug…quite evidently cos i’m an intl student. enjoy ur germany trip! (:</p>
<p>Blackrose: yeahh, by msu i mean michigan state univ. </p>
<p>btw, is anyone else here from Honors at all?? just wondering how things there are!</p>
<p>Castor and Beta dorms are basically the same, Castor is just a little bit closer to the classroom bldgs. The common areas and community baths in Castor and Beta are kept very clean, still wear shoes or at least flip flops in the baths and take a plastic shower caddy for your shampoo bottles and stuff–guys I guess take a shaving bag. Residents don’t need to swipe a card or bring dimes to use the bathrooms–you just go in the door! The main entrance doors at each dorm requires you to swipe your student id card–only dorm residents cards are programmed for entry. Regular keys are used for your individual room.</p>
<p>If you can participate in a living/learning community dorm, like honors or engineering or some other group, live in that dorm, otherwise all the dorms are really okay.</p>
<p>I kinda think the unlimited meal plan is best deal for freshmen required to buy plans. The 3 offered mandatory choices are all the same price of around $1800/semester. If you get the 15 meal plan you only get about $135 extra dining dollars. You can use the dining dollars at the fast food joints on campus, at little convenience store, ice cream stand, or my favorite–Beef O’Bradys sportsbar in the Marshall Center. You can use your extra dining dollars to pay for your guest’s meals too. Too if you have the unlimited in fall term, you can switch to 15 meal plan in spring if you want to–they are same price, so it’s okay to change. You use your student id when you go to the dining hall–they swipe it when you go in at cash resister.</p>
<p>can you guys list the positives and negatives of iota and holland apartments?
thanks</p>
<p>Are you sure Iota is going to be available for the 2010-11 year? It doesn’t show up for me in the online housing application.</p>
<p>^^Maybe Iota Suites and Holly Apartments?</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>Yes but when you actually go to select a building in the application it’s not on the drop down list so I just wasn’t sure if Iota was going to be available. I know Holly is.</p>
<p>usfgirl, Iota is restricted to upperclassmen, so it might not open up as an option for u if u r a freshman. </p>
<p>Oscar, Of course the advantages of Holly and Iota are single bedrooms. Iota doesn’t have a livingroom or kitchen, Holly does. The bedrooms are only about 8’*10’. Holly is expensive at around $800/mo. Both are convenient being right on campus. Iota is pretty plain vanilla and older for USF. Holly is modern but cramped. There are a lot of advantages staying on campus the first yr here, but if you are dead set on having a private room and wish to pay 2 or 3 hundred dollars less/mo. you might consider too going across the street from USF to a private student apartment complex. Too if you are comfortable with a nice modern suite type dorm for upperclassmen with a roommate consider a dorm on campus like Maple for about $550/mo.–they are not bad at all either.</p>
<p>ohhhh gotcha. just making sure lol.</p>
<p>anyone know how much the meal plans are expected to go up?</p>
<p>yeah finally we have some more bulls joining this thread! 
</p>
<p>@usfgirl
i don’t know when I am going to orientation. but i guess i need to sign up soon if their filling up that fast. but it seems like a lot of fun!!! i looked it up on facebook.</p>
<p>by the way the tour person I had for usf ate a whole lot. he told us that we don’t need to get the unlimited cause it is a waste of money. i think he got the lowest or the middle one. but he said there is always events on campus that offers free food. just my two cents. but i don’t know how true this is.</p>
<p>It does look like fun, I’m excited! =)</p>
<p>Hey lizard, what complex are you moving to for next year?</p>
<p>I’ll be in one by 50th St., which is the east border of campus. The Bull Runner shuttle bus and even the “Safe Team” golf cart service go right to the apartments. I wanted something near the east side of campus where I could walk to campus. Some friends are rooming with me.</p>
<p>lizard:… in the Beta and Castor dorms would I at least have a sink inside my room???..or do I need to leave the room and go to the public bathroom just to wash my hands???..is it safe to leave things in the public bathrooms in your hall???</p>
<p>^^^…nvm… it doesn’t…</p>