Need Help w/ Berkeley Housing!

<p>I am an incoming transfer student this year. For housing, I choose 1/2) Wada Double/Triple at Unit 2, 2) Channing Bowditch, 3/4) Unit 2 Double/Triple, and 5) the any housing/any location option.</p>

<p>I got into Clark Kerr, which is about 6 blocks from campus is a nearly a 20 minute walk (this is where the transfer reception was, at the Mission-styled building). To add insult to injury, they put me in a triple, @ $14K total. This is a dorm room. </p>

<p>Needless to say, I am not exactly enthusiastic about this "placement". I called Cal Housing and the rude skunk on the phone tried telling me I was SOL and that nobody in their right minds who gets a Wada placement is going to decline it. She said that if I should pay the $300 fee to accept my contract, I am most likely going to be stuck up in that disastrous Clark Kerr tripple with no chance of any sort of transfer, and if I wanted to back out, I would have to find somebody to replace me. Look, I know this is understandable on their part, but this puts me in a nearly impossible situation and I really have no idea what to do.</p>

<p>So my question is, how true is this? I would love to accept the contract and put myself up to transfer into Wada, or at least a friggen' suite in one of the Units, but from the way this moron on the phone talked down to me, I am delusional and should get that idea out of my head. The only reason I am holding out hope is this post from about a year ago:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Don't worry too much if you don't get into Wada right away. Many many people here got in by appealing after they got their housing offers. Since a lot of students apply for campus housing as a backup in case they don't secure an apartment, many spaces will open up after housing offers are released. Every one of my roommates got in through appeal. You just need to speak to the right person to be put on the waiting list.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Needless to say, I am worrying a lot. Any help would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks guys!</p>

<p>Log on to Cal rentals. Try to find a room to rent off-campus. There is no reason why college students should have to pay $1500/mo to SHARE a room with anyone. If I were going to pay that much, I would get my own 1 bedroom apartment. Forget that. </p>

<p>I found a place through Cal rentals for $600/mo <em>including</em> utilities. It’s in North Berkeley which is much nicer than downtown. </p>

<p>I know that living on-campus is appealing for many younger students, but I would never allow the school to financially rape me in that way. </p>

<p>Just a suggestion. LOL!</p>