<p>for irc: the fridge gets stockpiled with other people's food, sometimes gross/expired, sometimes they eat your food... if you're going to be cooking, you want your own fridge so people don't steal your stuff (which they will do, even if it is uva). you also will want to bring your own dishes and pots because the ones given to your floor are never washed (it's really gross, i help my friend clear out her irc kitchen's sink every time i go over there so that she can wash HER dishes, people just dont wash the dishes, and these are girls, imagine guys) and stolen a lot etc.</p>
<p>on the other hand, you won't need a microwave, the one in the kitchen is fine.</p>
<p>hazelorb, do you stay in IRC? So you're saying that microwave is not needed there? I've been trying to contact my future roommate but so far I haven't received a reply yet. I'm wondering whether buying a mini-fridge (and microwave if needed) before the July 25 deadline is really necessary/useful.. I mean, if you order before July 25, they say they will deliver the items to your room. but if you go down to the Cav store yourself, will it be too heavy and too far from the IRC, or will it be a simple affair to do? thanks! :)</p>
<p>Anw yeah, I've stayed in a boarding school/hall for the past 4 years, I know how unimaginably disgusting a shared fridge can be.. Yucks. x(</p>
<p>Lowes has nice minifridges. My daughter has one that has a proper freezer on top with a seperate door - she really likes it. And microwaves can be quite cheap. The rental price sounds outrageous. You can buy a nice minifridge and basic microwave for what the are charging to rent for a year!</p>
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Anw yeah, I've stayed in a boarding school/hall for the past 4 years
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<p>ACSI? Nanyang?</p>
<p>Lol ACSI is all boys galoisien. Haha I'll pm you this. </p>
<p>Anw, yeah, back to the original question, is buying mini-fridge yourself a simple affair or a hassle? Are the prices at other stores nearby cheaper? </p>
<p>swimcatsmom, what's Lowes? International student here. xP thanks! :)</p>
<p>You can just go to Target or Wal Mart to get a mini fridge as long as you have a car. The prices will be pretty much the same generally. I would recommend getting a separate freezer compartment because you might like to store frozen food. As for microwaves, if you don't mind walking from your room to the kitchen in IRC, then you wouldn't need to purchase one.</p>
<p>For us, the decision had to do with storage and moving the thing. It was worth money to us not to have to deal with lugging it down (elevator-less) stairways, and not having to put it in our NYC apartment. We are going to do that again. We will share it with the roommate so it will cost less. For us, it was well worth it to rent.</p>
<p>I bought my mini fridge at Lowe's back in the stone age. I think it was less than 200. </p>
<p>I had lots of friends that did not buy/rent one. Warm drinks and such, got along just fine.</p>
<p>barboza, I don't have a car. :S So would you recommend me getting it from Cav Adv before consulting my uncontactable roommate now?</p>
<p>Lisieux: Eh, ever since they adopted the IBDP, ACSI has been admitting girls, you know. ;) In fact there's a facebook group that both complains and takes joy at the fact that there is now a substantial female population at ACSI. ;)</p>
<p>I live in Brown, but I have close friends in the IRC and you don't need your own microwave, the shared one in the kitchen is perfectly fine and usable.</p>
<p>By car, we always mean "your parents who will drive you here and go get you things at Target" since first years don't have cars at UVA. If you're international and won't have anyone helping you move in... Then it's your choice I suppose. If you're willing to pay to avoid manual labor...</p>