<p>What kind of bathrooms does ISR have? Community Hall or Semi-private?</p>
<p>I've been researching housing options. I know it might seem too early, but my sister says that if I want a good dorm, I better act fast. She likes ISR as well. It seems that ISR is the only dorm I like. </p>
<p>I am an engineer major. I don't want to live in party areas (that removes the 6-pack, FAR, & PAR). I want to have AC. (That removes LAR.) I want semi-private or private bathrooms. (That removes Busey-Evans.) </p>
<p>So, my only options for dorms are Allen & ISR. I read Allen is filled with artsy people (like theater & music). I don't know if it'll be loud or not. Plus, there's that Unit One thing, and I have no idea what that is. Also, Allen is too far from the Engineering building. </p>
<p>So, I only have ISR. I'm hoping it has semi-private bathrooms. I would hate to have community hall bathrooms.</p>
<p>I looked at private housing as well, but I don't know how much it would cost. I know it varies depending on which house it is. After more researching and removing, I came down to Hendrick House. I know for sure they have semi-private bathrooms. (I looked at their pictures online on their website! :) ) To me, Hendrick House is like ISR only with more space and a little more distant from the Main Quad.</p>
<p>I would really like to go to ISR because I think it would be more cheaper than Hendrick House. So, please help me...</p>
<ol>
<li><p>All dorms that a freshman can get into have community baths. The only way to get the semi-private arrangement is to go to more expensive private certified housing.</p></li>
<li><p>It is difficult for freshman to get into ISR because many engineering upper classman take the spaces mainly because it is close to the engineering quad.</p></li>
<li><p>All this love shown for ISR by potential freshman indicates they really have not spent a lot of time there and also indicates "Hey, I'm engineering, therefore ISR must be the place." ISR is actually not one your better dorms. Smaller rooms than many others, noisy heating and air-conditioning units. OK but nothing to write home about. Dorms in the six-pack area have the largest rooms (none of which are actually large).</p></li>
<li><p>To get into Allen as a freshman, you need to do Unit One (one of the living/learning community programs). Some can get in without Unit One but usually not freshmen. Allen is nice, particularly architecturally, but small rooms and no air-conditioning (although that has importance only for the first month of school). Go here for info on Unit One: <a href="http://www.housing.uiuc.edu/living/unit1/brochure/%5B/url%5D">http://www.housing.uiuc.edu/living/unit1/brochure/</a></p></li>
<li><p>Since you mentioned LAR and Busey-Evans that means you are female. If you do not want six-pack area, you should also consider the Women in Math, Science and Engineering (WIMSE) living/learning community, which is in the first three floors of Florida Avenue Residence (Trelease Hall; which is air-conditioned but also has small rooms). Yes, FAR is a far walk to the main quad but WIMSE provides a somewhat quieter atmosphere than six-pack. Go here for info on WIMSE: <a href="http://www.housing.uiuc.edu/living/wimse/%5B/url%5D">http://www.housing.uiuc.edu/living/wimse/</a></p></li>
<li><p>Another woman only dorm to consider is Barton (common and meal areas are shared with Lungren the building for males) with fairly good-size rooms in comparison to others, although not air-conditioned. It is close to the six-pack.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I've done a lot of research. I read like basically all the threads on housing on this site, checked out UIUC's website, and talked to my sister's friend who goes to UIUC.</p>
<p>I don't want to live in the 6-pack. Also, when I pick my housing, I have to consider my friend as well because she will be my roommate. (At least, we're planning on it.) She doesn't care what dorm she lives in as long as it's close to her classes. FAR, PAR, and the 6-pack are far for both of us. </p>
<p>Are community hall bathrooms bad? My sister says that they might not be so bad because she went to one once, and she said that they clean it like everyday or something at her college. </p>
<p>Also, how hard is it to get into ISR? So far, it seems to be my first choice. And what does ISR come with? I don't mean things like AC or dining hall. I mean, what does ISR provide for you in your room? Does ISR have sinks inside your room? Desks? Mirror?</p>
<p>allen hall is somewhat semi-semi-semi-private bathrooms. they are technically community baths but how they work is that there are stalls and each stall has two sections, one for you to shower in and one for you to change in. its basically one big stall cut in two. i hope you're not thinking community showers as in you shower with other people. Unit one for allen hall is a living learning community where you can take classes there in the dorm. also about getting to the engineering building. there is a bus stop right in front of allen where you can jump on the 21 Quad and it will take you right to the engineering buildings. so technically you shouldn't rule out allen hall just yet. oh and its not that that loud at allen.</p>
<p>Ok, kids, I'm a sophomore at UIUC. Pretty much all the university dorms come with the same things: one bed, desk, and dresser per person in the room. FAR and ISR offer A/C for an additional $100 to your housing bill. The bus routes are designed to get you pretty much anywhere on campus, but they are not always dependable. I have lived at Allen Hall/Unit One for the last three semesters, and it's been wonderful. Community bathrooms are not the end of the world. They are cleaned daily, and I do not know of any dorm that does not have individual shower stalls. I prefer Allen Hall for the additional benefit of a private changing stall attached to the actual shower stall; these are NOT present in every dorm. I understand your concern of distance from your classes, and FAR/PAR are the worst in distance. Yet, anywhere else you live, it won't kill you to walk or ride a bike. My roommate's boyfriend is a junior in engineering, and he's always lived in Allen. He gets to his classes without problems.</p>
<p>None of the rooms are in anyway considered large. That's simply a fact of dorm life. However, I really think that each of you should be more concerned with the social atmosphere of the dorm you inhabit rather than the physical features.</p>
<p>dont worry about the bathrooms... you will get used to them very fast and it will be a non-issue. the stalls are generally kept clean, so there isnt much to worry about. you arent gonna pick up ass-aids or anything. </p>
<p>the showers - stalls with curtains, wear sandals and you are fine.. usually when i take a shower im the only person in the shower area of like 6 showers. i didnt see any nudity any time during the first semester. dont be so insecure, if thats what it is. as far as the private changing stall... some of the stalls in the six pack are big enough so that you can just hang your clothes on a hook and then change right there after you turn the water off.</p>
<p>as far as room size, just like bathrooms, you will get used to it and not notice it. I live in the six pack and since my roomy and i bunked our beds (the straight thing to do, take note incoming freshmen), we have more room than we need... for the last month of the semester my roommate had a 4 foot by 4 foot volcano of laundry sitting in the middle of our room.</p>
<p>things you WONT get used to: crappy roommates and dormmates, crappy location, and crappy food.</p>
<p>Thanks. I'm glad I won't have to worry about bathrooms. My sister tells me to get a bathrobe and sandals because that's what she did or something. I hope I won't have to worry about roommate issues because my roommate will be my friend. </p>
<p>Could you tell me more information on Allen and ISR? I think I might pick these two for my dorm options. My cousin used to live in ISR like 9 years ago, and she said that she enjoyed it. And as for Allen, I don't think it'll be bad having the Unit One thing. How are the rooms in Allen? Are they bigger than ISR or about the same?</p>
<p>What about the people in Allen and ISR? How are they different? Thanks for your help. :)</p>