<p>I am aware there was another thread regarding this topic about a month ago but there weren't enough details. With that said, which one is "better?" My brother's friend who goes to UCI says Mesa but can anyone clarify? Preferably those who had experiences in either dorm. Thank you.</p>
<p>Mesa has the nicer, bigger, rooms and nicer facilities (IMO). Middle Earth has the better food (debatable? Although Brandywine’s food alone is a million times better than anything you’ll ever find ON campus). Middle Earth is also closer to classes for bio/engineering majors, supposedly, but whats a few extra minutes of walking? If I could do it over again, I’d pick Mesa Court without a second thought.</p>
<p>My daughter is in ME and loves it. She really enjoys the convenience and the atmosphere there. Definitely a much closer walk for those occasional 8:00 am classes that she ended up with. It is more compacted and less spread out than Mesa. It really is a personal preference, but for my daughter, ME has been a great choice.</p>
<p>Mesa Court - bigger rooms, farther from classes
Middle Earth - smaller rooms, closer to classes, “better” food, more “homey”/“community-like”</p>
<p>Which middle earth forms are better or bigger?</p>
<p>Middle earth are around the same for each dorm… The difference between middle earth and mesa is, ME is more like a dorm style of living. So a long hallway with many rooms on the sides. Mesa is more like a suite style. So for Mesa, there are areas of the dorms that are seperated, around 10 people each suite. From what I heard and experienced, people who live in Mesa got a lot closer to people who lived in ME. </p>
<p>For me, I lived in Mesa and i absolutely loved it. Yea, the classes were a few mins further and the food here absolutely sucks(not kidding at all… so get the cheapest meal plan and eat out), but overall I think its a better place to live in because its more spread out, you are closer with your suitemates, etc. Just my 2 cents tho. Mesa rooms are also newer and bigger!</p>
<p>I’m completely biased but I’m gonna have to say Middle Earth. I had an amazing time there and my hall was really, really close and we made the most of what Middle Earth had to offer. Yes, Mesa rooms are bigger and the residence halls are really nice, but Middle Earth halls are much closer together and there is more of a community-based feel to your surroundings. It’s a well-known fact from housing staff that Middle Earth has better programs than Mesa Court. That’s because most people who live in Mesa Court are in sororities, frats or athletics and spend their time with their own groups while people who live in Middle Earth are much more involved with the community itself.</p>
<p>Regarding the placement of your classes around campus, I was actually friends with a lot of Mesa kids who complained about how far classes were from them. And trust me, those extra five minutes of sleep for 8 a.m classes was so worth it. Also, Middle’s food is a lot better and the environment of the commons is nicer because Mesa’s commons is really large and quiet whenever I ate there while Pippin was always bustling. </p>
<p>To indianboy1933, the Phase 3 dorms in Middle Earth are the newest and biggest ones. If you could preference them, do it because I lived in one and it was so convenient compared to the Phase 1s and Phase 2s. The names of those dorms are Crickhollow, Oakenshield (all girls), Valimar and Evenstar (my dorm!). </p>
<p>If anybody has any questions regarding the dorms, Middle Earth or UCI itself, feel free to PM me because I had an awesome first year and would love to help you guys enjoy yourself and make the most of UCI ^_^</p>