<p>yeah same question as above.. def could use some clarification.</p>
<p>Someone told me that the Units are too noisy and not conducive for studying. Is there any truth to this?</p>
<p>Also, just to clarify: most freshmen get triples (whether they request them or not)?</p>
<p>freshman don't always get triples but sometimes ppl actually request triples because a triple is about 900 dollars less in the units. like a guy today i met at the berkeley orientation who goes to berkeley told me he requested a triple in case he didn't like his roommate so then he would at least have someone else to chill w/. lol. so i mean there's different ways to look at it.</p>
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Someone told me that the Units are too noisy and not conducive for studying. Is there any truth to this?
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<p>They're noisier, in general, than foothill, but really, I know plenty of hardcore studiers here. </p>
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Also, just to clarify: most freshmen get triples (whether they request them or not)?
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<p>I don't know. Because for every two triple rooms, three double rooms have to be filled, I'm not sure how the math works out. Plenty of people get doubles, but not everyone, and, as someone pointed out, not everyone requests doubles over triples for various reasons.</p>
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Another question, when the Berkeley Housing site says:
QS - Quad Room in Suite
TS - Triple Room in Suite</p>
<p>That means that (Quad) there are 4 double rooms within a suite and (Triple) there are 3 double rooms within a suite, right? That does NOT mean that it is a suite with 4 or 3 people in a room, RIGHT? :</p>
<p>Also, do Quad and Triple suites have one bathroom with just one toilet and shower, or one bathroom with 2 showers/toilets?
I'm trying to find a floor plan online, but I'm having trouble.
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<p>I'm not sure what you're talking about. Could you send a link?</p>
<p>DRab I think he/she is referring to this chart:
<a href="http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/comparehalls.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/comparehalls.html</a></p>
<p>What classes do freshman engineering majors generally take? Is living at Foothill really as advantageous for engineers as some have claimed?</p>
<p>Unit 3 has great location because it's nearest to Sproul Plaza which is where everything's going on most of the time. The inside's not too great, but I suppose the location makes up for it. </p>
<p>I know because I visited this weekend, poked around the dorms, and had the whole place broken down for me by my godsister who is a 2004/5 (I'm not too sure) grad.</p>
<p>This is coming from a current student.</p>
<p>IMO, I would not choose Unit 3 over Unit 2/1 because of the location. The advantage in distance is only maximum 5 minutes of walking and even less if you bike/skateboard. Unit 2/1 looks way better, and has better facilities (computing center with decent computers, fitness room, study rooms, music rooms, built in closets, better looking bathrooms).</p>
<p>I base my observations on visiting my friends who live in Unit 3.</p>
<p>what kind of storage space do they have in the units?</p>
<p>I graduated from Cal a few years ago, but just thought I might want to put in my 2 cents about the dorms.</p>
<p>In general, the noise level of your living space really depends on the other people living there. I've seen some quiet coed floors before, and rowdy suites also. As for studying -- do it at the library or your building's study lounge! or some departments on campus have study rooms/lounges in their buildings.</p>
<p>On to some observations:</p>
<p>Unit 2: When I was attending Cal, I lived in one of the old-style Unit 2 dorms. These were built in the 60's and have major earthquake bracing -- and one elevator! Specifically, I lived on an all-girls floor (due to my parents' wishes -- and also, it was my 5th choice!). It was pretty social for the most part, except the occasional dramatic episode (side effect of living with girls). Our bathroom was technically co-ed, but it was mostly girls who used it so it was pretty clean. (They were renovated so the interior's nicer than the other units.) </p>
<p>One thing is that triples in the units really suck -- I lived in a double converted into a triple, and it's tiny! (You can tell a room has been converted because some of the windows are blocked up.) The triple had 1 bunk bed, 1 lofted bed with 2 desks under it, a standalone desk, plus 2 closets -- which was not enough for 3 females! The one redeeming quality of my room was that I was on the west side and had a bay view of the Golden Gate Bridge.</p>
<p>Another thing is that most of the people in my dorm were freshmen. The upperclassmen who live in the dorm are often transfers, have some admin job (resident assistants, academic advisors, etc.), or are Regents Scholars or roomates of one. (This might not be true anymore with the additional dorms that have been recently built.)</p>
<p>As an aside, I passed by Unit 2 recently and it looks like they built some new dorm halls at the site, but I didn't get to go inside. Newer is definitely better though!</p>
<p>Foothill: has spacious suites with a common room -- it's almost like an apartment complex. It's probably quieter than the Units, but it really depends on your suite mates. These dorms are a block away from most hengineering buildings. One random thing is that a couple of the Foothill buildings are next to the campus's Greek Theater, which occasionally holds (loud) rock concerts. (Bands range from No Doubt to the Gypsy Kings.) My friends used to "watch" concerts from the top of their building, but some residents may not be into the noise. </p>
<p>Bowles Hall: This all-male dorm is the oldest dorm on campus, but it hasn't been renovated recently. It used to be steeped with tradition, had fun parties, etc. etc., but I hear that has changed with the freshmen-only policy. It's one of those love-it-or-hate-it places.</p>
<p>Clark Kerr Campus: These dorms are the farthest from academic buildings, so if live here, you'll soon be able to bounce quarters off your butt! CKC was formerly a school for the deaf and blind yet has a bizzaro layout and oddly-placed stairs. These buildings have Mission-style architectural details (if you're into that), and have pretty large rooms -- my friend stored his bike in his room, with tons of room to spare.</p>
<p>Is there a website to go to for specific information on what I need to bring with me. I know desks, closets and beds are included. What about mini refrig and microwaves, do we have to rent them or can we bring our own? Do most people bring a TV and stereo? Is there info on internet connection and what we need to have for our computer? I assume Cal has wireless. Are bikes recommended for getting around and if the rooms are so small then where do you store them? Any help with these details is appreciated.</p>
<p>You can rent or bring your own friges and mircrowaves. I advise you talk to your roommate about this. There's little point int having two microwaves, for instance. Many people bring TVs, most probably bring stereos. There is an internet connection in each dorm room, one per occupant. There is wireless, but you can always buy a few dollar chord nearby if you need it. Bikes are fine to have, but most students don't have them. They can be hard to fit in dorm rooms in general, but there are storage places near every dorm.</p>
<p>I just visited Cal this weekend and wow it painted a very different picture for me of the dorms. First of all, I asked and yes they have WiFi everywhere on campus and the cell phone connected is limited. The best company for cell phones (because you can get a land line but it costs more) is Verizon, at least from what I've heard and talked to. You get no cell connection in any of the hall ways and some of the dorms in the Units-- dont' know about Clark Kerr, and Foothill, and the rest of 'em. According to a few people I asked, the interent connection is great and availble virtually anywhere. </p>
<p>In each of the Units and Clark Kerr at least there is an Academic Center where free tutoring is offered, which is good to know in case you're just having a really tough time in a particular subject. Also, in Unit 1 and 2 at least there is a computer center as well. </p>
<p>In the high rises (the old Unit buildings), which is what they said is likely what you'll get as a freshman there is a small lounge on every floor other floor, a laundry room on the floors that dont' have lounges, and a large lounge on the bottom floor. Unit 3, Clark Kerr, and Foothill all have their own DCs (dining commons). Unit 1 and 2 share a really big one and Bowles and Stern share their own as well. </p>
<p>The new buildings have minisuites, which are nice. The high rise rooms are a tad painfully small but what I was reallly suprised about was how small the coed bathrooms were in the old Units. Omgosh, you were packed in there like a sardine dude. Really, for twenty people, never mind coed, I have a hard time seeing it, but I guess you just get used to it. </p>
<p>I think it's hard for me to really explain the sizes of the various rooms without going there. I think your best bet really is to go and actually see them and see where everything is. It really helped me get a better picture because I've never been there. Although, I would really recommend NOT taking their dorm tour because it really sucked honestly. On the tour there was a lot of stuff I learned already from this discussion board and the room they show you is really scary. It's cold and looks like no one every lived there. It painted a really different picture when I called a few people I knew at Berkeley and asked to see their rooms. It was a much better call.</p>
<p>If any of you have been to UCLA, you know how far the dorms really are, blocks away over huge hills. Berkeley is not like that all. Clark Kerr is not that far really, I did it in 6 minutes, and there is a regular shuttle if you really don't want to walk. Everything is really close too. There are so many restaurants and little boutiques. Units 1, 2, and 3 are also really close to campus. </p>
<p>If you are going to stay overnight, for Cal Day I know you can go to a host room. This is where freshman will let you sleep in their dorm with them, like on the floor or something, and then you can go with them and see really what it's like. I know it varies a lot, like my friend in the mini suites host people as well as they said as their friends in Foothill, so it just depends. You might get a dorm you may weren't really interested in to begin with, but it gives you a chance to see them. </p>
<p>Hope this helps! I have more info but I really gotta go! </p>
<p>Sorry if there are any typos in this, I have a lot to say and I'm kinda in a rush. Email me privately if I've made a mistake and I'll fix it.</p>
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I just visited Cal this weekend and wow it painted a very different picture for me of the dorms. First of all, I asked and yes they have WiFi everywhere on campus and the cell phone connected is limited. The best company for cell phones (because you can get a land line but it costs more) is Verizon, at least from what I've heard and talked to. You get no cell connection in any of the hall ways and some of the dorms in the Units-- dont' know about Clark Kerr, and Foothill, and the rest of 'em. According to a few people I asked, the interent connection is great and availble virtually anywhere. </p>
<p>In each of the Units and Clark Kerr at least there is an Academic Center where free tutoring is offered, which is good to know in case you're just having a really tough time in a particular subject. Also, in Unit 1 and 2 at least there is a computer center as well. </p>
<p>In the high rises (the old Unit buildings), which is what they said is likely what you'll get as a freshman there is a small lounge on every floor other floor, a laundry room on the floors that dont' have lounges, and a large lounge on the bottom floor. Unit 3, Clark Kerr, and Foothill all have their own DCs (dining commons). Unit 1 and 2 share a really big one and Bowles and Stern share their own as well.
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<p>Cell phones work pretty much everywhere but in particular buildings, althose this does vary by company. </p>
<p>I'm pretty sure CKC has a computer center, as does Unit 3.</p>
<p>Don't Bowles, Stern, and Foothill all share one dining common in Foothill?</p>
<p>1) Clark Kerr is less than 10 mins from campus? I've been told it's much further away than the rest of the dorms. Any other opinions?</p>
<p>2) Is Foothill the only residence that has suites with 4 double rooms inside? Which residences have suites with 3 double rooms inside?</p>
<p>10 minute or so (give or take a few minutes) walk to the edge of the main bulk of campus, probably.</p>
<p>Well...I dont think I walk terribly slowly, but it would take me closer to 15 or 20 minutes to walk to Sproul; maybe 10 minutes to the closest part of campus.</p>
<p>i dunno i guess it varies. i thought it was a lot farther than it was when i walked it. you can get to it by walking down piedmont, which is frat row. it's really nice and you can see all the really beautiful frat and sorority houses and the architecutre. it's really nice! i did it in a little over five minutes walking kind medium-ish in the pouring rain. again though, there is a shuttle.</p>
<p>and yeah DRab i double checked and foothill has its own DC</p>
<p>I agree, foothill has a DC. The system is designed so that the students from Bowles and Stern eat there, and these two buildings don't share a seperate location from Foothill's dc.</p>
<p>I want to choose housing wisely. Meaning I would like to get into Clark-Kerr but being a freshman that is probably unlikely. My last choice is probably Bowles. What would be the wisest choices to select in order to obtain the top three on your housing list?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Units (substance abuse free) are these sought after or do people avoid these?</p></li>
<li><p>Should I ask for triples at Clark-Kerr or is that still unfeasable?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>thanks</p>