<p>So I'm going to be a freshmen in Fall of 2011. I've been to UCF and see all the dorms except for the Lake Claire Apartments. I've tried to find people's opinions on them online and haven't found much. </p>
<p>Hopefully any current students can give me their opinion on them.</p>
<p>I've heard the following already:
-Bad because it is hard to socialize.</p>
<p>Im a freshman currently living in LC. here is my honest review of them:</p>
<p>-I’ll start by comparing them to the Nike 4 bed/2 bath dorms, seeing that you said you have seen all the dorms. Its more or less the same design scheme, but Nike is obviously newer and it shows. </p>
<p>-The whole room of LC has a very, I don’t know what the word is, I guess asylum type feel and look, lol. The walls are this off-white color, and have concrete looking painted bricks. There are like tubes that travel across the top of the wall in the living room, again adding to the asylum type feel, of course highlighted by the fluorescent lights. I’ll be honest, if you get depressed, the feel of these rooms only adds to it.</p>
<p>-The rooms are college dorm rooms. Which means they are extremely small, at least compared to what you’re probably used to at home. Once again, more brick walls painted off white. The beds are a twin, adding to the military/asylum feel ONCE AGAIN lol. This is a transition if you’re used to a full bed or even larger at home. </p>
<p>-I know some of this sounds bad, but truth be told, UCF probably has one of the best student dorms available. You can look around and hear horror stories about dorms at schools like UF or FSU. And yes the rooms are small, but you eventually adapt and get used to it seeing that you’re there every day. Plus, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN ROOM! Again, this is not something most other college students can boast at other schools.</p>
<p>-So all in all I would say the positives of having you’re own room outweigh the negatives of the smallness and gloominess of the dorm.</p>
<p>-One thing I would say however, is that if you have a choice and are not dead set on living in the dorms, live off campus!!! The apartments around campus, such as northgate, sterling, the edge, campus crossings, village at science drive, and of course the best of the best (aka where I’m living next year) jefferson village, are much nicer, cheaper and have larger rooms than the dorms. I’m paying somewhere between $790 for rent in the spring at LC, and my apartment next year in which I will have a nicer, newer, bigger room, apartment and my own bathroom will be only $570. There are shuttles available at all the student based apartments and they can take you to your classes, because parking on campus at rush time is hit or miss, mostly miss. IMO, the benefit of being on campus close to classes doesn’t even come close to outweighing the cost of sacrificing the apartments for a dorm. I’ve lived on campus for summer and fall so far, and If I had to do it again, I would live off campus without a doubt. Just a bit of advice</p>
<p>I’m also a freshman living in Lake Claire this year. I have personally had a great experience thus far.
I agree with domrom1 in that the apartments are quite gloomy looking but it’s nothing some wall decorations, colorful pillows, lamps, and rugs can’t fix. We turned our dungeon-esque living room into a cute little home-y place. It may not be ideal but we’ve made do. The bedrooms are small but YOU HAVE YOUR OWN ROOM! How many college freshman living on campus can say that? You also only share a bathroom with one person as opposed to 3 people or a whole floor like at other universities. </p>
<p>As far as socialization, I haven’t had a problem at all. I love the set up of LC because you live with other freshman and have the space to socialize but you have the option to go in your own room and have your personal space. P.S. I had random roommates and I love them. In fact, one of my roomies and I are rooming together again next year.
In my opinion, it’s the best of both worlds. In the other dorms, besides the towers (which are pretty pricey) and nike/hercules 4/2 apartments (pretty much only open to upperclassmen), you share a room with another person. If you’re looking for the true college experience with a true roommate, choose Libra, Nike/Hercules, or Apollo.
Overall, I have really enjoyed living in Lake Claire. I loved living on campus my first year AND having my own room. </p>
<p>No matter where you decide, there will be pros and cons so decide what’s best for you. Good Luck :D</p>
<p>Yea basically as me and Anna both said, having your own room is a huge advantage and something not to take for granted because a lot of students have to share</p>