<p>I will be attending U. Va. in the fall and was wondering if anyone here has any experience with/knows anything about the international dorms, since that is where I'm interesting in living. Thanks!</p>
<p>IRC resident here. What are you asking about, specifically?</p>
<p>They’re not international dorms per se, just dorms with high occupancy rates by internationals. But everyone (more or less) is interested in multiculturalism, which is why I selected it.</p>
<p>They look like kind of dingy to me like old dorms… and there are virtually no windows inside the building unless you’re in your room.</p>
<p>they cost a little more than McCormick, that’s not a big deal though if your not trying to save every penny</p>
<p>Do first-years who live in the IRC (if they exist) regret not going for the more conventional Alderman/McCormick “traditional first-year experience” route? I’m not into ‘partying’ and have heard stories about IRC being the sanctuary for people like myself, but would still like to be friends with not just internationals and it seems like traditional dorms would be a nice social place for that.</p>
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<p>Totally.</p>
<p>Plus, there’s constant traffic between the IRC, old and new dorms all the time.</p>
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<p>Well OP is a girl so she would stay in considerably more-upscale Munford. (Yeah Gwathmey is slightly dingy … but to me the facilities and events outweigh everything else.)</p>
<p>IRC has its fair share of partying … I would even suggest that international kids party harder (and smarter), and go to cooler places. But we try to keep some class, you know. ;)</p>
<p>Is it possible for first-year students to apply to live there? How hard is it to get placed in these dorms? Overall, has your experience been a good one? Thanks!</p>
<p>Yes.
Harder this year – was easy last year. For most special residential programs, you’ll need to write essays and stuff. (Yeah it’s like applications again – I know, right?)
Yes.</p>
<p>Thank you very much!</p>
<p>I’m an international student who’s looking to IRC as well, but I also want an American college experience, you know what I mean? Is the IRC full of internationals?</p>
<p>90% of the IRC are citizens of the world. =) </p>
<p>Well, I would say roughly half are internationals, half are domestic in the sense they are PRs or US citizens, (but that much domestic students at the IRC identify not just with the US). </p>
<p>American college experience…? Sure. And the IRC is just a dorm … I mean, you’re not going to be in it for even half of your time, because on top of the other places to go on Grounds (like classes, or events or activities), there’s nothing stopping you from having friends in other dorms. =)</p>